Container Fig Tree Care? -- Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter

[applestar]

looks like one of them struck roots

Petit Negri fig cutting starting to grow

...the other two started to grow white mold. I sprayed with alcohol a couple of times but when one of them turned mushy, I called it and cut them down to the soil level, so only this one is growing. ...but I GOT ONE

[ReptileAddiction]

Nice! If you wanted to trade some rooted cuttings, I have some small celeste figs...

[applestar]

...but this is my first baby....

[hendi_alex]

I should have moved my container grown petit negri to protection this winter. Looks like the unusually cold temperatures have killed it, Texas giant, and celeste all have been killed back to the ground. I would assume that new growth puts out from the roots, but I've never seen figs with older growth get killed back so far before.

[applestar]

That's a bummer, Alex.

Yes, this winter has taken all of us by surprise... Particularly in terms of [not usually needed] protection and hindsight is 20/20 as they say. I'm still assessing what survived and what didn't out in the garden, but my rosemary by the garden gate is all brown and dried up.

[applestar]

The "Big Fig" out on the patio is starting to break bud

BTW that's my "backup" rosemary that was overwintered nearly dry in the unheated garage in front of (not directly under the lights of) the V8 Nursery. I draped it along with the fig with a clear plastic sheeting loosely attached to the light fixture with magnets for easy on/off when temps got down in the neg. single digits outside and V8 nursery area was down to 24°F so it was getting "some warmth" generated by the light fixtures. But I never completely covered/wrapped the the set up this year since I wasn't using it for tender plants. Just zone marginal ones.

The apparently empty white pot contained a pineapple sage propagated in fall from cutting. Top was totally winter fried, and I'm nit sure if there was enough root system to survive the freeze... But I'll just leave it like that and see.

[RogueRose]

Last year was a good fig year for my tree...not quite a bumper crop, but it was good. We'll see how this year goes. Something nibbled on it this late winter/early spring. I don't know what. I am going to guess groundhog or squirrels. I hope it does okay....it's just at the base.

[applestar]

Those buds had swelled to nearly unfolding. I've dragged the tree back inside the back door to protect from the forecasted overnight temp of 28-26°F and windchill of 16°F. No way I'm letting those buds get blasted.

[applestar]

So far so good

Can you see the six baby figs?

[applestar]

The same fig tree now.

It grew around 30 fruits -- pretty respectable/satisfactory amount, I'm thinking
They are starting to ripen, and I've harvested four so far including the two in the picture.

Until this summer, the DD's didn't even want to try them, so DH and I have been enjoying the tiny harvest from this tree, but this year, younger DD decided to try one, and now she loves figs.

So we have to share....

But I have a solution for that -- My new Chicago Hardy fig has been growing well and, since it's supposed to be hardy in the ground, hopefully it will crop more heavily than the container fig.

I'm planning to train it in espalier style against this wall.

[applestar]

Three more are starting to ripen

There's one left in the kitchen that was harvested two days ago when the fruits sagged, had a slight give, and easily pulled off. I wrap the harvested figs in paper towel and let them ripen completely for another day or two. At that point, they turn nearly black and are delicious.

[applestar]

My fig tree is inside and going dormant. The leaves are shriveling and falling, and I have been chopping them up into small pieces to mulch the surface of the container mix.... And I started to notice this WONDERFUL AROMA as I crumpled up and chopped up the leaves.

So, it's too late now with this tree and I'll have to wait until next season, but I looked it up and found this

Fig leaves are harvested from mature fig trees. The leaves are a bright, vibrant green with thick veins and a prominent stem. Each leaf has five main veins and leaflets, much like fingers on a hand, and each leaflet is wider in the center and tapers to a point. Fig leaves are most commonly used to wrap and grill or steam seafood. The leaves give the cooked meat a smoky, fruity flavor, and distinct coconut aroma.

Applications

Use fresh, clean fig leaves to wrap seafood, meat, fruits and cheeses. Secure the parcel with string or twine and grill, bake, roast, smoke or braise. The fig leaves will keep the items moist, cooked by the steam created in the parcel. Fig leaves should be used immediately; keep refrigerated and dry to store. Rinse but do not dry before wrapping, the moisture on the leaves will help to cook your parcel.

http://www.specialtyproduce.com/produce ... s_7136.php

I might try making something if the Chicago Hardy fig tree outside but planted against the SW side of the house still has leaves.... Has anyone else tried making fig-leaf wrapped something? I was originally thinking of making Chinese steamed dumpling with sweet filling because the aroma reminded me of something like the lotus leaf wrapped sweet sticky rice.

[Rairdog]

My Chicago Hardy was in a pot but growth slowed after a few months so I put it in the ground. It took off again. I tried pulling it to see how deep the roots dug in and it was solid. Just trimmed it back and put some cuttings in wet paper towel in a ziplock to see if they will root.

[rainbowgardener]

Your figs are beautiful, applestar. Now I really "need" a fig tree!

[applestar]

A peek under the covers at the sleeping fig accompanied by the larger Rosemary and Pineapple Sage in the garage in front of the V8 Nursery

...The stick like trunk with dried up dead leaves to the left is an avocado -- subject of extreme dormant state overwintering experiment