Growing Figs

Top 139. Sep 7, 2001 6:48 PM

» Jojo - Re: Growing Figs in Cold climate

Hi Quebec

You don't actually need to have much wood stay on the tree in order to get fruit, but since it's in a pot, and you have the ability to move it, I would recommend moving it into a place where it can remain dormant but not get totally frozen. The wood will start to die back at temperatures below -5 degrees celcius, but dormancy will break and the plant will begin to think its spring at temperatures above 5 degrees celcius, so it's important for the tree to remain between these two temperatures.

Like I said, you don't actually HAVE to protect all that wood. You could just leave it where it is, protect the base and the pot with leaves/hay/plastic and let the tree sprout from the base next spring.

By the way, I noticed you are in Canada and recently bought a fig. Let us know where you got it. It might help the person who posted below you, who is looking for a fig tree in Canada.

-- posted by Jojo

Top 140. Sep 10, 2001 10:46 AM

» Quebec - Re: Re: Growing Figs in Cold climate

In response to message posted by Jojo:

Figs are quite easy to find in Montreal. You can have them in many specialized stores, but try to be quick in the spring, they sell fast!!! I saw lots of Brown Turkey and Blanches around.

I know of one place that still have two or three left, and at this time of year, the're at 50% off!

Good luck,

Quebec

-- posted by Quebec

Top 141. Sep 10, 2001 11:03 AM

» Quebec - Re: Re: Growing Figs in Cold climate

In response to message posted by Jojo:

Hi Jojo, thanks for taking time to help me here. I must clarify one concept with you: do figs really NEED a dormancy period, or would they just be as well without one?

The problem is that, according to your answer, I must keep my tree between -5 and +5, which is not easily feasable for me. On the other hand, I am not sure I want to make any experience with this first tree, like leaving it outside all winter long...

It would be much easier for me to just leave the plant in the pot, and bring it inside and keep it as a house plant for the winter. Would that work, or would that mean messing up with the tree natural cycle and inevitable death?

-- posted by Quebec

Top 142. Sep 10, 2001 6:19 PM

» Jojo - Re: Re: Re: Growing Figs in Cold climate

Hi Quebec

Figs are deciduous, so in effect they go dormant when they lose their leaves. They need to get to a minimum for a certain amount of time in order to initiate the proper buds for making good new leaves and also the fruit buds.

Maybe what you should do, and I think this might be safest, is to let the plant go dormant outside (ie: it will lose it's leaves in a natural manner), and then when the temperatures get colder than -5 C, bring it in and let it think its spring, in a warm room with LOTS Of light. If it could be kept cold for 1 month without its leaves, that would be best. I think this might throw your fig out of whack, but considering you have no place for cold storeage, this might be the most feasable.

I hope this helps - Jojo

-- posted by Jojo

Top 143. Sep 25, 2001 3:58 PM

» Jojo - The Compleat Fig Discussions

Due to the long and informative nature of this discussion, I've taken the most important points transferred them into article format.

The Best of the Fig Discussions

It reads sort of like an FAQ.

Thanks to all those who have contributed to the discussion in the past! You can continue with this discussion, or go to the new article and continue it there if you like.

-- posted by Jojo

Top 144. Oct 14, 2002 7:58 PM

» PaulandInese - Re: Growing Figs in Cold climate

In response to your question, I recommend that you either winter your figs in a dark closet or in a garage where they can go dormant. If they get both heat and light they will continue to be active during the winter and will provide you with a great deal of disappointment next year. If you winter them in a dark closet remember to water once a month. If you winter in an unheated garage make sure you don't water until about a month before you are planning on bringing them out. Good-luck

-- posted by PaulandInese

Top 145. Oct 14, 2002 8:09 PM

» PaulandInese - Re: Canadian Figs

In response to your question, it would depend on where you live. For example, southern Ontario has many ethnic home gardeners that either grow them in containers and bring them into shelter for the winter or in the ground and shelter them by various techniques such as insulating them or burring them underground. If you live in zone 5 or better you should have no problem finding them in your local garden shops or neighbors. I personally keep mine in 20 gallon containers and have different varieties, such as green, yellow, brown, pink centers, yellow centers, red centers, early ones, and those that provide two crops per season, long ones, round ones, big, medium and small. They are very easy to grow and with variety there is never a disappointing year. They are very easy to start from cuttings or even from shoots that grow close to the mother plant. If the growing season is too short for certain types, you will find that they will continue to ripen in your garage even up until Christmas but most is you have a long growing season will he harvested before you allow them to go dormant.

-- posted by PaulandInese

Top 146. Oct 16, 2002 8:25 AM

» Roy15 - Can You Spare a Fig

In response to message posted by PaulandInese:
Hi,
If anybody has any small fig plants that they'd be willing to spare I'd certainly appreciate it. I have been unable to find any figs around these parts and the local nurseries all look at me in a strange manner if I ask about figs. Even all the elderly Italian men on my street start laughing and tell me that they won't grow here.
Thank you very much for your time.

-- posted by Roy15

Top 147. Feb 14, 2003 5:50 PM

» Twrosz - Finding Fig plants in Canada?

I have a solarium in which I would like to grow some potted figs. In local greenhouses I have only ever seen the one variety being offered and that being Brown Turkey. Though, requesting others no place has fulfilled my request. Anyone know of a Canadian mail order place in which sells a selection of varieties? I prefer dwarfish types capable of producing two crops a year. In Park's Catalogue they list the Petite Black fig in which particularly interests me. Any suggestions as to good varieties for pot culture and where I could obtain such here in Canada? Thanks! Terry

-- posted by Twrosz