Maybe a sigh of relief... is Winter over in Pensacola

[Darkman]

Man I am tired of doing the fig shuffle along with the other plants too. I think I have shuffled for the last time this year. I am not expecting any more freezes but I wasn't expecting the last three either. Been a nasty Winter with wild temperature swings. The forecasters have blown the lows many times this year.

I looked at all of my in ground figs yesterday and they all have small green leaves or swollen green buds. The leaves are so tiny when they first unfurl. I don't think I have any significant branch dieback either. I'll know for sure in a few weeks. I have already added about 8" of new leaves to start decomposing and feeding my figs.

Here is a list of my Inground varieties:

Hollier
JH Adriatic
TX BA1 (false)
LSU Gold
Celeste
Italian Strawberry ( really an unknown but that is how it was represented)
Marseille/Lemon
Petit Negri
Celeste (heirloom from TJ)
Col de Dam Noir
O'Rourke
Conandria
Green Ischia

Potted Varieties partial list:

Bethlehem Black
LSU Purple
Verdal Louge
Vista
Beal
Cajun Gold
Black Mission
Lattrulla
Deanna
Sucrette
Craigs Green
Emerald Strawberry
RDB
Gold Rush

I hope this year I'll have good fruit set and less bird and squirrel predation. Many of these varieties I have not been able to taste yet and I'm hopeful this will be the year. Having walked with FMD in his orchard and sampled some really awesome tasting figs I find it excruciatingly difficult to wait BUT I can't speed it up.

Anyone eating the tree rats? Tree Rats with a splendid fig sauce! Could solve some of my problems. Would that require a White or Red or just Southern Sweet Tea?

[Rafaelissimmo]

Birds and squirrels-squirrels are easily eliminated. But birds are relentless. Only nets seem to keep them out.

[FMD]

Rafael, how do you deal with squirrels?

[Gina]

We had only about one week of winter here. Lots of days in the 80s, and not much rain - but more than last year. Yesterday it was in the high 80s. It wouldn't be a surprise if this has been our warmest winter on record.

Most figs are beginning to leaf out,, but not all of them, fortunately; since I still have some transplanting to do.

Fig predators here are birds, ground squirrels, rats (?) and the worst - raccoons. Those will get through almost anything.

[FMD]

Glorious day here in Tally, with temps in the mid 70’s. Tomorrow 80’s. Figs and blueberries are starting to leaf out. Earthboxes prepped for the new season. Birds a-twittering. Perfect.

But don't count out one last freeze, Charles.

[Rafaelissimmo]

Frank, I use the Kania 2000, well worth the investment. Squirrels were hiding their bloody acorns in my containers, then digging them out and damaging my roots, no more. :-)

[Yeehova]

My peaches are starting to leaf out and the flower buds look like they are about to pop. Local cherry trees are starting to flower as well. It won't be long now!