I have 8 fig trees I inherited my property 10 years ago , I do nothing with them to winterize , and don't even trim them except maye every 2 years when a few get in my way , they do great year after year, high yeilds
There is a grower in Lancaster County PA, probably zone 6b, who grows totally unprotected figs( in winter) and who has great yields. He focuses on really hardy varieties that handle cold weather. Look up Off the Beaten Path nursery.
I live just like 45 mins to an hour from Lancaster county and my neighbor has had a fig tree for years. She doesn't do anything to it. Made me plant my own cutting this year so I'm hoping it makes it through the winter.
I moved my mom's brown Turkey Fig that she had under an oak tree for 20 years and it never got more than a foot tall. It has never produced a fig. It is now in full sun and it is about 3 feet tall and it has about 10 real green leaves and it is still growing strong.( It doesnt hurt that I put chicken litter around it). My mom is 80 I would hope she can have a fig off that tree.
I had the prettiest fig tree that was about 8 foot tall and about as wide. It got down to 14 degrees after it had started sprouting new growth in February. Killed it right down to the ground. It started sprouting back from the bottom of the trunk but borers had got into it and I had to cut the whole tree off below the damage. Got some long sprouts that grew out this summer. Hope my area has better luck this winter. Lots of people with the same issue in MS
I'm in zone 8, and last winter we had a 9° night. All of my 72 fig trees froze back to the ground, and 20 of them didn't recover. I suspect that most of those were propagated later in the season. I only mention this because, even in the south it may be important to protect certain varieties like Desert King, that only produce a breba crop without the fig Wasp.
I utilize old round bales of hay and make a Tee pee effect around the fig tree, filling in all of the pockets in the middle of the tree going up to the top of the branches covering up the whole tree. I then put a sheet or tarp over the top during the nights, and uncover them in the daytime after the temps get over 45' F, otherwise I leave the sheets on them. if there is no Sun and it is a gloomy or rainy day, You have to monitor the temp, by sticking a long compost thermometer into the middle of it, because on a sunny day, even though the temp is 45' or 50' F, the pile will heat up if it got wet from a cold rainy storm from the day before! I try to make sure the temp doesn't get higher than 65'f in the center, if it does, I then remove the sheet, throw it in the dryer and or wash it if it was wet, and have on hand for the next freeze coming. However, I leave the pile of hay on and around the tree, as long as the temps don't get any higher than 65'f or higher, if that happens, I just go and pull back half of the hay leaving it in a donut pile going around the tree, to be ready to be easily re-piled up for the next freeze! I live in North Florida, so our Winters can seem Bipolar here, never any consistent temps, always alternating with early spring like temperatures to frost and freezes! Hope this helps! Last year it actually got down to 18'f and 38 in the day, then warming back up and with this method, I never lost a branch on those trees to it, Now my orange trees that were too big, that's another story! Because You can't pile up enough Hay to cover up a 9 ft. Orange tree unless you use a whole Round bale! LOL
I'm up in Delaware I hope mine makes it. I planted it from a tiny cutting I bought from the store early in the summer, and now it's a cute little tree with tiny pea sized figs on it LOL. I might mulch really heavily around the bottom part of it and cover all the bottoms of the lower branches coming up out of the ground. It gets really cold up here. But my neighbor has had a fig tree for years that's what made me decide to get one. So after it gets somewhat big it should be okay I'm just worried about the first winter
Fig trees grown in a container will suffer winter damage much quicker than one in the ground. Rule of thumb is a fig tree loses 2 zones if grown in containers, if tree would grow in ground in zone 6 would need to be grown in zone 8 if in a container. Best to put in a garage when temperatures get into the teens if in small container. I have lost trees grown in 3 gallon pots when temperatures got to 12 or 13 degrees that would have been fine if planted in the ground.
An important thing to remember regarding wrapping fig trees, is not to wrap them too early. Wait until severe temps are forecasted. I plan to wrap mine. I've already pruned them similar to Travis'. It's important not to seal the top of the wrap. In zone 7b it needs to vent at the top of the wrap. It should only be closed off when temps are extreme.
Good and timely info Travis. All my trees are inground so basically, they will be on their own I'm afraid. Which almost all of them were killed back to the ground with that Artic blast you mentioned we had last year. I'll just have to hope we will not have it that tough this year. 🤞
Travis, the foam pipe insulation can get pricey. What about the end of season pool noodles from the dollar store? Just slit one side so you can put them over the branch and cut to length. Thicker so more insulation that the pipe stuff and low cost, especially if season end clearance item.
Hey Travis, Do you carry the Chicago Hardy fig tree? I’m in Northeast Arkansas and we can get temps that would probably kill most trees. I know there’s a few that can take the lower temps. Always enjoy your content Jonathan
Research in Louisiana revealed the Celeste to be hardier than Chicago Hardy. Cover your tree in a pile of leaves/straw before extreme cold then put a tarp over it. You can put an average sized cooler full of hot water under the tarp and keep it closed to slowly release warmth. Or put at least 20-30 watts of LED lights under it. Monitor the temp under tarp with a wireless thermometer or weather station outdoor sensor.
I’m just South of Atlanta. I bought a couple of trees from you earlier this fall. I put them in pots per your recommendation and have been hauling them inside when it’s going to freeze (every now and then). They are still green and making new leaves… should I leave them out next time it gets into the low 30’s and then bring them inside our unheated sunroom until Spring when I can plant them in the ground? I don’t mind bringing them inside and out but I don’t want to mess up their dormancy either… thanks!
Guess it depends on whether you have room inside to let it keep growing. You could let it go dormant if you're worried about it taking up too much space indoors. Or you could let it continue to grow.
Hi Travis. I’m wondering if you layer with leaves or straw and it warms up for a day or two, do you need to uncover everything? Or is it good until spring? Thanks.
If it got really warm, yes you'd want to uncover or let it breathe a little. Ideally you wouldn't want to do the whole covering process until winter sets its foot in the ground.
I had fig trees at my old house. They grew like weeds and lived through any temps we had. They grew fast and they grew big. I could not keep up with them. I am a bit worried about growing any here in my limited space. Maybe if I find some kind of dwarf variety.
What if, you never let your fig tree go dormant? Before the winter months, you bring it into a greenhouse, and leave it there until the warmer months? Do you think that would have any negative effects on the tree?
I've lived up here in southern NY for years now and have heard many stories of the old Italian guys who would dig a trench, lay their fig tree in it for the winter. Not sure I would argue with an Italian grandpa, bc don't know if figs can be grown with abandon in zone 6a Edit: typo
In zone 6b, we cut the trees to about 5 feet, then when they are dormant insulate as best you can with bags of leaves, straw, foils insulation, whatever, cover with tarp to keep it all together. Maybe some mothballs to deter voles from chewing on the bark. We got a bumper crop this year with this method.
@@janking2762 I have seen something similar to that down at the bottom of the hill. And then he will put out a sign to sell fig trees. Sounds like it's working?? Edit: Zone 6a so close enough, thanks
Im in 5a what figs will live here? Thru the winter? I got a chicago hardy a few years ago but it doesnt ever get very big and never fruits and always dies back.
I'm n zone 7A and got artic blast damage on my Chicago Hardy...I pruned it heavily and it came back in spring... I fall pruned this past fall and expect heavy growth after this winter!
insulation simply traps air... as such, would it not be better to wrap it in some foam insulation and wrap that in a black trash bag. The black trashbag would absorb the suns light... heating the air trapped inside by the foam insulation. Could go one step further and use the decomposing wood to add heat from chemical reactions..
I hear a roll tide bucket works pretty good these days too. :) ( But nothing works better than a Hogs bucket for carrying manure)
I have 8 fig trees I inherited my property 10 years ago , I do nothing with them to winterize , and don't even trim them except maye every 2 years when a few get in my way , they do great year after year, high yeilds
There is a grower in Lancaster County PA, probably zone 6b, who grows totally unprotected figs( in winter) and who has great yields. He focuses on really hardy varieties that handle cold weather. Look up Off the Beaten Path nursery.
I live just like 45 mins to an hour from Lancaster county and my neighbor has had a fig tree for years. She doesn't do anything to it. Made me plant my own cutting this year so I'm hoping it makes it through the winter.
I moved my mom's brown Turkey Fig that she had under an oak tree for 20 years and it never got more than a foot tall. It has never produced a fig. It is now in full sun and it is about 3 feet tall and it has about 10 real green leaves and it is still growing strong.( It doesnt hurt that I put chicken litter around it). My mom is 80 I would hope she can have a fig off that tree.
I've made rings around fig trees with field fencing wire and filled it with oak leaves.in the spring unwrap the wire and mulch with the leaves.
I had the prettiest fig tree that was about 8 foot tall and about as wide. It got down to 14 degrees after it had started sprouting new growth in February. Killed it right down to the ground. It started sprouting back from the bottom of the trunk but borers had got into it and I had to cut the whole tree off below the damage. Got some long sprouts that grew out this summer. Hope my area has better luck this winter. Lots of people with the same issue in MS
I'm in zone 8, and last winter we had a 9° night. All of my 72 fig trees froze back to the ground, and 20 of them didn't recover. I suspect that most of those were propagated later in the season. I only mention this because, even in the south it may be important to protect certain varieties like Desert King, that only produce a breba crop without the fig Wasp.
I utilize old round bales of hay and make a Tee pee effect around the fig tree, filling in all of the pockets in the middle of the tree going up to the top of the branches covering up the whole tree. I then put a sheet or tarp over the top during the nights, and uncover them in the daytime after the temps get over 45' F, otherwise I leave the sheets on them. if there is no Sun and it is a gloomy or rainy day, You have to monitor the temp, by sticking a long compost thermometer into the middle of it, because on a sunny day, even though the temp is 45' or 50' F, the pile will heat up if it got wet from a cold rainy storm from the day before! I try to make sure the temp doesn't get higher than 65'f in the center, if it does, I then remove the sheet, throw it in the dryer and or wash it if it was wet, and have on hand for the next freeze coming. However, I leave the pile of hay on and around the tree, as long as the temps don't get any higher than 65'f or higher, if that happens, I just go and pull back half of the hay leaving it in a donut pile going around the tree, to be ready to be easily re-piled up for the next freeze! I live in North Florida, so our Winters can seem Bipolar here, never any consistent temps, always alternating with early spring like temperatures to frost and freezes! Hope this helps! Last year it actually got down to 18'f and 38 in the day, then warming back up and with this method, I never lost a branch on those trees to it, Now my orange trees that were too big, that's another story! Because You can't pile up enough Hay to cover up a 9 ft. Orange tree unless you use a whole Round bale! LOL
I'm up in Delaware I hope mine makes it. I planted it from a tiny cutting I bought from the store early in the summer, and now it's a cute little tree with tiny pea sized figs on it LOL. I might mulch really heavily around the bottom part of it and cover all the bottoms of the lower branches coming up out of the ground. It gets really cold up here. But my neighbor has had a fig tree for years that's what made me decide to get one. So after it gets somewhat big it should be okay I'm just worried about the first winter
Old Remay or Agribon polyester season extension fabrics work well for insulation on figs. This from a commercial grower in SE PA.
Fig trees grown in a container will suffer winter damage much quicker than one in the ground. Rule of thumb is a fig tree loses 2 zones if grown in containers, if tree would grow in ground in zone 6 would need to be grown in zone 8 if in a container. Best to put in a garage when temperatures get into the teens if in small container. I have lost trees grown in 3 gallon pots when temperatures got to 12 or 13 degrees that would have been fine if planted in the ground.
An important thing to remember regarding wrapping fig trees, is not to wrap them too early. Wait until severe temps are forecasted. I plan to wrap mine. I've already pruned them similar to Travis'. It's important not to seal the top of the wrap. In zone 7b it needs to vent at the top of the wrap. It should only be closed off when temps are extreme.
Hey Lazy Dog! When will fig cuttings/plants be ready to buy? I live in east-central Alabama. Thanks! BTW, love your VLOGS
We'll probably start taking some pre-orders early next year.
My figs just started fruiting. I am in florida zone 9/10. It burned up when it hit the 50s, well leaves dyed off. I never seem to time the fruit right
Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving Joyce!
Thanks for the info, Travis. Wishing you and your family a very happy Thanksgiving 😊
Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanks for the great information Travis. I am hoping I can protect my 2 trees here in Ohio.
Good and timely info Travis. All my trees are inground so basically, they will be on their own I'm afraid. Which almost all of them were killed back to the ground with that Artic blast you mentioned we had last year. I'll just have to hope we will not have it that tough this year. 🤞
I too have been changed to 9a; how crazy is that.
Thanks
Good info very well done!
Travis, the foam pipe insulation can get pricey. What about the end of season pool noodles from the dollar store? Just slit one side so you can put them over the branch and cut to length. Thicker so more insulation that the pipe stuff and low cost, especially if season end clearance item.
Those would work too!
Hey Travis, Do you carry the Chicago Hardy fig tree? I’m in Northeast Arkansas and we can get temps that would probably kill most trees. I know there’s a few that can take the lower temps. Always enjoy your content
Jonathan
We don't carry that one. But we do have several that are grown in the Northeast -- Salem Dark and Brooklyn White. Both great figs!
Research in Louisiana revealed the Celeste to be hardier than Chicago Hardy. Cover your tree in a pile of leaves/straw before extreme cold then put a tarp over it. You can put an average sized cooler full of hot water under the tarp and keep it closed to slowly release warmth. Or put at least 20-30 watts of LED lights under it. Monitor the temp under tarp with a wireless thermometer or weather station outdoor sensor.
I’m just South of Atlanta. I bought a couple of trees from you earlier this fall. I put them in pots per your recommendation and have been hauling them inside when it’s going to freeze (every now and then). They are still green and making new leaves… should I leave them out next time it gets into the low 30’s and then bring them inside our unheated sunroom until Spring when I can plant them in the ground? I don’t mind bringing them inside and out but I don’t want to mess up their dormancy either… thanks!
Guess it depends on whether you have room inside to let it keep growing. You could let it go dormant if you're worried about it taking up too much space indoors. Or you could let it continue to grow.
Thank you! I truly appreciate your time you always take to reply to my questions! I hope your sweet family had a great Thanksgiving!
My trees barely made it after last years cold. This year I cut the branches way down and converted them with pine straw.
Good idea!
Hey Travis how big is your green house
10'x16'
Hi Travis. I’m wondering if you layer with leaves or straw and it warms up for a day or two, do you need to uncover everything? Or is it good until spring? Thanks.
If it got really warm, yes you'd want to uncover or let it breathe a little. Ideally you wouldn't want to do the whole covering process until winter sets its foot in the ground.
@@LazyDogFarm thanks so much for your help. Hope you had a blessed Thanksgiving.
I had fig trees at my old house. They grew like weeds and lived through any temps we had. They grew fast and they grew big. I could not keep up with them. I am a bit worried about growing any here in my limited space. Maybe if I find some kind of dwarf variety.
You can heavily prune any variety and keep it small. They tolerate aggressive pruning really well.
What if, you never let your fig tree go dormant? Before the winter months, you bring it into a greenhouse, and leave it there until the warmer months? Do you think that would have any negative effects on the tree?
I don't think it would. Fig trees in south Florida never go dormant.
Hello! while dormant in winter in a container, can I keep a fig tree in a totally dark area in my basement? thanks!
Sure!
will a home depot bucket work>?😁😎
Yes, but not as well. lol
I have seen people put wire mesh around the tree and fill with leaves... my concern is when it rains the stems will stay wet.
I've lived up here in southern NY for years now and have heard many stories of the old Italian guys who would dig a trench, lay their fig tree in it for the winter. Not sure I would argue with an Italian grandpa, bc don't know if figs can be grown with abandon in zone 6a
Edit: typo
In zone 6b, we cut the trees to about 5 feet, then when they are dormant insulate as best you can with bags of leaves, straw, foils insulation, whatever, cover with tarp to keep it all together. Maybe some mothballs to deter voles from chewing on the bark. We got a bumper crop this year with this method.
@@janking2762 I have seen something similar to that down at the bottom of the hill. And then he will put out a sign to sell fig trees. Sounds like it's working??
Edit: Zone 6a so close enough, thanks
Are you on Freesteading? I live in suburban Atlanta.
Im in 5a what figs will live here? Thru the winter? I got a chicago hardy a few years ago but it doesnt ever get very big and never fruits and always dies back.
I'm n zone 7A and got artic blast damage on my Chicago Hardy...I pruned it heavily and it came back in spring... I fall pruned this past fall and expect heavy growth after this winter!
insulation simply traps air... as such, would it not be better to wrap it in some foam insulation and wrap that in a black trash bag. The black trashbag would absorb the suns light... heating the air trapped inside by the foam insulation. Could go one step further and use the decomposing wood to add heat from chemical reactions..
If I felt like I needed to half-dig-up my fig trees and bury them in the winter, I'd move south!
Amen!
What do you think about keeping your potted fig trees in the green house over winter?
You can do that too if you have room.
My first frost was 22 degrees. Killed all my trees back and lost all my cuttings.
Ouch. Sorry to hear that. I wouldn't think 22 degrees would kill them back.
@@LazyDogFarm it was an early freeze after 45 degree minimums. They hadn't lignified yet.
ha ha. I get -40s so even if I were to bury the fig tree it would still freeze unless bury like 6 feet deep lol. pots it will be if it will be lol
🥶