question for the pro's ????

[chuckell]

i have a regular Celeste fig tree ,if i would ground this tree here in zone 6 ,and if it did die back to ground from over winter,would it grow back like my letizia or hardy chicago and still produce figs that year ????? also i include VDB also in this question ,i would like to throw them both in ground ??
signed chuckle's~!

[cis4elk]

Not sure, but I would set them up to grow step-over scaffold branches that are inches off of the ground. Then each fall you merely trim your fruiting branches back to the scaffold branch can cover the main scaffolds with wood chips and tarp or whatever.

[chuckell]

Not sure, but I would set them up to grow step-over scaffold branches that are inches off of the ground. Then each fall you merely trim your fruiting branches back to the scaffold branch can cover the main scaffolds with wood chips and tarp or whatever.

thanks but i'm looking for a freeze out come back answer,everything i try to winterize here fails,if they don't freeze they rot,so what i need to know is if these trees VDB,AND CELESTE, freeze will they come back and produce, like said trees mentioned , if not i will keep these two trees in pots to shed over winter, but thanks anyway,not to be smart at all,i tried that wood chips filled up in the barrel ,they all rotted had to start over from ground in the spring.so this winter all i did was put foam pipe insulation on some and some i wrapped in burlap and blankets all are inside a vented drum or barrel ,and i did try ed boones method on my sal's el with chicken wire and sacks of raked yard leaves,that worked good for ed so i'm hoping to have a couple good ones this spring,

[AscPete]

I'm not a "Pro" but my Celeste trees have never produced the same season after die-back. It appears that they may need to produce from one year or older wood...

VdB does produce on new limbs after die-back, but season length (enough time to ripen) is the limiting factor....

[chuckell]

thanks ,i had that feeling about celeste wasn't sure though,thanks ,

[cis4elk]

Okay, the point I was trying to get to you was that step over limbs are very close to the ground and the warmth from the ground may allow your limbs to survive rather than die. Then you don't have to worry about growing back new limbs every year. The point about limbs rotting in wood chip is a good one. Do the limbs rot because they're in a bunch of wood chips, or do they rot because they were dead to begin with and they're in the wood chip?
Your right that those two varieties probably aren't the best candidates for pushing boundaries. I'll be posting all about my attempts with RdB in zone colder than yours.

[AscPete]

I've had very good results winterizing with pine bark bedding with no die-back of year old limbs when covered by 6 - 12 inches and snow cover...

[chuckell]

Okay, the point I was trying to get to you was that step over limbs are very close to the ground and the warmth from the ground may allow your limbs to survive rather than die. Then you don't have to worry about growing back new limbs every year. The point about limbs rotting in wood chip is a good one. Do the limbs rot because they're in a bunch of wood chips, or do they rot because they were dead to begin with and they're in the wood chip?
Your right that those two varieties probably aren't the best candidates for pushing boundaries. I'll be posting all about my attempts with RdB in zone colder than yours.

thanks,i remember your post on this i think it's a great system,you might have something when you said was it the amount of wood chips ,yes that could have been,i filled the barrels full,and the chips were fairly dry when i loaded them,yes i plan on trying your method also,thanks again,hey every little bit helps,

[chuckell]

I've had very good results winterizing with pine bark bedding with no die-back of year old limbs when covered by 6 - 12 inches and snow cover...

do you leave those hoops that tall for winter or do you use shorter hoops when packing chips ,

[AscPete]

They're only a about 4 ft high...
The assembly is made from 3 lengths of 2 x 4 x 8ft PT lumber (Copper) with 3 lengths of 3/4" electrical PVC Conduit (Grey UV resistant) and some deck screws.

[AscPete]

The hoop frames are not used for winter protection...
They can be used to create a row cover or low tunnel for early spring with 6 mil plastic and a screen / cage for insects, rodents and birds in fall.

The Pine Wood Shavings or Pine Bark mounds are exposed to weather...

[npolaske]

My VdB has frozen back in the past and it does not ripen fruit that year. And that's with a pretty long and hot summer.

[lilfiggy]

so sad that pete lives to far away for a midnight raid.

[TorontoJoe]

Celeste will be tougher and don't have experience with them but the Etna figs should have no problem in-ground in your area providing they're a couple of years mature.....

[chuckell]

Celeste will be tougher and don't have experience with them but the Etna figs should have no problem in-ground in your area providing they're a couple of years mature.....

thanks,