Figling care

[sparrow100]

Should I pop my 7 month old figling into the greenhouse over winter? It's in a flower bucket in a sheltered corner and I just wonder whether it's hardy enough at its young age to leave out all winter.

Given how damp my greenhouse is at the moment I'm hoping for an 'it'll be fine outside' response. 😀

[bearded bloke]

If Mrs.BB's Oliander are anything to go by I would have thought with a few precautions it would be OK. We just place "Olliette" (yes she named it ) in a corner away from prevailing winds & cover with a fleece plant cover that ties around the flower pot, I think it's about 15 years old now, so not doing bad for just very basic cold weather protection

[Aberdeenplotter]

What variety is it? I've never grow a fig but I'm sure I read that "Brown Turkey" is the only one hardy enough to grow outsidein the UK. Also, I'm sure I read that the roots of a fig need to be contained in a concrete enclosure or similar.

Hopefully someone who has a fig can confirm or dispel my comments

[WendyC]

I think it would be ok outside but just guessing really. I doing like the term "figling" though. Should we have "plumling" or "pearling" too?

[bearded bloke]

What variety is it? I've never grow a fig but I'm sure I read that "Brown Turkey" is the only one hardy enough to grow outsidein the UK. Also, I'm sure I read that the roots of a fig need to be contained in a concrete enclosure or similar.

Hopefully someone who has a fig can confirm or dispel my comments

Hi AP, yep there is deffo at least one variety that is hardy (shropshire) & will grow direct in soil, I will nip round next door when he gets home & ask what it is he has & at what stage he planted it out, currently it's about 6-7 feet high & has fruited well for the last couple of years.

[Lisasbolt]

How big is it? I have lost cuttings over here when too cold, although outside. 7 months is still a baby.
personal i wouldn´t or put it out and those extra cold days bring it in but then the temperature differences might screw with it.

[sparrow100]

AP, no idea what variety it is, I grew it from a cutting I found in the site's car park. There are at least 7 fig trees on our small field, mostly prolific green fruit. I know when it's grown up it will be fine, my FIL's figs are happy to -15 in Italy.

Was just not sure if it was too young to try that lifestyle yet. Thanks BB and WendyC, plumling has a lovely ring to it. ��

[Guest]

Where did you have it when it was a stick in a pot? (was that not last winter?)

I would have thought it would be fine in a sheltered spot with just some fleece to be on the cautious side.

AP. In regards to hardy varieties etc reads nurseries do one of the best variety collections I have ever come across Fig trees in the garden | large range of fig trees for sale | Free advice

Edit: if the mature are hardy, I would def. think it would be ok sheltered and fleeced

[sparrow100]

How big is it? I have lost cuttings over here when too cold, although outside. 7 months is still a baby.
personal i wouldn´t or put it out and those extra cold days bring it in but then the temperature differences might screw with it.

It's nearly 3ft high, I guess it could play greenhouse hokey-cokey from when the frosts descend into London.

[Lisasbolt]

That is a lot bigger than i thought, so guessing you would be ok. I do hear you are in for a bad winter (so my mum says) so those days i would bring in maybe into the garage so not too much of a shock.

[sparrow100]

Where did you have it when it was a stick in a pot? (was that not last winter?)

It was grown from March/April this year, so this is it's first winter.

[Thelma Sanders]

My baby fig is going to stay in the cold greenhouse unless it turns as cold as the tabloids keep warning in which case it will come into the back lobby.