whoever I ask and wherever I see, all the trees had the same fade as mine did.
This winter was very brutal .

Nothing from the ground at all?

That'll be a huge loss of potentially hardy unknowns.

Oh good grief , I certainly hope not . That would be a major loss. I hope they show some life from the ground soon. My inground ( although I'm not in Queens) has yet to show anything.  

I am so sorry to hear that.  This indeed was a brutal winter. 

Bronx in-grounds....nothing at all.  I pray that the leaves will still sprout, even if it's late in the season.  The one Olive tree that was planted in some front yard, looks sad, very dry, and  very dead. 

I'm beginning to "smell' disaster, here.  I hope I'm wrong.


Frank

Figs4Life, the cuttings of the white and kos figs I got from you are doing well. If you need replacements for those trees, I can probably help out.

Wait until end of June….

[QUOTE=pako]

Wait until end of June….

Let's hope not.  It really is too early.  But if it sprouts from underground nodes those will have to be protected for years before they'll be as hardy as they once were.

    All seven in ground trees on my property died this winter...one 8yr. old Ischia Green, and 6 other 3yr. old trees all froze and died this winter...I think that the freeze went deeper into the ground this year and totaly froze the root systems on all the trees...I also had two fence posts that were 36" deep in the ground and surrounded by concrete that popped up 3 to 4 inches because of the "deep" freeze this year....will be sticking to large potted fig trees from here on out that can be stored in the tool shed during the winter.

[QUOTE=ForeverFigs]

    All seven in ground trees on my property died this winter...one 8yr. old Ischia Green, and 6 other 3yr. old trees all froze and died this winter...I think that the freeze went deeper into the ground this year and totaly froze the root systems on all the trees...I also had two fence posts that were 36" deep in the ground and surrounded by concrete that popped up 3 to 4 inches because of the "deep" freeze this year....will be sticking to large potted fig trees from here on out that can be stored in the tool shed during the winter.

My friend 15 yr old fig tree,the the whole tree turned brass/ yellowish color with some dark black spots . I scratched the bark down below to see ,but instead instead it was dry and white. One of my trees, I saw like a drip of honey coming out of the bottom of the tree, I use my feet to scrape it off and when i did that the whole skin came off like butter,wow, exposing the inside of the tree, I don't know what happened there, it looks like a disease or something. does anyone have any clue of what that is?

same story in illinois, worst winter we had in years. only 3 of 30 are showing signs of life. 

Can anyone pls tell me a list of the most cold hardy fig trees known. I have some fig trees to plant in their place, but I'm not sure which ones are cold hardy for my zone (6b-7) this is what I have: Adreano Genovise Nero Vasilika Sika Vale Negra Kathleen's Bulk Negrone Celeste Got due damel

[QUOTE=pako]

Wait until end of June….

My two protected in grounds were damaged but have lots of teeny buds, they will recover, best approach is to prune heavily, be patient, and forget about this years crop, hope for a better future. The good news is I rooted a couple of unknown Queens whites this winter so I saved those two, plus I sent a bunch of extra Queens cuttings to a certain member who is rooting them, so life goes on!!

[QUOTE=BronxFigs]Bronx in-grounds....nothing at all.  I pray that the leaves will still sprout, even if it's late in the season.  The one Olive tree that was planted in some front yard, looks sad, very dry, and  very dead. 

I'm beginning to "smell' disaster, here.  I hope I'm wrong.


Frank[/QUOTE]

Hi Frank,
how is your Area no gold doing? do you have it planned it in ground?
I covered mine a litle bit but it cracked in a few places
I've scratch it with my keys a little bit to see if it is green and shows that is good

[QUOTE=rafaelissimmo]My two protected in grounds were damaged but have lots of teeny buds, they will recover, best approach is to prune heavily, be patient, and forget about this years crop, hope for a better future. The good news is I rooted a couple of unknown Queens whites this winter so I saved those two, plus I sent a bunch of extra Queens cuttings to a certain member who is rooting them, so life goes on!![/QUOTE]

I see a lot of people in my neighborhood that did just that

Here is the Dominick tree that I cut over 500 cuttings and sent out to the group last November. I thought that if he died this year that it would be fitting. He was around long enough to send fig love to over 70 fig peeps.  No protection and as usual died to the ground. There is life however and he just never gives up. 
There is hope folks. I will update during the summer
 
 

Figs4Life:

Sadly, my "Atreano" did not survive this last winter.  In fact, it went into the back of the garbage truck just this past Monday.  The roots and base of the trunk were slimy and rotted.  I predict my "Red Italian"-unknown will shortly follow. All my trees were containerized...18-25 gallons.  This past winter will be one to remember for a long time, by many fig growers.  Too many of us have suffered terrible losses.  Nature always trumps man.

Very disheartening to read about all the damage and the destruction of our fig collections.  A sad, cold, spring-'14.

Better days are coming.


Frank

Are protected in-ground trees dead to the ground too?

Frank, as you know I don't know much about figs.  If you need cuttings in the late fall I would be happy to share some.  I've been told by Gurney it is an Italian Honey fig.  It looks healthy but I don't know how to identify virus.

for those who got extra snow, take heart. snow is a great insulator andshould protect roots well.

Some might not be dead because the fig trees are taking a long time to break dormancy.

I am keeping my fingers crossed because my LdA, VdB and Keddie look like goners. Maybe something will come up from the roots. This is my second VdB that didn't make it. Maybe me and VdB are not meant to be...

[QUOTE=Ekierk]Some might not be dead because the fig trees are taking a long time to break dormancy.[/QUOTE]
that's true, and plus it looks that we are having a late summer here in Queens NY

Don't lose hope yet.  I was getting ready to toss one of my potted figs that I left outside too long.  It had been in the greenhouse for 2 months and looked totally dead.  Last week I noticed some little green sprouts and it is coming back.

I am predicting a lot of rain this summer. the weather have changed a lot these days

[URL=http://s1276.photobucket.com/user/Gold4Figs/media/IMG_20140205_123430_544_zps22f1aef8.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y467/Gold4Figs/IMG_20140205_123430_544_zps22f1aef8.jpg[/IMG][/URL] a 15 year old tree with a foot wide trunk died

Mature trees with a healthy root structure planted where the ground was snow covered or next to a warm foundation will probably grow out again from the ground even if the trunk and branches were killed by the cold.

Hang in there guys.  I am in 7b and my winter protected 6-7 year old trees all died back to the ground this year.  If that was not bad enough, the new Carolina beetle plague has attacked the dead trunks.  Have cut all back to the ground. Just in the last week or so I am starting to see new shoots appearing from underground nodes.  We warm up a lot earlier than you do although later than Joe in Athens so all may not be lost yet...just taking forever. Hope, patience and Good luck.

 It still works in the 5 boroughs, North Jersey and Connecticut.  Note grape vine shading the car.   :-)

[QUOTE=coop951]Here is the Dominick tree that I cut over 500 cuttings and sent out to the group last November. I thought that if he died this year that it would be fitting. He was around long enough to send fig love to over 70 fig peeps.  No protection and as usual died to the ground. There is life however and he just never gives up. 
There is hope folks. I will update during the summer
 
 

[/QUOTE] The Dominick Tree is Jersey Strong. 

Great picture, Joe.

7 out of 9 in-ground trees are coming back to life in zone 7a.  These were all unprotected and just 1 year since planted in the ground with the exception of a 3 year old tree.  The other two may still come back to life.  Top growth is dead on all of them though.

[QUOTE=Joe_Athens1945] It still works in the 5 boroughs, North Jersey and Connecticut.  Note grape vine shading the car.   :-)[/QUOTE]what did you use to wrap it? did you put anything inside?

George,
I recently pruned several large trees (5) in The Bronx and they did have extensive damage, even on 1" and larger limbs, but 2" and larger limbs and trunks are still alive, with green cambium layers. Several of the 1" - 2" limbs actually were dead on 1/2 of the entire length ( 1/2 lengthwise had brown, dead cambium).

Most of this damage occurred after the cold spell in February. I have pictures of healthy limbs on these trees at the end of January, but brown, dead limbs on the same trees in early March. 

Pete,
  I've seen that same kind of lengthwise 1/2-dead 1/2-live effect twice now.  One was on some cuttings I received from forum member. The other was from some cuttings I just picked up from the roadside here in Central NJ.  The tree was wrapped (though not well) and reasonably well protected from wind behind a garage in a tree-filled suburban back yard.  I think the owner just cut everything to the ground to start fresh.  Most of the branches I collected will turn out to be dead, but there was a hint of green at the bottom of 1 or 2 of them. 
  Yesterday I talked to a nursery owner with lots of relatives in the Chambersburg section of Trenton, NJ -- an area rich with Italian heritage.  His relatives are all reporting dieback down to the ground on their unprotected trees.  (...no mention of protected ones.)

  I just hope people don't start yanking them out prematurely...
Jim

I can vouch that there are many others off the forum who've suffered a loss too. Last week I was at Queens Garden Center in Whitestone off the cross island. The owner and I were talking, he told me that he has gotten dozens of calls from people asking if he had any trees for sale because they've all been lost. He said he's never seem a winter with so much fig damage. I actually did take a few cuttings from a local tree on May 2nd, no leaves.. Nothing and the tree appeared dead, but I thought what the hell I might as well try and root it... Rooted within days in a ziplock bag! Yet the tree still looks dead... So I suspect those who are predicting that the trees are just taking a snooze may be right!'

[QUOTE=Joeturbo26]I can vouch that there are many others off the forum who've suffered a loss too. Last week I was at Queens Garden Center in Whitestone off the cross island. The owner and I were talking, he told me that he has gotten dozens of calls from people asking if he had any trees for sale because they've all been lost. He said he's never seem a winter with so much fig damage.

I actually did take a few cuttings from a local tree on May 2nd, no leaves.. Nothing and the tree appeared dead, but I thought what the hell I might as well try and root it... Rooted within days in a ziplock bag! Yet the tree still looks dead... So I suspect those who are predicting that the trees are just taking a snooze may be right!'[/QUOTE]

that's where I live too,in Whitestone , I went to that nursery lol.

[QUOTE=Figs4Life][QUOTE=Joeturbo26]I can vouch that there are many others off the forum who've suffered a loss too. Last week I was at Queens Garden Center in Whitestone off the cross island. The owner and I were talking, he told me that he has gotten dozens of calls from people asking if he had any trees for sale because they've all been lost. He said he's never seem a winter with so much fig damage.

I actually did take a few cuttings from a local tree on May 2nd, no leaves.. Nothing and the tree appeared dead, but I thought what the hell I might as well try and root it... Rooted within days in a ziplock bag! Yet the tree still looks dead... So I suspect those who are predicting that the trees are just taking a snooze may be right!'[/QUOTE]

that's where I live too,in Whitestone , I went to that nursery lol.
[/QUOTE]

Lol.... Did you see the guys lawn behind A&S on 23rd Ave & 163rd St? His lawn is greener than an emerald and his bananas are in the ground haha.

This is what we have in Queens today. This was a glorious tree. I have a 3 year old from the mother.

[QUOTE=rafaelissimmo]This is what we have in Queens today. This was a glorious tree. I have a 3 year old from the mother.[/QUOTE]

Thats going to come back.

Rafael- 

Just got back from a food shopping trip, and I deliberately drove through my "special" fig route on the way home.  Not one of the dozens of the larger, in-ground fig trees have shown even the slightest hint of sprouting.  Most of the older trees, have that burnt, rusty look on most of the branches.  A few of my favorite trees that have been around for decades, with 6"-10" diameter trunks, look just as bad as all the rest of the other fig trees.  I have a feeling that if any of these trees have survived, it will be from newer sprouts growing from around the roots.  All the older growth seems to have been toasted by the freezing winter.  Can it be possible that all these trees are still in a very deep coma?

Most of my containerized trees are gone and the few that I had hoped would maybe send out some green buds.... are looking worse as the days go by.  But, on a happier note....my brand new, "OLYMPIAN" fig trees are growing quite vigorously, have grown some new leaves, and have put on a few inches over the last month.  At least I have something to water.

Frank

[QUOTE=BronxFigs]Rafael- 

Just got back from a food shopping trip, and I deliberately drove through my "special" fig route on the way home.  Not one of the dozens of the larger, in-ground fig trees have shown even the slightest hint of sprouting.  Most of the older trees, have that burnt, rusty look on most of the branches.  A few of my favorite trees that have been around for decades, with 6"-10" diameter trunks, look just as bad as all the rest of the other fig trees.  I have a feeling that if any of these trees have survived, it will be from newer sprouts growing from around the roots.  All the older growth seems to have been toasted by the freezing winter.  Can it be possible that all these trees are still in a very deep coma?

Most of my containerized trees are gone and the few that I had hoped would maybe send out some green buds.... are looking worse as the days go by.  But, on a happier note....my brand new, "OLYMPIAN" fig trees are growing quite vigorously, have grown some new leaves, and have put on a few inches over the last month.  At least I have something to water.

Frank

[/QUOTE]

I think it is very possible that the trees in the Bronx suffered badly from the cold winter the NE endured this year - but that the trees may in fact be in a deep sleep. I think patience here is required. Tough, but don't be so hasty to cut it down and pull the roots out just yet. Why not a scratch test? Might make you feel more optimistic, Rafael. With your fingernail or maybe a  Swiss Army knife, slice a small piece of the outer bark off the tree about an inch above the ground. If what you see is greenish in color...celebrate!

Joe, in Georgia, but formerly of Elizabeth, NJ.

Hey Joe just a clarification-that's not my tree, I have my own that is 3 years old in container. But I love that mother tree-I met my daughter's mother at that house!

[QUOTE=rafaelissimmo]Hey Joe just a clarification-that's not my tree, I have my own that is 3 years old in container. But I love that mother tree-I met my daughter's mother at that house![/QUOTE]

Great story, Rafael- an important tree for you!  BTW... nice brick work on that house. I am decended from a long ling of bricklayers and I still appreciate fine brick work.  

Ciao,

Joe 

Joe-Athens1945...

Scratched many of these fig trees.  Instead of a nice juicy green under the bark, I see a dry, sickly-yellow coloration.  Maybe later in the season good things will happen and the trees will resprout.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed.  Thousands of fig trees are planted all over NYC....some neighborhoods have a fig tree in every yard.  Very sad if they were killed off by the freezing cold weather.


Frank

[QUOTE=BronxFigs]Joe-Athens1945...

Scratched many of these fig trees.  Instead of a nice juicy green under the bark, I see a dry, sickly-yellow coloration.  Maybe later in the season good things will happen and the trees will re sprout.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed.  Thousands of fig trees are planted all over NYC....some neighborhoods have a fig tree in every yard.  Very sad if they were killed off by the freezing cold weather.


Frank[/QUOTE]Sad indeed. I often think of the Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx and Staten Island as the home of the American fig tree.

those old trees, mostly from italy were a treasure.

I just pruned this tree 4 hours ago, Italian Honey (Unknown Nancy Light),in the Bronx, NYC, it had lots of green buds emerging below 4'.  I was able to prune about five 30 gallon garbage bags full of cuttings, but 95% was dead wood, all branches smaller than 1-1/2" caliper.
       .
I've been given permission to prune and train the tree as a bush form.