Hardening off wood for winter

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eboone

Registered:1378418906
Posts: 1,100

Posted 1442594224	Reply with quote #1

Other than stopping fertilizer mid summer to reduce new growth, is there any way to promote or speed up the hardening off process of the new green wood? My 2-3 yr old plants in pots that are bearing figs mostly quit growing mid summer - I am not concerned about those. My new plants from cuttings or airlayers that have been growing all summer are a mixed bag - some quit growing and are hardening off well, but some have continued growing and have a lot of green wood remaining. Also, the only one I put in ground permanently in May grew minimally all summer, then about 5 weeks ago abruptly started growing - 2 feet or more of new growth in 5 weeks on multiple branches - these are fat, healthy looking branches but very green. Is there anything to do with the potted figs to get their wood to harden off better? Perhaps since they are to be stored in a cold basement room it will not matter too much. The inground plant growing like crazy - can anything get the wood to harden? Removing some leaves early? Magic potion? Thanks for any input! __________________ Ed Zone 6A - Southwest PA --------------------------- Short wish list: CDDG, LSU Red, Dark Greek (Navid), Col Littman's Black Cross. And any cold hardy early fig.

fignutty

Registered:1374034473
Posts: 580

Posted 1442599158	Reply with quote #2

Ed: I think removing leaves is the wrong approach. That reduces carbohydrates essential for cold hardiness. Besides cutting fertilizer I'd also cut back on water. No more for in-ground and try to cut back in pots. __________________ Steve in Alpine TX 7b/8a Wish list: Sangue Dolce, Siblawi, Victoria, Emalyn's Purple, Colonel Littman's Black Cross

eboone

Registered:1378418906
Posts: 1,100

Posted 1442599458	Reply with quote #3

Thanks for the reply, Steve. I can easily keep the pots drier, but no way to really restrict the water to the inground plant. __________________ Ed Zone 6A - Southwest PA --------------------------- Short wish list: CDDG, LSU Red, Dark Greek (Navid), Col Littman's Black Cross. And any cold hardy early fig.

OttawanZ5

Registered:1192897779
Posts: 2,551

Posted 1442608159	Reply with quote #4

I had similar feeling about the thick green shoot growing fast after a couple of days of rain some ten days ago. Having read in a post in the past, I pinch the branch tip to slow down the elongation growth of the shoot. __________________ Ottawan-Z5a, Canada

tylerj

Registered:1347291507
Posts: 646

Posted 1442608644	Reply with quote #5

The potted ones should be fine Ed if you are bringing them in to a cold room in the house. I had a lot of green growth on many of mine that were stored in a concrete cellar under the porch which got pretty chilly. I didn't have any issues in the spring. The inground one maybe you will need to give it a bit more protection?? I wonder if anyone has tried those 1/2" foam pipe wraps?? Just a thought to give it a chance. Tyler __________________ London, Ontario zone 6a Wish List: Martinenca Rimada, Genovese Nero AF, Galicia Negra, Brooklyn White

rafaelissimmo

Registered:1335639347
Posts: 1,473

Posted 1442620113	Reply with quote #6

Ed Try some Silica added to watering can. It helps harden off. I have the Dyna Grow version. __________________ Zone 7b, Queens, New York

pitangadiego

Moderator
Registered:1188871011
Posts: 5,447

Posted 1442630786	Reply with quote #7

I am assuming that hardening is associated, naturally, with the coming of fall, which means cooler temps and shorter days. So, perhaps putting them in the shade to reduce heat, and sunlight, might be going in the right direction. I guess you could p;ut them in the frig, as well. ;-)) __________________ Encanto Farms Nursery http://encantofarms.com http://figs4fun.com http://webebananas.com "pitangadiego" everywhere

rcantor

Registered:1309799312
Posts: 5,724

Posted 1442636913	Reply with quote #8

I wonder what would happen if you put a layer of ice cubes on the soil every night. Maybe try that on a few and let us know how it works. __________________ Zone 6, MO Wish list: Galicia Negra, De La Reina - Pons, Genovese Nero - Rafed's, Sbayi, Souadi, Acciano, Any Rimada, Sodus Sicilian, any Bass, Pons or Axier fig, any great tasting fig.

drivewayfarmer

Registered:1260287641
Posts: 773

Posted 1442693037	Reply with quote #9

A potassium silicate source like Pro-Tekt or Sil-Matrix will help quite a bit . I've used it mixed in water for watering at the lowest label rate, haven't used it as a foliar application. Another available silica source if abundant in your area is horsetail, Equisetum arvense ,1 heaping cup dried herb to 1 gallon of water boil 20 minutes or more , strain, cool and water or foliar spray. One gallon of tea can be mixed into 4 gallons of water for application. I've used it mostly as an anti fungal plant treatment. but it also helps "ripen" the wood. __________________ Kerry Zone 5 NH Wish list :Galicia Negra , Col de Dame Blanca/Negra .

james

Registered:1189185103
Posts: 1,653

Posted 1442695360	Reply with quote #10

A combination of Jon and Kerry. Didn't you guys run for president? :S I do not believe (let the flogging begin) that continuing or discontinuing fertilizer has nearly so much to do with the continued growth of the tree as we might think. The plants produce their own "food" from photosynthesis which is dependent on sunlight. The shortening day is a trigger for the trees to go dormant. __________________ In containers - Littleton, CO (zone 5b) In ground - N.E of Austin, TX (zone 8b) 2016 Wish List: Dārk Pōrtuguese, Grānthāms Royāl, Lātarolla, Negrettā, Nōire de Bārbentāne, Rockāway Green, Viōlet Sepōr, Viōlette Dāuphine. Iranian figs are always welcome.

rcantor

Registered:1309799312
Posts: 5,724

Posted 1442704930	Reply with quote #11

Plants can't get nitrogen and many other nutrients from the air, so it has to come from fertilizer (or bacteria in the case of legumes and clover). No nitrogen, no amino acids. No amino acids, no protein. Photosynthesis can only produce glucose, oxygen and water. There's no DNA and no energy transfer without phosphorous. There's a wide range of plants where excess fertilizer is blamed for delaying dormancy and increasing the risk of cold damage. __________________ Zone 6, MO Wish list: Galicia Negra, De La Reina - Pons, Genovese Nero - Rafed's, Sbayi, Souadi, Acciano, Any Rimada, Sodus Sicilian, any Bass, Pons or Axier fig, any great tasting fig.

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