Fig Cordons in Cold Climates: Craig Boyer’s Japanese Espalier Trials

Written By Steven Biggs

Fig Cordons

Craig Boyer of Coastal Fig Company joins me to talk about a fig-growing system with great potential for cold climates: fig cordons grown low to the ground inside high tunnels, with a second layer of protection using low tunnels or row covers.

Craig explains how he’s using low cordons for commercial fig production in Pennsylvania. Instead of digging and burying fig trees each fall—or instead of heating the greenhouses—Craig trains horizontal cordons close to the soil, then holds in heat with covers.

In this episode we discuss:

  • how the fig cordon system works

  • combining high tunnels and low tunnels for passive winter protection

  • getting fig budbreak and fruit production dramatically earlier

  • pruning and spacing strategies for commercial production

  • leaf pruning and airflow management

  • “the row cover dance” and avoiding heat damage

  • fig varieties that performed best in Craig’s trials

  • using passive solar heat instead of paying heating bills

Craig also shares how support from the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program helped make the project possible.

Learn more about Craig’s project here: Coastal Fig Company project profile

About Craig’s work with cordon figs:
This material is based upon work supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, through the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program under subaward number FNE22-003-AWD00000495.

Steven Biggs

Recognized by Garden Making magazine as one of the "green gang" of Canadians making a difference in horticulture, Steven Biggs is a horticulturist, former college instructor, and award-winning broadcaster and author. His passion is helping home gardeners grow food in creative and attractive ways.


He’s the author of eight gardening books, including the Canadian bestseller No Guff Vegetable Gardening. His articles have appeared in Canada’s Local Gardener, Mother Earth News, Fine Gardening, Garden Making, Country Guide, Edible Toronto, and other magazines.


Along with over 30 years working in the horticultural sector and a horticultural-science major at the University of Guelph, Steven’s experience includes hands-on projects in his own garden including wicking beds, driveway strawbale gardens, and a rooftop tomato plantation—to the ongoing amusement of neighbours.


When not in the garden, you might catch him recording his award-winning Food Garden Life podcast or canoeing in Algonquin Park.

Next

Hardy Fig Varieties Explained: Choosing the Right Figs for Your Climate with Pierre Baud