I use 1 or 2  tomato cages (they stack)  to cover the bundle. These are the ones I use for tomatoes in the summer and covering figs in the winter http://i.imgur.com/yQT385N.jpg

Then wrap with tar paper and top with a tar paper hat which can be easily removed should I get unusual heat spell. The dirt at the bottom keeps mice from consuming the bark.

Looks like this 

Here’s how they work their magic. The exoskeletons of crabs, lobsters, shrimp, crayfish and countless insects contain a substance called chitin (pronounced KYE-tin), a slow-release source of the nitrogen that plants need. Because it doesn’t leach out of the soil, it doesn’t pollute waterways the way soluble nitrogen fertilizers do.

But that’s not all. When crustacean shells are added to the soil, they stimulate and increase populations of chitin-devouring bacteria and fungi. Once these have decomposed the shells, they go on to devour certain chitinous pests, most notably root-knot nematodes, which can lead to poor yields in a number of crops.

The shells also contain calcium carbonate, the key ingredient in garden lime. Calcium is another essential element for plant health, and it raises the pH of the soil in areas that are too acidic. The shells of mollusks such as oysters, mussels and clams are also rich in calcium. Those don’t break down as rapidly as crustaceans do, but that’s not a defect. We see the white clamshell fragments in our dark earth as time-release calcium pills at work.

Gardeners who don’t live near a coast where shellfish waste is plentiful might make a deal with seafood restaurants, offering to take it away as an even exchange. But they can also buy dried, ground crab or shrimp shells in bags. This is also a good option if neighbors object to fresh seafood waste. (Look for pure meal without additives, such as urea.) If local stores don’t carry them, check online sources such as Peaceful Valley Farm Supply.

Shellfish meal can be added, raked in or tilled just before planting, but whole crustacean shells are best chopped up, turned under and allowed to mellow in the soil for a month or more. Leaving them on the soil surface, as we once did with some crab shells when the ground was frozen, is a bad idea. They attracted flocks of sea gulls, whose habit it is to pick up shells and break them by dropping them on shoreline rocks — or in this case our neighbors’ cars.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/home/from-seabed-to-veggie-bed/2016/03/21/1733d8e4-ea08-11e5-bc08-3e03a5b41910_story.html

No, I've never used any kind of wood product in my soil, I read a while back as it decomposes it can mess with the nitrogen.

http://www.nola.com/homegarden/index.ssf/2014/03/does_wood_mulch_deplete_the_so.html

I've had good success with waking them up 3-4 weeks early inside but haven't done it in a few years, maybe next year.

This is their 5th year. Every year I usually pull them out, shave about 2 inches off the sides, 4-5 inches off the bottom and put them back in.

There is this Sushi/Japanese place in town that throws them out every couple of weeks. They also throw out square 4 gallon buckets from Pickled Ginger, I stocked up :)

 

Your welcome Pete. Secaucus must be good for BM, You're only 10 minutes east of me,  never thought of putting one in the ground.

Picked a Yuge one today even though it was not quite ripe. Ants were making a concerted effort to puncture a crack in the side so it was now or never.

 

   

Puts on lots of figs, just about a year old, rooted around last December

 

On the plus side I spend almost nothing to heat the 2nd floor. Leds are the way to go but incredibly expensive, the 1000w before the sale is almost as much as my first car

http://www.blackdogled.com/products-led/led-grow-lights.html

That's me and my first car on page 3 :)

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/04/28/pontiac.love.irpt/index.html?iref=24hours

You need special ballasts/enclosed fixtures/sockets. HPS/MH put out an incredible amount of heat. In the winter they practically heat my entire  2 1/2 room 2nd floor. If I run them early spring I need A/C to cool things off.

Easy to calculate electricity cost. Watts × 1.15 (approximate ballast waste) ÷ 1000 × number of hours per day × 30 × cost per kilowatt (check your bill) last I looked mine was .185

 

Someone contacted me through eBay and asked that I comment. The picture below was taken fall 2014.  The tree was about 1 1/2 years old, cutting rooted mid 2013, not that big, had about 10 figs.

2015 was a complete loss for me. Removing the containers from the garage I hurt my back. I pulled the 1st 20 gallon tub into position and that was it. I couldn't walk for days and was in pain the whole summer. I was terrified to move/pull/lift anything. All my containers (except 1) spent the whole summer outside the front of the garage in 90-100% shade. Some varieties did not put on figs, all formed figs very late and the ones that did, less than normal. We'll see how it goes this year.

 

on a side note, Home Depot was closing out these half priced Mini Oyster Mushroom Farms. Bought 6 of them, started this one about 5 days ago.

 



Boy these things are really cooking, 12 hours later

 

supposed to look like this when ready