Fig fever in Europe
recarica
13 years ago
Hi, I live about 70 miles from Brussels in Belgium.
Many of you will recognize this story. It started with one fig tree. Then I got fig fever
First of all, I hope I donÂt make to many English Language mistakesÂ
I try to grow several kinds of fruits in our garden, apples, pears, plums, almonds, cherryÂs, nuts, currants, grapes but became addicted on growing figs.
It became worse when I met my wife whoÂs parents are Greek. Each year in august we go to her family over there fruit and fig heaven.
I grow figs in pots and have some planted in garden, some in soil, some in pots in soil, some in self-made earth boxes. I like to do some experimentingÂ
In the neighbourhood there are e few bigger fig trees, in a wall-protected garden. With climate heating up more people try to grow them.
Last 20 years temperature didnÂt go below 10° Fahrenheit. Last year they dropped  0° Fahrenheit and most of imported olive or fig trees from the mediteranean area died. I donÂt know precisely which climate zone it is over here, winter protection is certainly necessary. ThatÂs why I grow most my figs in pots which in winter I put in my garden house.
I try to grow figs that are a bit cold hardy + out of cuttings from France, Italy and Greece.
A few pictures
This is our backgarden.
A few of the fig trees, i hope you enjoy Â
Brunswick with brebaÂs
Doree
Del Portogallo
Cerreto
Madeleine de deux saisons
Alicon
Negronne
Brown Turkey & Hardy Chicago (froze down last year)
Galbun in self watering container
Newly planted Sultane with root restriction
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lukeott
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agostefanos689
11 years agolast modified: 9 years agoRelated Discussions
Beward the symptoms of Garden Fever
Comments (25)Cheryl, first let me say that I was so touched by your story and I hope and pray you continue to have good health. It makes you think how lucky we all are to have another spring to look forward to, an opportunity to get out and dig in the dirt again. Now for the Spring fever, I'm afraid it's already too late for me. It starts out slow, not like the flu that just knocks you down quick. Spring fever sneaks up on you when you least expect it. You walk outside and call yourself just looking around, surveying the situation and before you know it you're bent over in the beds, pulling up this, cutting back that, digging here, moving there, etc. There is only one known cure! Lots and lots of yard work, many trips to the local garden center (oops I mean doctor)! I hear dirt works wonders, good for most things that are ailing you. Hang in there everyone, the cure is right around the corner!...See MoreStaten Island Fig Festival
Comments (21)One point you made is definitely true...the further away from good 'ol New Yawk City...the lousier the pizza! New York has some of the best Pizza in the USA...BUT...you gotta know where to buy it! In my day, I could make 4 slices disappear in less than ten minutes...and that's a NYC-size pie....not these phonograph record-size pizzas! Isn't "Gluttony" one of the Deadly Sins? I will roast for sure! Frank...See Moretropicalesque spring fever?
Comments (5)alzypelican, I can remember what you are going through--I used to live in Fargo, ND. I didn't realize where I was going with my love for tropical plants then, only after I moved south and could grow my "house plants" outside, did I know I needed the foliage and colors of tropicals to keep me sane through a ND winter. I had all colors of coleus outside in the summer, then took cuttings to root for house plants through the winter and set them outside again in the summer. Also, I loved the purple and white datura, I would start it in late February to set out the first week of May and have flowers off and on all summer. Another great colored plant is the purple leaved amaranth. Looks like a grass but will set the seed head in time for you to enjoy that part of it if started indoors. As tnshadylady says, castor beans grow up there, altho they may get "leggy" if started this soon. Do you have grow lights set up in your basement? That's where I overwintered most of my "outside" houseplants and started seeds in Fargo. It was cool enough to keep them at a slow growth rate but the lights allowed them to grow without "stretching for light". Linda...See MoreSpring grow light fever
Comments (22)Hi Mike, luckily I haven't had a problem with Spider mites in my room, I have had them before in a greenhouse at my old property and they were absolutely evil. Killed everything. The humidity of my room I monitor in 2 places and it is always 50-75% depending on how recently I have watered. I assume that helps? Don't mites like it dry? I even bought the magnified glasses so I could keep an eye out for them. No sign yet though. I do have scale on about 5 of my citrus trees, but not at all on the other 10. Isn't that weird? I also have some aphids but only because I over wintered 5 pepper plants in there and they are apparently aphid vectors. Never any aphids on the citrus though, phew! I only use neem or the organic soaps and oils. Neem works the best though, I have been trying to make it a regular regimen. Fmv though, I just did some research on it as I am newer to figs. All my fig trees are gorgeous and green with perfect leaves... Except one a few mottled leaves, none misshapen. It seems most trees are carriers anyway? I'll have to see how that goes. The figs were never intended to go in the room I am just having a hard time finding a place to keep them dormant over winter. It's too hot or too cold everywhere I have. Any suggestions and advice are always welcome thanks!...See Morestefanos689
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