Mike did you have a spare, here lost Hardy Chicago inground after number of years to ants unfortunately did not notice it in time a few years back luckily had its spare .

Martin - zone 5b

Kate, thank you. I appreciate that(

Hey Martin. It was a Chicago hardy and the trunk was 6 inches in diameter! It was about 8 feet tall and gave me over 100 figs last fall. So upsetting.

Who knows, I have not dug it out yet. Maybe it was ants at the roots system. I will let you know when I dig it up what i was. I know it was not the cold because I had it so well insulated and even then if the top growth dies, it should of sent out root growth. The ground under all the insulation never froze.

Hoping you are well by the way.

Mike

Mike you never know it may send up a shoot some time this season , if you poke around at its base be careful as you possible could break one just starting underneath ground emerging from trunk.

As for the ants if they are there in numbers you may see them on top or if you disturb the soil just a little they would be seen all of a sudden.

Martin

Great idea Martin. I will do that tonight. It just might still shoot one out. Thanks

I just want to give you some hope, three years old Dalmatie, it was it's first winter in ground, I failed at winter protecting it, it was just covered with ground cover white fabric. Mercury droped as low as -13 Degree Fahrenheit, Dalmatie frized to soil level, I was looking vary closely hoping yo see signs of life, and then finally 😃

This is today

If you enlarged pictures, there is a bud opening on left side too, I am so happy it's coming back to life, I will wrap it to the winter and use heating cable ! Cross my heart and hope to die 🙂

What's the coldest last winter ?

It will wake up ! Hiving it time, Meyer.

I just bought 2 figs off an older Italian gentleman... the guy is a guru on figs.. we are in Z5a (north of toronto) and he insisted that it is pointless to plant figs in ground in cold climates... he has absolutely gorgeous fruit-laden figs of all kinds growing in pots, some very large... he keeps his pruned low (no more that 6' or so) and shared a wealth of info for keeping them going... he puts them in a greenhouse in winter where temps are kept just above freezing. One thing he shared that was very interesting is that potted figs produce more fruit that in ground figs. In fact, he sends pics "back home" to his relatives in southern Italy and they cannot believe how many figs his potted plants produce.

That is such an encouragement. Thank you !! Sticking mine in my greenhouse this winter.

Definitely do NOT give up hope!

A few years back, I purchased two fig trees from my local Walmart (brown turkey & a Celeste), both in 5 gal pots and about 4' tall with an inch+ trunk. The Celeste completely died off, was pretty annoyed so I just moved the pot over to a planter area outback and kinda just forgot about it. Well, several months later while cutting the lawn I glance at it and I see a new shoot coming up. Today, it stands maybe 2+' tall with a twin right beside it that I have neglected to air layer it or up pot it thus far. So don't lose hope just yet, it might surprise you! Good luck!

Definitely don't give up Mike! All my fig trees that freeze to ground have nice growth. Little Miss Figgy (VdBordeux variant) 3 seasons in ground, will not ripen it's figs but hopefully next season if nature will allow it in 🌞 fingers crost.

Here she is about 3 weeks ago

This Dalmatie is also 3 seasons in ground, freeze to the ground, it started coming back very slowly, she is now 2 feet tall, because it is planted at the south facing wall, I will build wooden boxes around it, wrap it in burlap + I will use heating cable around burlap, that is my plan but I wount give up, no way!

The rootss survived 12 Degree Fahrenheit znd came back, just look how beautiful it is

All the best all the way Mike!

it just seems like a lot of work to keep them alive when you can really have excellent fruit from potted plants... but kudos to those if you who have such determination!

I should show you the pics of the Italian man's potted figs...

On another topic, what kind of fertilizer do you folks use in the case of potted trees?

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