Protecting Fig Trees in Zone 6

[@ngohung49]

😊😊😊Wonderful 🎉🎉🎉 Are your figs still surviving during the ❄️winter? Would you do a video to update about your figs? Tks

[@gardenwiseadventures]

I will do an update video once I start seeing new growth in the spring. They do look good so far!

[@mattjaren7546]

​@@gardenwiseadventurescant wait!

[@rexmonarch2]

When I lived in zone 5b Colorado the problem I had was early freezes before I could harvest much fruit. It was frustrating to have such luxuriant growth on my fig bushes loaded with fruit and then boom an early September freeze would wreck everything. Two years I moved to Florida and I dug up the fig bushes and took them with me. They are living happily ever after down here.

[@gardenwiseadventures]

That is our issue here too! Florida sounds like a beautiful solution!

[@bobbun9630]

I'm in Northwest Arkansas, technically zone 7a these days, though historically 6b and recently have seen -10F last year and -20F back in 2021. This last year I had my new figs (Chicago Hardy) unprotected and they froze to the ground. I have been getting fruit for about a month, though. Most likely the length of the growing season, spring rain, and the summer heat make a difference in whether you can get a reliable crop if your plants freeze to the ground. I'm planning on bending the trees to the ground and burying in woodchips once they go dormant this year. No frost just yet as i post this.

[@gardenwiseadventures]

@@bobbun9630 I would love to hear how bending them and burying them works!

[@charlesdevier8203]

mid-Missouri Zone 6A I have 3 Chicago Hardy figs and two Improved Celeste planted in ground, three of which are in their third winter. I also cover some of them with a plywood box and tarp. This past December, temps got down to -7 F; a little colder than we usually get. I'm sure the covered figs will be ok.

[@gardenwiseadventures]

I hope they are OK! It's amazing how hardy they can be!

[@liamdrinkswater5334]

Hi Charles, I live in Columbia Mo, and I was wondering how your figs fare, being in the same climate and all. I just bought a few fig plants myself, and I wanna know what I can expect to survive this winter. Also, do you use any external heat source, I know that many people in zone 6 and down use stuff like Christmas lights to keep the plants warmer.

[@chipsammich2078]

​@@liamdrinkswater5334I live near St. Louis and have a Turkey fig (I Think..) last winter was first time in 5-6 years that the winter killed it to the ground.. I ended up cutting everything off at ground level.. Its now July 4th and it's about 3ft tall again..

[@loiscutting1716]

Thanks much for your video. I have a zone 5 fig that has never been planted outside but will try to put it out next winter. It has become very large grown inside so will take several cuttings soon to start new trees. Last winter the temps did not get below 10 F above with this winter the temps dropped to around zero a couple days. The ground has not frozen last winter nor this winter so plan to try to plant a couple figs on the south side of the building where it is protected from wind and weather. The last fifteen years I have had a crepe myrtle on that side of the building that has bloomed every summer so am hoping for success with figs. I live in central lower Michigan. We are considered to be in USDA zone 6A now as our winters become warmer every year.

[@gardenwiseadventures]

That sounds exciting! If you have a Crepe Myrtle that survives, then a covered fig in the same microclimate should do well!

[@robertkreiling1746]

Your doing a good job there . But I have learned that frost conducts directly through plastic . But if you would use some sections of old cotton bed sheets on top that would take care of that . And cotton sheets breath and do not hold moister

[@gardenwiseadventures]

That is good advice! Thank you!

[@thechaosgardener]

Decreasing watering in fall can induce dormancy

[@gardenwiseadventures]

Thank you!

[@amarissimus29]

I use mylar bubble wrap as well. It's great. I do let the first frost kill the leaves however. All those leaves inside a wrap is a fungal playground. Ah well, to each his own.

[@fungrammacat]

Hi. Thank you so much for this video. I live in Davis County and had no idea figs could grow here until someone brought me some figs from their garden which I just canned. Will be planting figs next year. So glad to have found your site. I found mission figs at Sprouts today. Have you grown that variety?

[@gardenwiseadventures]

Thanks for watching my videos! I actually just was given a Black Mission fig from a friend in Southern California. She propagated it from a tree that was growing on another friend's property. I read they are hardy down to zone 7 and am trying to decide if I should leave it in a container, or put it in the ground.

[@Danielseven-ir2mq]

New to Figs here in Denver CO zone 6a. Trying some in ground in the warmer areas, where snow melts quicker. Keeping others in containers. Bringing them in the basement for the winter. Challenges here. Hot dry (winds) climate and high altitude radiant sun. Some varieties need protection from the sun. ( Shade cloth ). Third president said " in the garden I grow " learn, adjust and grow. He grew white Marseille Fig.

[@gardenwiseadventures]

I love your quote! I would love to hear updates on your figs! Denver can be tough on some plants!

[@Danielseven-ir2mq]

@@gardenwiseadventures will do.

[@daniellthornton4218]

Northeast Ohio here and we seem to have very similar weather! Lol

[@bobg5362]

Folks on a budget can use leaves in place of the straw. Even if they don't have their own deciduous trees dropping them every year, a drive through a subdivision will result in pre-bagged leaves that just need to be picked up off the curb.

[@gardenwiseadventures]

That is a great suggestion!

[@dianereneemacdonell1046]

Thank you!

[@kws1957]

Thank you for sharing.

[@milenameguerditchian5854]

Thanks for such a helpful video! I have my Chicago hardy fig tree in a large pot (I just got it this year late summer so it’s very small) I didn’t plant it in the ground this year because I didn’t want my dog to mess with it 😅 What do you suggest for care with a fig in a container pot? I’ve brought it into my garage so far by a small window. *I’m in Sandy, UT*

[@gardenwiseadventures]

You can leave it outside unless the temps go below 25°. If it goes below 25° bring it in. Once it is fully dormant you can leave it in the garage and water it around once a month. Don't keep it wet,just don't let it dry completely out.

[@milenameguerditchian5854]

@@gardenwiseadventures ok sounds easy enough. Thank you!

[@t-bone6467]

You're analytical mind shows here ! Life sciences degree? We're of like mind in our fig care. Thanks for your insights.

[@gardenwiseadventures]

I love that you caught that! I do have a degree in Landscape Managment, which is in the Life Science department! What kind of figs do you have, and what zone are you located in?

[@t-bone6467]

​@@gardenwiseadventuresi knew it lol. I too have life sciences undergraduate and recognized your systematic approach to rooting fig cuttings as definitely the mindset we were trained in. The wide range of fig rooting videos on KZbin is frustrating, as my first attempt this past winter was an abysmal failure. So I'll be looking to your experience as guidance. Thanks for that. Being a relatively new fig growing addict (an apt description as you said) I'm in zone 6a, nw NJ near Pennsylvania border. (Similar climate as ross raddi). Using five fig trees i have as learning experience before expanding into a few dozen. Varieties are Marseille, Chicago Hardy (2), Brunswick, desert king. They're all potted outside since April but were in unheated garage during the winter. My experiment this season is bringing them inside during expected long stretches of rain. It's definitely more wet and humid here than Utah so this is an attempt to stave off fig rust in September and also not over saturate the figlets thereby reducing brix. Just subscribed to your channel btw and will keep an eye out for your fig content!

[@gardenwiseadventures]

You have some fun varieties! I would love to hear updates on how they do!

[@t-bone6467]

@@gardenwiseadventures well I've tried replying with my email address for updates/ sharing ideas, but twice KZbin has deleted my response. Idk what their rules are for replies.

[@cbrisalchemist6887]

Mine are in containers (zone 6 which changed from zone 5…colorado) and I’m considering wrapping them and leaving them outside. Is there a downside to this method? Next year I’m planting them in ground. I have 3 Chicago and propagating some other varieties. I’m a fig lover from way back.

[@gardenwiseadventures]

@@cbrisalchemist6887 The only downside for me is the amount of work it takes. It's usually a full day to get them covered and then another day to get them uncovered, but that is for all 8 trees that I have.

[@georgecrinnion2131]

So you wrap your figs when they are still in full leaf? I have never seen that done before. And the plastic wrap doesn't trap too much moisture which can cause mold? And I see you don't trim the branches back either - do your figs fruit on old wood? Mine fruit on new wood. If these things work for you then awesome!

[@gardenwiseadventures]

@georgecrinnion2131 It does work. I leave the tops open as much as possible for circulation and then cover them when it gets too cold. I am aiming to get breba crops because we have a short season, and sometimes the main crop does not have time to ripen before cold weather sets in. It worked this year, and I got a good crop. I do cut my figs back, but do it in August or early September to give them a chance to recover. I cover them before they go dormant because we get early freezes that hit below 20° F before they get a chance to go dormant. If I want the early breba crop and have time for the main crop to ripen, I need to preserve the old wood.

[@georgecrinnion2131]

@@gardenwiseadventures Makes sense. I live in zone 6A - the lower Hudson Valley NY. Maybe I will try your method..

[@RayRay-dr7og]

If you put a little olive oil on your figs it'll help them ripe sooner

[@gardenwiseadventures]

Thank you! I actually tried that last year, and it worked like a charm! It's pretty amazing!

[@jeanneh6361]

I wish my figs grew as big as yours. I'm debating to put them back in a container.

[@gardenwiseadventures]

Where are you located?

[@joyguymon9425]

Good info thank you.

[@gardenwiseadventures]

Thank you!

[@kws1957]

Mid twenties Fahrenheit ? Is this (25-32)*0.55 ? -7*0.55=-4 Celsius ? I am from Germany, Bavaria and here so as in most of Europe we have the Celsius scale. May the Lord bless and keep you.

[@gardenwiseadventures]

Yes, I was referencing degrees Fahrenheit. I am so glad you watched my video, and would love to know if you have grown any figs. If you have, what varieties have worked best for you?

[@mikeschaoticgardening]

Very smart!

[@georgegonzalez4505]

Where do you get or order your fig trees from.😊

[@gardenwiseadventures]

I have gotten mine from several places, but my favorites are Planting Justice, One Green World, and Just Fruits and Exotics. I also have gotten cuttings from local friends.

[@stephenoconnor5691]

Pretty interesting an thankyou but more work involved

[@gardenwiseadventures]

Thank you for watching! It is a bit of work, but I am always glad I did it once I start harvesting my first figs 😁!

[@hamitfusha710]

Hi , I put all my potted figs in the garage, do you have to protect peach, apple, pear , plum cherry trees in the winter?

[@gardenwiseadventures]

Not here. Sometimes, late spring frosts will take out all the flowers, and we don't get fruit.

[@loiscutting1716]

I live in central lower Michigan and have all these fruit trees, peach, apple, pear, plum and cherry that are hardy. Fifty years ago our winter temps would get to 25 degrees below zero and never lost any of these fruit trees.

[@gardenwiseadventures]

@@loiscutting1716 That's great to know!

[@Valentine828]

what is the name of that insulation?? thank you

[@gardenwiseadventures]

This is what I got. www.homedepot.com/b/Building-Materials-Insulation-Radiant-Barrier/N-5yc1vZbedf

[@TV-yj9mh]

Do they survived?

[@gardenwiseadventures]

Yes, they do, as long as they are protected over the winter. If you don't protect them, they will die to the ground and then grow back from the roots. If that happens, they May or may not have time to ripen their fruit before the first freeze.

[@TV-yj9mh]

@@gardenwiseadventures Nice, thanks you so much for reply back. Wish you have a huge harvest this year!

[@truthbetold2611]

The trouble we go through to protect our plants...

[@gardenwiseadventures]

That is true!

[@thenaturalhuman9568]

This seems complicated but it’s probably why we dont get many ripe figs

[@gardenwiseadventures]

It does take a lot of works, but I do get figs! I have seen people use simple tarps with Christmas lights (not led), and that also seems to work. I haven't tried that yet.

[@kws1957]

-10 Fahrenheit or Celsius ? If it is -10 Fahrenheit then in Celsius it would be (-10-32)*0,55=-22 Celsius ?

[@gardenwiseadventures]

It's -10° Fahrenheit.

[@lydiaahubbell8545]

does this work for pomegranates?

[@gardenwiseadventures]

Yes, but I don't protect my pomegranets as heavily. I just use burlap or greenhouse plastic. No straw.

[@lydiaahubbell8545]

@@gardenwiseadventures i have "wonderful" in zone 7. I don't know why they sell Wonderful pomegranates or gardenias here when they are NOT hardy. I have found that the pomegranates root quickly and easily from cuttings, so I am willing to sacrifice one of my plants this year. I want to find the best place or create a microclimate for it snd my figs. My figs very readily tesoro it snd have been in their spot for several years. I will take cuttings of the figs so I have extras to experiment with, plus, I will get a cutting of a friend's Chicago Hardy. i guess I will start. a little fig grove with new plants, but I think I will keep any new plants inside this year.

[@lydiaahubbell8545]

@@gardenwiseadventures what variety of pomegranates do you grow?

[@gardenwiseadventures]

I have Kazake, Salavatzki, and Parfianka. They are the more cold tolerant Russian varieties. I have only been able to find them for sale online.

[@makipa20021]

This is an experiment that you doing… I’m looking for something that works. Please make the video to show that actually works.

[@gardenwiseadventures]

I will do that this week. I have made several videos about my figs over the years, showing how they survived the winter and fruited, but none showing the process of uncovering them. I will be uncovering all my figs tomorrow and will film it for you! They have leafed out under cover and are already forming figs.

[@mandarinmelon]

Thank you!