Hiding Pots with Potted Figs
Trench for potted figs. Once backfilled with mulch, the pots and the boards lining the trench will not show.I sink my potted fig plants part way into the ground so that they can root into the surrounding soil. This prevents plants from tipping over in the wind, and allows them to scavenge food and nutrients from the soil.
Equally importantly, sinking the pots helps to hide them!
But digging holes for the pots every year is a lot of work. And...I want the pots completely out of sight.
So this year, I've made a permanent trench. After I put the potted fig plants into the trench, I'll simply backfill with wood chips or bark.
Advantages:
Pots are below grade and completely hidden under mulch
Pots will stay cooler and dry out more slowly
In autumn, wood chips are easy to remove when it's time to remove the trees for indoor storage
Stay tuned...I'll report back on how well this works this autumn.
Extending Fall Fig Harvest
Extend fall fig harvest with a plastic tunnel or greenhosueFIG GROWERS IN TEMPERATE CLIMATES know that lots of the figs on their plants won’t ripen before the first fall frost causes the plant to go dormant. Such a waste!!
Some fig lovers protect fig plants from fall frost to allow more fruit to ripen before the tree goes into dormancy.
An unheated plastic greenhouse or tunnel can raise the air temperature considerably—delaying dormancy, and ripening more figs. Yum!
Video: How to Grow Figs
If you think it's too cold to grow figs where you live, watch this video.
Maybe you can grow figs, even if they are not winter hardy in your area.
Fig trees are very forgiving plants that will take a lot of abuse.
In this video, I explain how to grow figs in places where they wouldn't normally survive the winter. It's not difficult! And you don't need a greenhouse to do it.
This is a talk I gave at Richter’s Herbs in 2013 about how to grow figs in cold climates.
A-Frame for Winter Fig Protection
Last week, my boys and I stopped by Adriano's for a visit.
Adriano grows it as a multi-stemmed bush, cutting out stems that become too big and, therefore, less flexible.
His potted trees were outside; still dormant, but buds swelling nicely.
He showed me his in-ground Desert King fig that overwinters covered with an A-frame.
Alternative to Burying Your Fig
Thinking of growing an in-ground fig, but don't want to chop the roots and lay it flat?
The A-Frame method is another approach to overwintering figs if you're in zone that's too cold for figs to survive unprotected.
Uncovered for Spring
He says this big in-ground Desert King fig has been there for about 40 years.
He grows it as a multi-stemmed bush, cutting out stems that become too big and, therefore, less flexible.
When winter comes, he bends over the branches, and then places an insulated A-frame (made from wood and styrofoam) over the top.
Through Summer
It never fully stands upright, but instead is bent over, so that it looks as if it is praying!
Figs in Garden Making Magazine
Get the latest issue of Garden Making magazine, which has my article about growing figs in cold climates. The magazine is on shelves now, or you can order online. Visit the Garden Making website.
Hi, We’re Steve and Emma!
We help people grow food on balconies, in backyards, and beyond—whether it’s edible landscaping, a vegetable garden, container gardens, or a home orchard.
Fig Masterclass
This self-paced, virtual Fig Masterclass is hosted by Horticulturist and Cold-Climate Fig Expert Steven Biggs.
Free Fig Guide
Fig Books
This book will help you apply creative “fig thinking” in your garden and harvest fresh figs even if you have a short summer or cold winters. With some fig thinking, you can harvest figs in areas where they don’t normally survive the winter! In this book, I share many of the questions I have been asked about growing figs in temperate climates, along with my responses.
Didn’t think you can grow your own figs in a cold climate? Here’s all you need to know to grow exotic fresh figs, even if you live somewhere with cold winters. Find out about choosing the right location, watering, pruning—and how to conquer winter. You’ll also learn about varieties, dealing with pests, and get tips from cold-climate fig experts.
