Overwintering potted figs in a warm basement - leaves in january!

8 years ago

Hi everyone - i'm looking for advice. I don't have too many options for storing my potted fig plants -- I have a small bike shed outside but I doubt it would offer enough protection or keep temps above 25. I have a sunroom that has terrible heating - and so it stays in the high 50s most of the winter. Then lastly I have a basement - which is dark, but not that cold -- probably in the mid 60s. I opted to put my figs down there, and then just tonite (january 5th) when I went to give them some water I noticed that one of them has started to sprout leaves. I'd love some advice as to what to do - should I bring the plant with leaves upstairs to the sunroom? Or is that plant totally screwed? Should I leave the others in the basement? Or move them to the sunroom as well?
I'm new to fig growing - so all advice would appreciated. thanks!

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hoosierbanana

8 years ago

Could you insulate the roof and walls of the bike shed? That would be the very best thing to do and if you are worried about a particular cold spell you can put a 100 watt lightbulb in there and warm it up. Or you can pack them in tight and cover with blankets or something. 25f is a safe temperature for your trees that are dormant now, but after they are exposed to cold temperatures for a couple weeks they will be totally dormant, and able to withstand lower temperatures. The water in the sap drys and leaves sugar behind that acts like antifreeze. There is a good explanation of how figs deal with cold temperatures at planetfig.com

The tree with leaves needs light, it won't grow much at those temperatures in the sunroom but hopefully that will keep it from getting leggy. Any others that have soft green tips from growing late into the season or swollen buds because they are about to leaf out can stand a light freeze but 25f might hurt them a little bit until they go back into deep dormancy.

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Comments (13)

bunti
8 years ago
I have few potted fig trees outside. How to protect them. Can I put them in garage? Do you want me to put the plants inside the house?
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RedSun (Zone 6, NJ)
8 years ago
I have fig trees growing leaves too. Just leave them like that. No harm at all.
User
8 years ago
To BUnti 7

If you are in Zone 7 ,get the trees inside Garage,because outside they will be dead in the Spring.

That is because the roots,die faster than ,branches,when exposed to cold.

A plant in ground has the roots protected by the soil,it is in.

But ,in container outside ,the roots are not protected the same.
bunti
8 years ago
what will happen if I keep the plants in heated area? What will happen, if they start budding out?
myermike_1micha
8 years ago
Well, if you plan of re potting them i would do that now. You don't want to re pot after they flush out. I like to do all mine while dormant. Nothing wrong with them leafing out and in fact they are getting a very early start. Just make sure to acclimate them to the outdoors in shade so they won't burn come spring.

They must be getting lots of light, right? If not they will be leggy and the leaves will be very pale, but not to worry since they will be replaced with much stronger ones once they get ful sun in a month or too.
RedSun (Zone 6, NJ)
8 years ago
New growth also stimulate root growth, which is a good thing. Very likely I'll cut off most of the new growth. It is weak and leggy. The tree will grow just nicely by spring.
tony zarzecki
3 years ago
I have same situation my plants grew leggy branches over a foot long. It’s now March, should I cut them off or unblock windows so they get light, is it too soon ?
bluemoonlight
3 years ago
Tony, if this was my situation I would shorten (cut) the branches.

Are those fig plants that you are seeking help ?

Is this first year growing plants (fig plants) ?

When is the last frost day there ?

What is your growing zone ?

Please Tony be more specific next time 🙂
tony zarzecki
3 years ago
I’m zone 6 in Michigan, plants are about three years old, last frost day here is about may 10th. I grown most from cuttings and have a few bought as older plants.
bluemoonlight
3 years ago
I still don't know if what you call plants are Ficus Carica, edable fig plants 🤔

I am in zone 6 with same last frost date.
HU-9553312
last year
Has anyone ever had their fig trees produce figs while overwintering? Im puzzled because ive never had tgis happen, i assume its from stress(?)
dieseler
last year
HU,

here in z5 yes but breba only which get knocked off come early spring when i notice any.

Martin

Overwintering potted figs in a warm basement - leaves in january!

hoosierbanana

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bunti

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