Snow is coming!!!

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DevIsgro

Registered:1420826837
Posts: 637

Posted 1477148276 · Edited	Reply with quote #1

Hello all, woke up this morning to 54°F and rainy (pretty typical last month), and a 55℅ chance of snow! That has now risen to 59℅. Anyone else expecting snowfall? I'm happy that I prepped my trees for dormancy earlier this week after a we had 29° for a few early morning hours last Friday. A bunch of the stems have already dropped, guess I had better prep my basement this afternoon for storage, right? __________________ Currently growing 50-60 varieties, this season's cuttings dependant. Hopefully I'll get to taste a few more this year...

nkesh099

Registered:1267670012
Posts: 863

Posted 1477151566	Reply with quote #2

No chance of snow here, but it was 42 degrees at 5am this morning. Just two days ago temps were in 80s and 90s, then we got a sudden cold front with several inches of rain. Navid.

MStanleyross

Registered:1451670149
Posts: 108

Posted 1477153576	Reply with quote #3

Oh my, seems so early! __________________ Wish List: Sodus Scilian, Dall' Osso, Kathleen Black, I-258, Malta Black, Ischia Black, Persian White, Native de Argentile, Lampeira Preta, Sofeno Petro and any LSU or any duplicates you may have. Zone 7 East Tn.

chrisb9341

Registered:1432594240
Posts: 45

Posted 1477153672	Reply with quote #4

I am mostly on the lookout for low temps as far as when I bring mine in to the garage. I would rather have 32 F with snow than 22 F and clear. __________________ Chris Ballston Spa Ny Zone 5a

SCfigFanatic

Registered:1450004954
Posts: 472

Posted 1477156617	Reply with quote #5

Wow I'm still picking daily and my leaves are not gone yet. Location makes a world of difference. Enjoy and good work. Doug __________________ South Carolina zone 7b-8 Off and on member since 10/1/2012

FiggyFrank

Registered:1347560723
Posts: 2,713

Posted 1477168716 · Edited	Reply with quote #6

Too early to hear about snow! Meanwhile, I picked these from my yard today... ;) __________________ Frank zone 7a - VA

DevIsgro

Registered:1420826837
Posts: 637

Posted 1477169051	Reply with quote #7

Hello everyone, thanks for your responses! It's neat to see how different our growing conditions are! As this is my first year of getting fruit it gives me a bit if a ripening guideline, and for sure until we are permanently settled and I can get greenhouses after September 15 ripening doesn't seem to be a thing. @Frank, what are those? They look awesome :) __________________ Currently growing 50-60 varieties, this season's cuttings dependant. Hopefully I'll get to taste a few more this year...

OttawanZ5

Registered:1192897779
Posts: 2,551

Posted 1477172273	Reply with quote #8

No snow, but -5C on Wednesday -5°C and that should start the leaves to drop so pots can be moved inside for winter storage. So far fig plants resisting to drop leaves where as maple trees are dropping leaves. __________________ Ottawan-Z5a, Canada

snaglpus

Registered:1244258188
Posts: 4,072

Posted 1477175944	Reply with quote #9

Wow.....that's too bad. __________________ Dennis Charlotte, North Carolina/Zone 8a

FiggyFrank

Registered:1347560723
Posts: 2,713

Posted 1477176458	Reply with quote #10

Quote: Originally Posted by DevIsgro @Frank, what are those? They look awesome :) Those are all Marseilles Black VS. Thanks! __________________ Frank zone 7a - VA

Garlic_Mike

Registered:1442372397
Posts: 251

Posted 1477176791	Reply with quote #11

Wonderful picture Frank! Another one that would look great framed in my living room. I had an I-258, Pellegrino and Longue d' Aout today. Many thanks. If the Longue was any bigger I think it would be called a melon. Devisgro, What is "prepping" for dormancy? My first time for this phase of figonomitry Thanks. Mike.

pitangadiego

Moderator
Registered:1188871011
Posts: 5,447

Posted 1477179133	Reply with quote #12

We just had several days in the 90s and trees that got whipsawed in the last heat/cold cycle in Sept., and lost their leaves, are reflushing with new growth. No snow in the forecast, maybe not in my lifetime, even. __________________ Encanto Farms Nursery http://encantofarms.com http://figs4fun.com http://webebananas.com "pitangadiego" everywhere

tinyfish

Registered:1472353452
Posts: 223

Posted 1477186943	Reply with quote #13

Snow is a bad word....

DevIsgro

Registered:1420826837
Posts: 637

Posted 1477199374 · Edited	Reply with quote #14

@Frank: They look very tasty. I bought my Marseilles black labeled like that, no vs, so I don't think that I have the same strain. We will see in a season or two lol @Mike: I started after the last mini cold snap of a few hours of 29°. I cut the leaves that were frost damaged or just damaged by nature etc before that point. I have noticed that leaves that are damaged are first to be dropped by a tree if it is stressed in any way followed by those that are "imperfect"/blemished. This way my actions follow normal patterns. I also double checked to make sure that no buds were trying to reform, and pinched the few that attempted. About 5 days later the first leaf stems of the cut leaves began to fall and I cut the remaining leaves, a few of which were already looking blemished. I wanted the trees to go dormant as naturally as possible while minimizing stress, knowing full well that my cold temps drop too fast when they do and a fully natural cycle was out if the question. Only one of my larger trees was 90℅ dormant, even with 40° weather and many nights hovering 32-34°, most barely had lost any leaves. I suspect that my cooler summers made the cool fall seem less drastic but have no way of knowing for certain. Perhaps I am over thinking things, but I want the trees to conserve energy before dormancy and recognize environmental weather stress, without stressing the trees out. I know from experience that they attempt to hold onto their leaves as long as possible. And even sacrificing wood to do so. This is obviously undesirable. (This has happened when the cutting makes insufficient roots and in attempt to sustain leaves drains the cutting) I would let them brave colder temps but this season they got a bit if a late start and their branch tips still have a bit of green on most. I double checked pinching buds so they don't "freak out" from leaf loss and try to grow a new one, which a few tried to do. Hopefully my energy conservation efforts will be rewarded by a massive spring growth flush ;) @pitangadiego It is true that you live in a state with 0℅ chance of rain and high heat, so snow is a bit if a myth! __________________ Currently growing 50-60 varieties, this season's cuttings dependant. Hopefully I'll get to taste a few more this year...

Garlic_Mike

Registered:1442372397
Posts: 251

Posted 1477253007	Reply with quote #15

Thanks for the information. I will start /catch-up with the leaves and pinching. Do you clip all the little figs? And when do you give up on the rest? How long after this do you clip the plants? I am looking to cover them and try to keep coo in a washroom. I know, good luck with that. Especially if you have seen the plants or my little house. Thanks for all the help, Mike

Smyfigs

Registered:1443660141
Posts: 1,658

Posted 1477277258	Reply with quote #16

We did get some rain today but its nowhere near feeling like fall. one if my trees has a little fig growing now?! Strange. __________________ Meg-Hardiness Zone 10a Looking for... Socorro Blk Wuhan Jolly Tiger Lamperia Preta Herschtetten St. Jean Black Ischia "The best way to show my gratitude is to accept everything, even my problems, with joy." ~ Mother Teresa "Do not pass by a man in need for you may be the hand of God to him." ~Proverbs 3:27~ "He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted." ~Job 5:4

DevIsgro

Registered:1420826837
Posts: 637

Posted 1477284758 · Edited	Reply with quote #17

Hello Mike! From what I've read the average ripening time falls between 90 and 110 days. So when I got a few fruit starts in the last couple days of August I pinched them. I had three mostly ripened figs in September, but I just didn't have the sun and warmth to finish them. If only I had had one more week of 68-70° and sun. I kept them on the tree hopefully, as they were mostly ripe, but my own findings have been in keeping with those of other growers. Fruits don't ripen if temps are below 50, and my day ranges for the past month have been 45-55 but rarely breaking 50 more than a few hours. After the night of mild frost I clipped the figs, they were frozen. I would check last two years forecast to see when the temps seem to drop and how hard for your area and make the decision on fruits then. I would guess that if it's not showing color it won't ripen this late for you though, and why waste energy on it? As for clipping plants, I saw a very informative suggestion from pitangadiego earlier this week detailing the same clip leaves let stems fall naturally method. He said there that once the stems fall you have induced dormancy and can trim, but to be sure to do it before frost as it can damage wood. Sounded very logical and reasonable to me. I am tempted to cut a couple of my recent additions that are a bit leggy, but I know a spring prune or air layer might cause more bushiness so I'm attempting to wait patiently... Yes good luck for sure! Your trees are quite large and well established! I wish I lived closer, I'd love to come help! Hope this helps some, I'm no expert but I'm always trying to learn! Devin __________________ Currently growing 50-60 varieties, this season's cuttings dependant. Hopefully I'll get to taste a few more this year...

chucklikestofish

Registered:1391263141
Posts: 1,316

Posted 1477312249	Reply with quote #18

Quote: Originally Posted by DevIsgro Hello all, woke up this morning to 54°F and rainy (pretty typical last month), and a 55℅ chance of snow! That has now risen to 59℅. Anyone else expecting snowfall? I'm happy that I prepped my trees for dormancy earlier this week after a we had 29° for a few early morning hours last Friday. A bunch of the stems have already dropped, guess I had better prep my basement this afternoon for storage, right? ~hi devin, how are the airlayers doing i sent you? i sent a pm didn't get a reply ?? __________________

DevIsgro

Registered:1420826837
Posts: 637

Posted 1477314124 · Edited	Reply with quote #19

Hello Chuck! They are doing great, the Kathleens black is looking like it might pop a new bud soon, and the desert king has two buds that will definitely open in the next few days. So far they have only dropped one leaf between the two of them, so shipping and transplant shocks weren't too bad! I took your advice and placed them with my rooting/ed cuttings rather than forcing dormancy. Sorry I didn't get back to you right away, didn't mean to worry you! __________________ Currently growing 50-60 varieties, this season's cuttings dependant. Hopefully I'll get to taste a few more this year...

jdsfrance

Registered:1376988473
Posts: 2,591

Posted 1477314943	Reply with quote #20

Still no frost for now. Snow may come in December. The figtrees are still producing ripe figs. I have some 30 figs from last friday that rotted on the balcony. I'll have to trash them before they smell too bad... and I'll go harvest some fresh ones :) The problem is they don't last long once harvested, because they ripened in the milder/cooler weather, so as soon as you bring them in the warmer air of your house ... they ripen and turn moldy in one day. So I need to eat or process them the same day that I fetch them ... __________________ ------------------------ Climate from -25°C to + 35°C Only cold hardy figtrees can make it here

chucklikestofish

Registered:1391263141
Posts: 1,316

Posted 1477315861	Reply with quote #21

Quote: Originally Posted by DevIsgro Hello Chuck! They are doing great, the Kathleens black is looking like it might pop a new bud soon, and the desert king has two buds that will definitely open in the next few days. So far they have only dropped one leaf between the two of them, so shipping and transplant shocks weren't too bad! I took your advice and placed them with my rooting/ed cuttings rather than forcing dormancy. Sorry I didn't get back to you right away, didn't mean to worry you! ~ that sounds good i just wondered. i like to keep tabs on trees i send out. so far so good on all,i sent trees to me. fl. pa. al. mo. all seem to be really doing good.~thanks for the up date,hope things work out for you otherwise ~! __________________

Garlic_Mike

Registered:1442372397
Posts: 251

Posted 1477356073	Reply with quote #22

Devisgro, Thanks for all the information. It is a great help and thanks for taking the time to post it all. Mike

macmike

Registered:1312051792
Posts: 113

Posted 1477363244	Reply with quote #23

Wher is the snow? I miss it. Oh, tell me please we are going to get some this year in zone 8. Live in zone 5 got more than my share. Move here no snow at all! __________________ Mike Hughes, D.Min., Th.D. - Minister  Springhill church of Christ 902 Janice Dr. Springhill, LA. 71085 Rooting: LSU Hollier, Kadota, LSU SY, MB VS, EBT, Ronde de Bordeaux, Emerald Strawberry, LSU Purple, Mission, JH Adriatic, Strawberry Verte, Osborn, chicago Hardy Wish list: LSU Red, Adriatic JH, Zone 8 Ebay ID: Macmik12 member of Ebay since 2000 Web: http://www.mikealrhughes.com E-mail: mail@mikealrhughes.com http://www.gardenweb.com/members/macmikeal

DevIsgro

Registered:1420826837
Posts: 637

Posted 1477366557 · Edited	Reply with quote #24

Quote: Originally Posted by jdsfrance Still no frost for now. Snow may come in December. The figtrees are still producing ripe figs. I have some 30 figs from last friday that rotted on the balcony. I'll have to trash them before they smell too bad... and I'll go harvest some fresh ones :) The problem is they don't last long once harvested, because they ripened in the milder/cooler weather, so as soon as you bring them in the warmer air of your house ... they ripen and turn moldy in one day. So I need to eat or process them the same day that I fetch them ... Wow that's a nice little feast you let get away from you! Your balcony predicament reminds me of my mothers garden lol. Every year she plants about 50 tomato plants, but she doesn't pick every day, so the insects eat well. It makes sense about the temperature difference, I never thought about it before so thank you! I am not picking so many now that I cannot just eat them all fresh! My mother stores hers in the fridge and savors them throughout the week, they seem to hold okay that way. Have you tried refrigerating yours? By process do you mean make fig preserve/jam with them? I would imagine that if you were planning to make preserve/jam, fig cakes, or eat them over ice cream you could cut them in halves or quarters and freeze them flat, then bag for later use. That's the sort of thing that we do with fruits in the restaurant world. __________________ Currently growing 50-60 varieties, this season's cuttings dependant. Hopefully I'll get to taste a few more this year...

DevIsgro

Registered:1420826837
Posts: 637

Posted 1477366815	Reply with quote #25

Quote: Originally Posted by chucklikestofish ~ that sounds good i just wondered. i like to keep tabs on trees i send out. so far so good on all,i sent trees to me. fl. pa. al. mo. all seem to be really doing good.~thanks for the up date,hope things work out for you otherwise ~! Yes, I definitely understand that! I am glad that your trees are all doing well in their new homes! Will you be going to the Staten Island Fig fest next fall? I'm considering taking off from work and making the drive. Its nearly nine hours for me, but it sounds like a blast! My boss made fun of me and asked if we all dress up in green tights like Robin Hood and his merry men when I told him I was thinking of going to "Figcon" __________________ Currently growing 50-60 varieties, this season's cuttings dependant. Hopefully I'll get to taste a few more this year...

DevIsgro

Registered:1420826837
Posts: 637

Posted 1477366947	Reply with quote #26

Quote: Originally Posted by Garlic_Mike Devisgro, Thanks for all the information. It is a great help and thanks for taking the time to post it all. Mike You betcha! I am glad that it was helpful! __________________ Currently growing 50-60 varieties, this season's cuttings dependant. Hopefully I'll get to taste a few more this year...

DevIsgro

Registered:1420826837
Posts: 637

Posted 1477367192	Reply with quote #27

Quote: Originally Posted by macmike Wher is the snow? I miss it. Oh, tell me please we are going to get some this year in zone 8. Live in zone 5 got more than my share. Move here no snow at all! Well you just killed my chances of moving to zone 8 haha. My wife read that over my shoulder and said that you cant have a winter without snow, so we are never moving that warm! Ah well. We just have snow flurries so far, nothing sticking so far because the ground isn't frozen solid yet, but the blankets of snow are coming lol __________________ Currently growing 50-60 varieties, this season's cuttings dependant. Hopefully I'll get to taste a few more this year...

jdsfrance

Registered:1376988473
Posts: 2,591

Posted 1477385541	Reply with quote #28

Hi, Living in a flat, my freezer is a small one, so no place inside for the figs. Plus, I tried one to freeze some, and I was not completely happy with the outcome. As for refrigerating them, I don't like to eat them cold. IMO, fruits are not as tasty when cold/refreshed; teeth are not happy; and stomach neither . So I prefer to eat them at orchard temperature, thus I put them on the balcony (between 7°C and 15°C for now - 45°F/60°F). I haven't tried to dry them, as I feel that it would take a lot of time and energy to do so and I would have to figure how to store them afterwards. I'm just starting to master the jam making. So I just make jam for now. But I have made more than enough jars of fig jam for this year... May have to sell some ... LOL . __________________ ------------------------ Climate from -25°C to + 35°C Only cold hardy figtrees can make it here

Cynthia24

Registered:1455944036
Posts: 14

Posted 1477788135	Reply with quote #29

Quote: Originally Posted by jdsfrance Still no frost for now. Snow may come in December. The figtrees are still producing ripe figs. I have some 30 figs from last friday that rotted on the balcony. I'll have to trash them before they smell too bad... and I'll go harvest some fresh ones :) The problem is they don't last long once harvested, because they ripened in the milder/cooler weather, so as soon as you bring them in the warmer air of your house ... they ripen and turn moldy in one day. So I need to eat or process them the same day that I fetch them ... __________________ Cynthia Bliss

Cynthia24

Registered:1455944036
Posts: 14

Posted 1477788228	Reply with quote #30

Ever try putting them in the frig after they are ripe? May be they wouldn't mold that way. Just be sure to put therm on a paper towel to absorb any moisture. __________________ Cynthia Bliss

Figfanatic57

Registered:1460217336
Posts: 125

Posted 1477834777	Reply with quote #31

Sorry, could not resist. It's going to be 93/68 today. Beginning tomorrow the highs are only in the 80s,that are the norm. The first time I lived in snow, I said "why do people live in snow"? It's probably what you say when its over 115° here and easily over the 100s in the summer. The only good thing is it a longer growing season for my Figs.

DevIsgro

Registered:1420826837
Posts: 637

Posted 1477835335	Reply with quote #32

Quote: Originally Posted by Figfanatic57 Sorry, could not resist. It's going to be 93/68 today. Beginning tomorrow the highs are only in the 80s,that are the norm. The first time I lived in snow, I said "why do people live in snow"? It's probably what you say when its over 115° here and easily over the 100s in the summer. The only good thing is it a longer growing season for my Figs. Honestly that's the only reason I would love to California. But the cost of land out there is nuts...and I think I would miss the snow to be honest. __________________ Currently growing 50-60 varieties, this season's cuttings dependant. Hopefully I'll get to taste a few more this year...

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