Date: Mon, 16 Jun 2014 18:22:32 +0000
From: Al Cooke
Subject: Fig Trees
In reply to Tarus Balog’s inquiry about figs, the following message was sent to newsletter subscribers on May 19:
“I have been away from the county for about 3 weeks. In my absence I have had numerous emails and phone calls about fig plants. The damage to figs was predictable and falls under the same category of winter damage that I have suggested about plants in general. While I can say it was predictable, recent years of milder winters may have lulled us into forgetting that figs are of marginal cold hardiness in our area.
“Fig plants may be damaged by temperatures below 20 F. In these cases they may be damaged (dead) all the way back to the ground or nearly so. The extent of damage can be moderated by exposure, mulch, surrounding surfaces, duration of extreme cold, age and health of plants, and other factors. In most cases the plants will recover with new shoots emerging low on the stems or from the soil.
“Cold injury can kill some plants completely or weaken them sufficiently to increase hazard of stem canker. Dead or damaged stems should be removed.. There is not much else you can do.
“It would be nice if I could suggest some varieties of fig that are more cold hardy. Alas, we have to start with varieties that will actually bear fruit in our area where fig pollinators do not survive the winter either. We are limited to varieties that produce fruit without pollination. Brown Turkey and Brunswick (aka Magnolia) tend to produce better in years following cold injury, and Celeste is fairly hardy. That’s about the extent of varieties that produce predictable crops for us.
“It is usually a good idea to protect figs through the winter with good layers of mulch. Loose mulch such as leaves or straw may provide better cold protection. Mulch can be applied loosely around the trunk up to one or two feet in winter. Be sure to remove mulch in spring when danger of severe cold is past.
“So for now, you can prune out dead material and wait and watch.”
alcooke
Al Cooke
Extension Agent, Horticulture
Chatham County Center, N.C. Cooperative Extension
PO Box 279, Pittsboro, NC 27312
919.542-8202; Fax 919.542.8246