lkailburn

Hi everyone,

Let me start off by introducing my 3 little fig trees. Picked them up for cheap this year back in March or April. They are about 2 feet tall, barely enough to handle a crop but, over the course of the summer we ate about a dozen or more ripe figs. At first, the flavor was odd. The first fig was of course picked too early, and successive figs were then picked more and more ripe, especially when you see them start to droop on their own stem. YUM. The flavor quickly became addicting and i look forward to keeping these guys around for some time. Two are black mission, one is kadota. The two most common types, someday (with more space and a big house) i would love to expand to some of the more flavorful varieties.

On to my question(s):
I have a question for other fig growers who grow them in containers(and thus have winters too harsh for them to be planted outdoors). Now i understand they require dormacy to fruit, and most people have recommended an unheated garage for the winter. I thought "perfect! i have an unheated garage i can store them in".

Now my question is two fold. My detached garage has no windows, and thus the figs will receive no sunlight, except when anyone goes in and out of the garage and opens the door. Will this pose a problem even though the figs are dormant?
My second question is do i need to move them in before they go dormant or after they drop their leaves? We had our first snow yesterday, and the temps hovered around 32*. The figs looked fine, they are sitting under a covered porch next to the house. Then last night a bitter cold snap, it got down to the teens. The figs look a bit more droopy, but still have over half their leaves, bright and green, and have no signs of cold damage. So do i move them into the garage now or wait a little longer? The pain about our weather is the forecast for the weekend shows 60's :-P

Thanks for the help!

-Luke

EDIT: Also, i will be sure to post up some photos; the pictures are currently on my old phone back at the house.

sandy0225

I'd go ahead and take them in. I think probably they should have been taken in before that cold weather in the teens got there. You may end up with some dieback on the branches. It might not show up right away but may show up later. Or you might have just gotten by with it, only time will tell.
Sweep up the leaves as they fall off. if they're dormant as far as I know they don't need light. Most things need light if they have leaves, as the leaves do the photosynthesis. I would think when the leaves come off that wouldn't be happening as in maple trees and others that drop leaves. Of course someone here probably knows more about that than I do.

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Richard

Only about 100 chill hours, meaning that: between Nov. 1 and January 1, the number of hours below 45F degrees minus the number above 65F degrees is greater than or equal to 100 hours.

A few varieties of Figs are just fine with temperatures down to 10F while many varieties will perish in sustained temperatures below about 22F.

If and when you move them into the garage, clip off any leaves that are still on the plant. Do not let the soil in the pot dry out. This does not mean to keep it wet, but do not let the moisture level in the soil get low enough for the roots to dry out.

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oakshadows

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/water...e=46608&size=1

Got this plant last spring and didn't get around to finding it a home so it is still in the pot. I noticed a couple of days ago that it had bloomed and set fruit. We are in central Florida and this is the first fig we have grown. It is a black turkey fig and I have no idea if it will bring the fruit to harvest but will protect it as best possible.
Question:
Is this usual for figs in this part of the country?
Thanks

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sunfish

Fruits: The common fig bears a first crop, called the breba crop, in the spring on last season's growth. The second crop is borne in the fall on the new growth and is known as the main crop. In cold climates the breba crop is often destroyed by spring frosts. The matured "fruit" has a tough peel (pure green, green suffused with brown, brown or purple), often cracking upon ripeness, and exposing the pulp beneath. The interior is a white inner rind containing a seed mass bound with jelly-like flesh. The edible seeds are numerous and generally hollow, unless pollinated. Pollinated seeds provide the characteristic nutty taste of dried figs.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...G8Zhtg&cad=rja

I have a new crop on mine also

oakshadows

As always you come up with an answer. Thank you for your energy and for giving us so very many good posts. Thanks

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lkailburn

Thanks for the replies. I did infant move them into the garage that day I have not clipped off the remaining leaves yet but I will. I also put down a layer of cardboard and then an old shirt or two to keep the pots off the bare concrete floor.

Thanks!
-Luke