but I do give a fig!
I have two brown turkey figs, now residing in the garage (with enormous scary boxes and piles of who-knows-what else), waiting to be potted up and to go dormant for winter. Not really sure how to go about this - so anyone with good advice (on figs, silly) should jump right in and tell me how to winter them over.
It is my understanding the fig trees could probably survive a winter in the ground in Boise A) if I had planted them and, B) if the temperature goes no lower than 10 degrees, and C) if they have a southern exposure. BUT, they will likely die all the way back and don’t have a long enough growing season to fruit after that. So, I am choosing to grow them in containers.
When I purchased the fig trees, they were already 4 feet tall and they produced about a dozen fruits apiece this year. I know they are root bound because I can see that at the bottom of the pot, and because I am a procrastinator and didn’t get them potted up into bigger pots this fall. My thought is this: put them in slightly bigger pots so they are not crowded, so they can hold a bit more water (right now it is running directly through the pot) and to keep them in a sunny albeit cool place in my garage over the winter. Then, pot them up again in late spring in nice pots with rolling saucers (not roller coasters) and keep them outside for the growing season.
Discuss.
And tell me what you come up with.
I have a potted fig that I plan to overwinter here in NJ (6B). My understanding is that figs like to be a little rootbound, which is why the potted ones often do better than the ones in the ground. Here’s something I copied from the internet a while back, probably from GardenWeb:
In the north, after light fall frosts have caused the leaves to drop, over-winter container figs by moving them indoors to a cool garage or shed. Keep them above 20 degrees F. Water sparingly every few weeks — just enough to prevent the roots from dehydrating. Remember that you are continuing dormancy, not creating houseplants!
In the spring, when frosts have passed, move your fig trees back to a warm spot, provide ample lime, fertilizer and water and watch them grow! Figs are fast growers and will soon expand and set fruit for the season. Tip: In the spring, you want to have the sun warming the pot to speed leafing out and fruit developme
MA, the taste of a fresh fig in your mouth is well worth the effort to save these trees! GOOD LUCK! I can’t really help you with the growing advice, but I can send you a great recipe for fig compote….which tastes so delish spooned over a little cream-cheese tart. Autumn at its best (and thank goodness for the farmer’s market).
This is a test to see why David can’t comment.
Well if that’s a test, then what is this?
Heh, heh, heh. Thanks Kathy, MA. So nice to be able to play at this table again. What did you do?
BTW, BFMA, I’ve got one Brown Turkey fig sitting ripe atop my tree even as we speak. Might just need to pick that little rascal and make a picture now that you’ve got me thinking that direction. More. . . as can.
David, I already sent you an email telling you everything I did, and how none of it made any difference. My son who does this for a living just shrugs his shoulders and says “Computer voodoo.” Although he did concede that if you give a bag of M&Ms to the tech guy that comes to fix your computer, the computer gods will favor you.
Hmmmm, can you ask him, does he know if it will still have the same effect if you’ve eaten all the green ones before handing over the M’ers?
Whew. Glad we are all back together and our sassy little selves. I am busy cleaning up the black and orange Halloweenie M&M’s.
David, it depends on whether or not your tech guy is color blind. But, you know, a pan of brownies works just as well, and if you put all the brownies on a plate, no one will know how many were originally in the pan.
Love seeing this glimpse of your evil genius at work there, Kathy. Woo hoo! Thanks.