Fruits and Nuts: question about fig trees, 1 by pbyrley

pbyrley wrote:
Kathy_ann,
Thanks for this question - I am somewhat puzzled too although I think this year some of my figs may ripen before the cold gets them. I live in Zone 7B also. It seems to me to be a something to do with the various fig types. I have 6 or so types, some planted and some in pots. I am almost certain I will get lots of figs from a Celeste which had frozen to the ground in Winter of 2008/2009. It grew fast that Spring and I pruned it severely last Winter to make a tree. I fitted it with one of the foam pipe insulators from HD and it didn't freeze at all. I have no figs at all on an 8' black mission fig (also had a foam pipe ins. on it) but I cut off a sprout from that black mission and planted it about May and it is 3' tall and has a few small figs on it.

The deal probably is, when growth starts in the Spring, the little figs form where the leaf comes out. If there is no killing frost, then those figs have time to mature. If there is a killing frost, then the new sprouts come way too late to grow mature figs and they freeze in the Fall.
I just planted several of the previously potted ones and they are just starting to set little figs so they won't make it this year. A couple I planted in the ground earlier (May, I think) had little figs when I planted them and seem like they will get ripe.

Where you live, you probably can take the pots out earlier and then carefully bring them back in the garage when ever it's going to freeze. They have to think Spring is here to start but you can't let them freeze after that .

I would think that brown turkey would be ok but, Chicago Hardy and Celeste are the surest bets.

The more I write the more I am sure you can see that I really don't know and am just guessing. It may be next year will have better weather for you. This year was better for me and the previous year was terrible.

Paul