Figs just now ripening
bibbus 7b
5 years ago
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bibbus 7b
5 years agobibbus 7b
5 years agoRelated Discussions
Forcing figs to ripen in colder climates
Comments (4)I received an interesting tip while visiting with someone with years of fig growing experience in zone 5/6 (a small micro-climate on his property probably pushes it to zone 6). Extending the growing season is our goal so that figs get an earlier start in the spring and if possible, push the season a bit in the fall so fruit will ripen. He discovered a technique by accident that is worth examining. If I remember correctly, he covered up some figs with a blue tarp (the basic polyethylene blue tarp found at your local hardware store) to protect them from a spring frost and forgot about one of them on one part of the property. He discovered a few weeks later that the fig(s) underneath had not only survived the freeze but had completely leafed out. The leaves had also 'hardened' off - when the tarp was removed, the sunlight did not burn them. He has since refined this technique a bit. Apparently something about the wavelength of light that came through this color of tarp was enough to harden off the leaves. He recommended trying this technique to wake up figs in the ground or in pots. One must make a frame of sorts to support the tarp and it is critical that it be sealed around the edges or else the cold air will get in. He also said that when it was getting below freezing, he would put a kerosene heater inside just to make sure the tender new leaves were not damaged. This technique is only to be used in the early spring forward and for possibly extending the season a bit. Since the tarp is thin, it will not hold heat very well and will likely only provide an additional 10 degrees or so of warmth - with added heat of course for the cold nights. Normal winter protection measures should be employed otherwise. I have not experimented with it yet but will try it out next season....See MoreFig just started making little figs. Can I extend season indoors?
Comments (3)I too got a Quarter Pounder cutting from Jack, this past winter/spring and it's happily installed out in my yard right now, but no figlettes and it's only about 10" tall. If you can get them under 12 or more hours of full-spectrum / grow-lights you can keep them fooled into thinking it's still summer. Luckily the Memphis area has a pretty long growing season, so who knows I might see some fruit this year....See MoreFigs not ripening.... any ideas?
Comments (6)Dave, guess you have it much easier that us San Franciscans. I would love some heat down here. Yeah, I'm impatient too. Thats why I bought this huge Excell fig tree with a fat 4-5 inch trunk for $180 in a 25 gallon. That thing was heavy. I have had good luck so far with my fig trees even in the 1st year. I think it has a lot to do with: 1. I mulch the ground very heavily with dried leaves all year round. 2. I dump banana peels and other potassium / phosphorus rich left overs into the ground around the trees. 3. I add a layer of manure on top of the soil. It seems like manure encourages the figs to come out when I do that. I read some where that the bible says if your fig tree does not produce figs, you should dung it, and it still does not, then discard it. So I figure, if the bible says it, there must be something behind the idea. I tried it, and it seems to work for me. 4. I add bone meal to the soil which is high it potassium and phosphorus. By the way, the fig is actually a flower, and not a fruit. So if you want more figs, you have to do things to get the fig tree to flower. Phosphorus, Postassium, and lots of sun light seems to encourage flowering....See MoreJust purchased: should I repot my fig tree now (late June)?
Comments (9)You might get different opinions on removing the fruit, but I would not. It will probably ripen in July. For those of you that don't know where the OP is, see that palm tree in the background? It's pretty hot where he is in summer. The fruit will ripen. I would still repot now, but if you soak the existing pot so you can extract that tree from it's current pot and carefully set it on about 6" of new soil, compressing new soil around that, it will not know the difference. Just don't mess with the roots! They will happily fill in their new pot. Not sure if you get snow in winter. If not, I'd plant it in ground where it sits. But if you do, you'll need to keep it in a container so you can shelter it in winter. Soak the thing only for the transplant, then let it drain for a day or two till a stick you insert tells you it's time to water. Figs hate to sit in water. Well drained soil is best. A poster on GW in the container forum named Al has a formula for gritty mix. That stuff is magic! Google "Soil Sleuth." Its a sweet little cheap plastic stick with notches. You insert into the dirt, twist and bring back up. Easy to see how damp the soil is that's caught in the notches. Too dry, it all falls out. Too wet, it's stuck in there and VERY wet. CHEAP!...See Morebibbus 7b
5 years agoGred
5 years agobibbus 7b
5 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
5 years agoJason (Zone 10b, San Diego)
5 years agoMoses, Pittsburgh, W. PA., zone 5/6, USA
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agobibbus 7b
5 years agoraee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agobibbus 7b
5 years agoMatt z5b - Greenhouse 10a
5 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
5 years agoraee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agobibbus 7b thanked raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohiobibbus 7b
5 years agobibbus 7b
5 years agosusieqz
5 years agoMatt z5b - Greenhouse 10a
5 years agoJason (Zone 10b, San Diego)
5 years agoMatt z5b - Greenhouse 10a
5 years ago2ManyDiversions
5 years agoTheyCallMeDave
5 years agosusieqz
5 years agobibbus 7b
5 years agosusieqz
5 years agodirtygardener
5 years ago2ManyDiversions
5 years agoJason (Zone 10b, San Diego)
5 years agoBahamaDan Zone 12b Subtropics
5 years agojenny_in_se_pa
5 years agolast modified: 5 years ago2ManyDiversions
5 years agoJason (Zone 10b, San Diego)
5 years agojenny_in_se_pa
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoraee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio
5 years ago2ManyDiversions
5 years agojenny_in_se_pa
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoraee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio
5 years agosusieqz
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agobibbus 7b
5 years agosusieqz
5 years ago2ManyDiversions
5 years agoMatt z5b - Greenhouse 10a
5 years agoraee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio
5 years ago2ManyDiversions
5 years ago
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