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figgi11

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Posted Reply with quote  #1 
This may sound like a bit of a stretch but is it possible to use an electric space heater outdoors overnight to protect fig trees from frost?  I have two kadotas that have a bunch of figs ripening in a few days and temps are supposed to dip down into low 30s this weekend and I don't want to lose the fruit. 

I know it's not really safe to use space heaters let alone left outdoors overnight, but there's no rain in the forecast  and the heaters would be connected via heavy duty extension cords which are okay.

What about a gas outdoor space heater as another option? 

I'm just brainstorming so if anyone has tried successfully or have any other suggestions that are not labor intensive (ie. wrapping) your feedback would be helpful.

Thank you!
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tylerj

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Posted Reply with quote  #2 
This spring I used five 75w flood lights under a plastic tent (5 feet wide and 4 feet high at the peak) that covered my inground trees (about a 40' row). I used this during nights that went down to -4C and they kept the temperature inside above freezing. I just had to make sure there was enough clearance to the actual bulbs. Just be careful with whatever heat source you want to use.

Tyler
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figpig_66

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Posted Reply with quote  #3 
Every year i use space heaters in both of my greenhouse's. I put it in a the safest place inside as possible works great for louisiana winters but that not much of a winter compaied to the north
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jdsfrance

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Posted Reply with quote  #4 
Hi figgi11,
You need at least a sort of greenhouse to keep the heat down around the fruits or you will just try with no success to help global warming.
I would use plastic sheeting making a tent over the trees for that. Of course if your trees are gigantic ... it is perhaps time to plan to keep them smaller for the future.
I wouldn't use a space heater outside without a roof to keep dew and rain out of the heater electrical parts.
At some point, you should consider the last figs to be lost especially this time of the year and in a cold zone.
Just watch them ripen or not, with luck they might do it without the heating system and the risks involved.
Or perhaps time to build a greenhouse around your trees :)
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leon_edmond

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Posted Reply with quote  #5 
Agree with jds, you are going to lose those figs. You should consider picking all of your green figs and making preserves out of them.
figgi11

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Posted Reply with quote  #6 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jdsfrance
Hi figgi11,
You need at least a sort of greenhouse to keep the heat down around the fruits or you will just try with no success to help global warming.
I would use plastic sheeting making a tent over the trees for that. Of course if your trees are gigantic ... it is perhaps time to plan to keep them smaller for the future.
I wouldn't use a space heater outside without a roof to keep dew and rain out of the heater electrical parts.
At some point, you should consider the last figs to be lost especially this time of the year and in a cold zone.
Just watch them ripen or not, with luck they might do it without the heating system and the risks involved.
Or perhaps time to build a greenhouse around your trees :)


Hi there. Do you have any instructions on how to build a greenhouse around a fig tree? Can I use the clear plastic sheets that you can find in the paint section of the hardware store, along with the long plant spikes in the garden center? Then I can use stones to secure the sheeting on the ground like a tipi? Would this only be temporary to prolong the growing season because it doesn't seem that it would suffice as well as wrapping during dormancy. Thanks!
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Rewton

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Posted Reply with quote  #7 
See this thread:

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/arctic-blast-coming-questions-about-space-heater-use-6690545?pid=1282616837
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