Winter is getting ready to flex some muscle in the high country

[COGardener]

So it seems the warm days are coming to an end. Hard to believe with yesterday's high climbing into the mid 80's today into the 70's that by the end of the week the overnight lows will be approaching freezing. By the end of the following week the overnight lows will be dipping below freezing according to the forecast. The majority of my trees are still growing showing little to no signs of new wood lingnifing and are still producing new figs.

I'm hoping for a frost to hit and remove their leaves in order to put them to sleep and start moving them into storage.

Anyone else getting ready for the cold to hit?

[Taverna78]

Oh yes. 34 tis coming Friday. My brother start burial trench today!

[COGardener]

Sounds like a lot of work Mike.

[Taverna78]

Is a lot of work it thanks god we have pay loader and back hoe to dig.

[COGardener]

That's for sure!

[Chrisk]

I cannot believe the season went by so fast and this year is almost over!
Scott, if they still have green branches I would rush and put them in storage now! You might end up loosing lots of limbs if a frost hit them in this stage. They will go dormant in storage anyway! Just a thought brother.

[COGardener]

I was thinking the same thing, going to move the very young and tender today and have the rest moved by Wednesday after work n

[don_sanders]

I was planning to take mine in when the night time forecast got to around 35 F and the leaves fall which should be this Saturday if the forecast holds up. I was thinking that a couple of frosts wouldn't hurt the green growth. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[Jamie0507]

This was my impression too.. Now I'm not so sure though

[Jamie0507]

Im really glad you brought this topic up Scott.. Ive been looking at my potted figs trees that I've collected throughout the summer and those that I recently airlayered & removed in the middle of September, summer cuttings that rooted successfully etc and wondering.. What do I do? Many are still very green & just a few are just now partially lignified.. I was under the impression that I shouldn't bring them in until after the first frost.. Which is Probably going to be Friday here as well. So I need to bring them in before the frost? Is that what I'm understanding? Just want to be sure to get this straight.. Kinda freakin out now lol

[Rafaelissimmo]

Some cold is good, it helps the trees lignify and go dormant!

[Jamie0507]

Is "some cold" a light frost? Or do you mean more like upper 30's? Sorry for needing this pretty much spelled out for me.. I'm a new & overly concerned fig mom lol

[Rafaelissimmo]

Yes mid to upper thirties is good, frost will not harm your plant generally but it will kill your leaves for the season. If the plant is hardened off its not an issue, if the plant has any tender green stalks the I agree with all who have said storage is best to avoid damaging live green growth, ie terminal buds on very soft, green tips.

[Jamie0507]

Thanks a bunch Rafael! So I will definitely be taking those with the newer green growth in at night and then booting them back out as the weather warms to mid thirties & above.. Hopefully that will allow them some extra time to harden up for their winter slumber.. Hoping I don't end up with a bunch of fig trees in my house all winter.. That would be a real challenge.. But not in a good way lol.. Thanks again my friend

[fitzski]

Lows expected in the mid-30's later in the week. I may move some of the smaller figs into the greenhouse before then so they get an extra week or two of growth. I can't believe another growing season is almost at its end.

[Jamie0507]

Hope you don't mind Scott, was hoping to get opinions on the trees pictured below. I probably fertilized too long also.. Into later August.. I admit it.. Couldnt stop myself ;( Now I will probably have to learn the hard way.. Darn it!

[jmaler]

To protect from frost couldn't you just cover them. As was said they need some cold to help harden them and drop their leaves.

[Jamie0507]

Yes I could cover them, or actually I most likely will just move them into the garage at night. The only one I can't do the fig shuffle with is the Chicago Hardy because I buried the pot about 8-10 inches underground. Im sure the roots have grown out of the bottom (didn't know about the benefit of only having drainage holes drilled into the side instead of the bottom at that time). Is it okay to sever them while the plant is still actively growing? Covering it up sounds like the only option I might have if its not recommended to sever the roots before dormancy.

[COGardener]

Post away.... discussion is the point of the thread.

[Hobo62288]

Hey guys, I just started "Figgin'" this year and my plants were all grew from cuttings recently (probably past 2 months). I was planning on letting them stay inside in my grow room all winter and letting them grow this year cuz I figured they would die if I tried anything else. It's only like 5-10 plants total cuz the rest are still cuttings that haven't rooted yet. Is this OK or do they have to go dormant?

[Rafaelissimmo]

I have a similar issue, I will keep a few late rooted plants in the greenhouse into December but I will let it get colder and colder in the greenhouse to try to induce dormancy eventually. Keeping them active all winter long is not in my plans. Dormancy is good for the plant, helps it wake up on time and have a strong season next year.

[COGardener]

I over wintered several in my garage greenhouse last year with no issues.

The hard part can be keeping enough light on them so that they don't get leggy.

[Jamie0507]

Thanks Scott, just wanted to make sure

[COGardener]

No worries.

[Taverna78]

Fig I my need minimum 100-200 cold hour to sleep.... Depend on what region They from maybe month CHILL temps. If you Fig known for two crop and you have correct lighting and air temps with humidity... You can chill Italia Fig for 3 week and then wake up under right condition.... And respect two crop if you live Zone 5 and higher... But if you not in costal area is very hard or expensive to have natural weather greenhouse.

[Taverna78]

Me in USA I only can make one crop. Because I no afford climate greenhouse yet. Italia I have two crop... But rarely enjoy them for I no around them at harvest time. But if you no try you never known?....

[BrooklynMatty]

I plan on bringing my younglings into the garage if they are showing lots of green growth, especially my green cuttings which still never lignified. I was hoping not to have to baby them through the winter as i don't like indoor bugs and losing space near my deck door I will if i have to though. I'm hoping this cold weather gets some of my plants ready for dormancy though, they need to get more lignified!

[cis4elk]

Some green shoots on young plant just plain won't lignify until next growing season. No big deal, just store those treelings closer to the wall of the house(the slightly warmer less drafty areas).