Winter storing

17 years ago

Hello everyone,

My name is Rafed and you might have seen my name pop up on the fig forum a couple of time in the past couple of weeks or so. I drive a truck for a living and have traveled all over the U.S. and Canada and let me tell you, It is beautiful out there!

Just like most of you I enjoy growing and eating figs and I have about fourty different kinds.

I've been growing fig trees for about six or seven years now and had the pleasure of meeting and doing business with Jon at Encanto Farms and Adriano at Adrianos out of Oakville, On. and have purchased from George at figsnstuff and several others.

I live in Sterling Heights, Mi. and I have a two car attached garage and that's where I keep my dozen or so large pots ( 10 to 25 gals. ) uncovered during winter and they seem to do o.k..

I have a shed in the back yard and that's where I store the young plant's ( 1gl to 3gl ) during the winter and do everything I can to protect them but have failed!

I have lost many young plants over the last couple winters and I wonder what I am doing wrong?

My basement is finished but I have a room that's always cold ( approx.55 to 60F )and dark and I wonder if I should put them there this winter.

I have seen the way Adriano stores his and he says it works for him.

But, I would like to learn from others and what measures they take to protect theirs.

So any of you out there that live in zone 6 or 5b be kind enough to share their experience and knowledge with me?

I would appreciate it very much.

Thank you all in advance

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Comments (10)

giants_2007
17 years ago
Wow let me be one of the first to say welcome and A+ Introduction I can not help with your question. I do believe you have answered your own question though
if your shed is to cold then get rid of the car and store in Garage
Just kidding I'm sure you will get more Intelligent replies
Again Welcome
Sal FL Z10
xgrndpounder
17 years ago
Welcome Rafed,

From one Mi truck driver to the other (Reliable Carriers Canton, Mi)Now retired

Many great members here to help ya, and I might add here is a great place for figsters too.

Here is a link that might be useful: Figs4fun forum
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chills71
17 years ago
I'll do you one better, I live in Saint Clair Shores, Mi and if you'd like to visit sometime I can show you what I'm planning for this year and show off my collection as well.

I've got one in the ground and the rest are stored in a dark-cold old putting up room in my basement.

Glad to see another Michiganian/Michigander in the forum.

~Chills
anniebomm
17 years ago
We can start our own Forum, 'Michigan Figgies.' Or not!

My Sicilian grandmother left her fig in the ground unprotected here, getting new growth from the base or roots each year that had figs by the end of the season. Sometimes they ripened in time before frost, sometimes not. I don't know the variety. Her brother, last I heard, was still putting his in a trench in the ground for winter.
I'd love to be able to say that what they grew was a family heirloom smuggled home from the old country in a suitcase, but I know no such thing!
-Ann
dieseler
17 years ago
Just what we need more midwesterners growing figs!!! ; )
Yes i had next door neighbor store a several year old brown turkey in his shed the following spring it was kaput.
I store in attached garage with old bed sheets clean of course over them and they do fine each year.
you mention room at 55 to 60 i kinda think 55 is not cold enough to make them fully dormant, perhaps you could try with several plants and see what happens.Hope to see ya on the other fig forum.Also great intro !
Martin
Gosh last year it sure was a cold winter.
xgrndpounder
17 years ago
Hi Chills
Ann that is one of the good guy's I was telling you about!

Happy gardening

Cecil
rafed
Original Author
17 years ago
Thank you all for your replies.

Martin,
I didn't think 55 was cold enough and that's why I put it out there to get other opinions.
But I will try with a few like you suggested and see what happens.

Chills,
I would love to meet with you and see what you have planned for this year.
I will leave you my email address at the bottom of this post. Email me and I will reply with my phone no.
I will email you my collection as well.
It's too bad we didn't meet any earlier,I would have invited you to come over and see my garden when it was at its peak.

And Cecil,
I am leased on with LandStar.
I have about 120 moving pads. What do you think about using those for insulation?
I did put three trees in the ground this year.

Thank you again
Rafed
email @ r.kinaia@comcast.net
All are welcome to email me.
xgrndpounder
17 years ago
Hi Rafed

We have at least two things in common now
Furniture pads has worked well for me
Way to go
BTW, I have a friend leased on with Landstar too
Earl Shelton....Good ole Mo. Boy
Cecil
rafed
Original Author
17 years ago
Cecil,

I've met alot of Mo. boys leased on with Landstar.
I could have met him.

I know this is off topic.
Ask him if he ever met a driver with an 05 Columbia with a big lime green star on the side of the bunk( instead of the blue landstar has ).
paully22
17 years ago
I put the fig trees in my unattached & unheated garage. I placed the 1 gal or smaller container trees in the middle & I throw a used blanket over them. Any pots from 5gal down do not sit on the concrete floor but on plywood. Watch your watering. The dirt may look dry but 3 inches down they are moist. I have stored quite a few starter plants in 32 oz cups last season this manner & none died. I give them a small drink some time in mid/late Jan.