Die back to ground?

[Erick]

Hey,
I was wondering if some of you could answer a question for me. Im new to figs and Ive just started getting new varieties. So I was wondering which varieties that die back to the ground will produce figs on the new growth. Thanks Erick
Erick zone 6b Eastern Kentucky..

[Kelby]

Check the hardy fig list in my signature, there is a sheet that lists varieties that will still fruit after die back to the ground.

[Erick]

Check the hardy fig list in my signature, there is a sheet that lists varieties that will still fruit after die back to the ground.

Thanks Kelby

[mountainfigs]

Among your best bets would be Ronde de Bordeaux, Florea, Improved Celeste, Malta Black, and Marseilles Black (among other Mt Etna strains like Marseilles Black). But also see the posts on mulching over low cordons and low limbs for simple ways to avoid total die-back to ground:

http://www.ourfigs.com/forum/figs-home/11735-training-and-pruning-figs-tree-bush-and-espalier-form

http://www.ourfigs.com/forum/figs-home/14740-the-low-limb-technique-good-success-with-minimal-mulch-covering-through-winter

[AscPete]

If you are placing the hardier cultivars in ground then they need to be protected until they are established.

IMO, Once established most hardy cultivars will produce figs after limb die back from cold exposure if the crown of the tree is mulched and the lowest nodes are healthy. The problem for most trees after dieback is that they produce multiple "suckers" which are limbs that grow from low nodes due to the removal of auxins (in the dead limbs) that were inhibiting new buds. The tree puts all its energy in excessive vegetative growth instead of fig production. Pruning most of the new limbs will result in fig production for most cultivars.

Pre planning a pruned shape and some simple winterization (deep mulch cover) can insure that the fruiting branches will grow quickly even after a severe winter, since main crop figs are produced on new growth.

[xenil]

The best varieties are usually the earliest ones for example from the light group: Saint Anthony, Lattarula. From the dark group: Florea, RdB, Mt Etna strains, Improved Celeste. Try to grow these ones, they are usually producing main crops even after die back.

[Erick]

I'm going to provide winter protection for the first several years. But I also realize that we have some winters that are alot colder than most. So I want some verieties that would produce even if they died back to the ground. Thanks for the information.