When to plant outside

[Yeehova]

Do you go by soil temps? Last freeze date? I think I planted outside in May or April last year but I am getting the itch now. I definitely don't want to risk freeze damage so I may have to wait a month. What is your plan?

[Kelby]

If they are growing I'd wait to your last frost date and treat them like tomatoes. If they are fully dormant you can probably plant whenever temps are no longer below 25 or so, but be cautious.

[xenil]

Totally agreeing with that, I'm doing the same with the younger plants. I'm treating them like tomatoes, and usually I'm planting out the dormant plants at the end of March, when the harder frosts are gone.

[KK4DFU]

+1 on this. I go by the frost date and recommendations from the local agriculture department at the state university.

[Yeehova]

I think I may plant some tomatoes this weekend!

[ako1974]

My trees are in pots. I don't leave smaller/newer/just potted outside overnight till it's 50+ air temps in an effort to harden them off - last year here, that was probably in May. I have a temp greenhouse I move them in and out of if it falls below that overnight. The larger trees I give more leeway as they're hardening off. I may be too conservative, but the weather has been so erratic the past few years...

[F. Bennett]

For my zone, late May or first of June to be completely safe. I did this with several 1st year cuttings without any issues. Throw a cage around it if you can.

[newnandawg]

Brian, I would wait until well after the last "average" frost date. I made the mistake of planting a few just after the last average
frost date last year. We then had a freeze/frost and it knocked three trees back really good.

[Yeehova]

So...... I planted one outside yesterday. A very healthy JH Adriatic. It seems to be lovin it! I have several spare so I won't be too upset if it gets set back. I think I might plant one a day to hedge my bets. Long term forecast claims spring is here. I hope so.

[SCfigFanatic]

IMO
It's all about the soil temperature. When soil temps are staying above 45 degrees.
In my area the weatherman from 3 different web sites show night temps will be above 45F from here on. So today, I have 20 cuttings going out..
And 4 blueberries. The longer my growing season the better.

Doug

[WillsC]

I plant the new guys after the frost free date. Here the frost free date is March 1, so planted a bunch Friday and a bunch more yesterday and have another 9 to put in this afternoon. Here in Florida the sooner you get them in the ground the better they do, before the brutal heat kicks in.

[Yeehova]

Our frost free date is more like first week of April. I have a tendency to think things will be better than they turn out to be so I always think it will be an early spring. I also checked the soil temps and i think that that range from 45 plus or better yet 50 plus will equal a survived fig or hopefully a triumphant fig. My soil temps are also in the 45 degrees plus range for the foreseeable future.

[newnandawg]

Maybe spring is here. Cherry trees are blooming here.

[Yeehova]

Yes, Cherries are blooming here as well! My peaches are about to bloom too

[drphil69]

I would not risk it until at least after my last frost date, which is April 20 here in Delaware (7A). I plant tomatoes on or after Mother's Day due to that unexpected but all too common late season freeze.

But my soil is currently very cold, and with all the snow melting I can say very close to 32F.

[Yeehova]

JH Adriatic[ATTACH=CONFIG]n9450[/ATTACH]

[SCfigFanatic]

My plum tree is in full bloom

Not the peaches or nectarine yet...

Doug

[Snaglpus]

Brian, I would not plant any fig tree outside less than 2yrs old. In the Carolinas, we usually plant outside right after Easter. I'm in Charlotte though. Wilmington should be safe to plant outside. But check the tree age first.

[Yeehova]

Yes you are right. I am planning much more protection next year. I am going to treat the younger ones like New Jersey figs and keep the rest potted to overwinter in my garage. You advised me last year to wait until my Mission was two years old or more before planting outside and you were right because it died to the ground. That was without protection though.

[SCfigFanatic]

I have been planting winter cuttings directly from the 18oz cup into the soil for the last 4 years. Every March.
My loss has only been like 4 figs out of 58. My 4 year old figs are chest high now with no growth yet but green.
The 3 year old figs are 2 foot or so tall ready to bud out.
Snaglpus, I'm sure you know what your doing. I'm just saying there are other options.
I now have close to 70 in ground figs, most all started from cuttings. All were planted in March, many produced in their first year.
Once a fig is put in the ground early it will get used to the summer sun and grow like a weed. I have a orchard to prove it.

Doug

[hoosierbanana]

My avatar pic is a fruit from a 7 month old RdB, planted out in early June.

[SCfigFanatic]

[Yeehova]

That looks figtastic!

[F. Bennett]

Very nice Doug!

[WillsC]

Doug,

What is your spacing? Center to center and row to row?

[SCfigFanatic]

I have 9-10 feet between rows, 6-7 feet between figs in the rows.
I will be letting it grow bush form and pruning to 6-8 foot tall.
There will be a lot of cuttings in the future.

Doug