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nafex - Re: [NAFEX] Zone 5 figs?

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  • From: Hans Brinkmann <hans-brinkmann@t-online.de>
  • To: North American Fruit Explorers <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [NAFEX] Zone 5 figs?
  • Date: Fri, 09 Mar 2007 22:04:37 +0100

Hallo Bill,
figs have been proposed in former days as fruit-trees in Germany!
We have (had) temperatures less than minus 25°C!
In former days specialists proposed, to mulch each year during winter all
"fruit-bearing-branches" complete with straw, mulch or even (carefully) with soil,
by bending them down.
Not only to protect branches from freezing-damage, but
to PROTECT the unripe FRUITS (looking very small)!
In our climate figs do need always TWO YEARS to ripe and they will ripe only with a winter protection.
I think in Mediterranean areas figs have two different kinds of flower-types.
Not so in Germany and other cold regions.

Now-a-days this knowledge is lost, and most Germans are keeping their figs outside - usually without fruits,
but sometimes as very nice bushes/trees, or inside (winter) as quite small bushes, with chances of fruits.

With your Greek background, I think it is a MUST to grow your own figs - with winterprotection and outside the whole year!

ciao
Hans






Hal Love schrieb:
Bill,

I would think that they are exagerating things quite a bit. You could
probably ripen the figs there, but I doubt it would survive without heroic
measures to protect it outdoors. I have it here, and it survives outside
unprotected, but does suffer die back. Hardy Chicago would be a better
choice for you, as it ripens earlier and is quite hardy. You would still
have to grow it in a container, and move it into a basement or unheated
garage, or wrap it really well with burlap or at least mulch the roots
really well. Dessication from cold dry wind is the biggest problem, so plant
in a well protected site.

Hal
zn 6b, TN

----- Original Message ----- From: "William C. Garthright" <billg@inebraska.com>
To: "NAFEX List" <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Friday, March 09, 2007 10:44 AM
Subject: [NAFEX] Zone 5 figs?


Speaking of figs,... I noticed the Brown Turkey Fig in the Stark Bro's
catalog, where it loudly proclaims, "Grow figs as far north as Zone 5!"
After a web search that included the NAFEX Fig Page, I see that this fig
can crop on new growth after the tops are winter-killed. Would that
really be practical - well, not exactly practical, I'm sure, but...
possible - here?

I'm in Zone 5a (AHS Heat Zone 7), and it got below zero several times
this winter (twice to -8, I believe). Could I still grow this fig if I
mulch it heavily with straw for the winter (expecting that the top would
die back each year, but it would re-sprout from the roots)? If so, how
should I manage that? Cut it off at ground level in late winter, or just
wait and see what happens? And how big should I expect it to get each
year (i.e. how much room would it need - the absolute minimum)? It would
probably sprout in bush form, wouldn't it? So I'm guessing it wouldn't
take much room (always an advantage). Any other tips? I'm thinking about
planting one in the spring of 2008, if it looks feasible.

OK, I realize it's probably weird to think of planting a fig in
Nebraska, but that's part of the attraction. And the fact is, I've been
planting so many fruit trees and bushes in my yard that I'll never be
able to eat all of it, anyway. So I don't mind experimenting with
something like this, unless it's completely ridiculous. If it doesn't
work, that won't be a big problem.

Also,... this brings back my youth. Many years ago, I spent a couple of
weeks in September camped on a Greek island next to some abandoned fig
trees. They were loaded with ripe figs and with figs that had completely
dried on the tree, and with figs at all stages in between. All were
delicious! (I'd never eaten a ripe fig before.) I certainly never
expected to grow figs in Nebraska, but this catalog entry really caught
my attention! Please tell me it's possible. :-)

Incidentally, it's not practical for me to bring a potted tree inside
for the winter, so that option is out. My house is too small and so is
the garage (not to mention that it's an old, detached garage which
wouldn't be much shelter).

Bill
Lincoln, NE (cold zone 5a, heat zone 7)

--
If stupidity got us into this mess, then why can't it get us out? - Will
Rogers

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