Figs- After reading a few posts here irt figs I'm now wondering about a fig start I have. Basically I dug up a shoot from a fig tree my brother had in the Tri-Cities in the fall of 2008. I believe his was planted in spring of 2007. Well, apparently his tree died this past winter (btw, the Tri-Cities is typically around 10 deg warmer than here). My start was potted up and in an outdoor shed all winter that probably got down to the 20's/30's throughout Jan/Feb but it made it and has some leaves growing (I'll post a pic later).
Some of the posts here make me wonder if this tree will live & produce here in Spokane if I plant it outside somewhere or do I need to plant it in a 10 gal tree pot and move in/out in winter/summer? I'm actually outside the city and therefore it gets a lot cooler overnights here because I have less overnight radiant heat than the city. However, in the winter I'm about the same temp (or even a bit warmer) than the city. I'm using lots of pavers and cinder blocks in the garden I'm building this yr iot retain more heat but I don't know exactly how that pertains to figs. Unfortunately, I have no idea what type of fig I have.
Persimmons- I saw one at a local nursery who told me they "only buy plants that are hardy for our area"... Here's an exact quote of what the tag said (the part in bold what I found to be concerning as well as quite contradictory): "FUYU Persimmon (JIRO) (Diospyros), Most popular of the fresh eating persimmons. Lg, round & flattened. Non-astringent. Good fresh eating. Heavy, early producer. Ripens: November. Self Fertile. Rootstock: Lotus Persimmon" The tag also has "L.E. Cooke Co, Visalia, CA 93292" on it.
The tag description (especially what I bolded) made me think that this tree was NOT ok for this area but they insisted that it was and that the tag was misleading. Any thoughts on this would be great as I would actually like to try this tree if I thought it would survive & thrive here for me. Thanks
Flyer, (howdy!), I doubt figs will survive the winters east of the Cascades… Here in the Willamette Valley we’re occasionally ‘pushing it.’ The extreme low temperatures, if not an additional wind-chill are likely to do them in. As far as fruiting, you’d likely get ripe fruit before me. I hope someone more familiar with the east side will check in.
The HOS founder, Larry McGraw had somewhat of an ‘experimental farm’ on the east side, but I don’t remember if it included figs..? …I suspect potting one up, in as big a pot a possible, and hauling it to safety during the depth of winter might allow you to have some figs. They’re quite prolific, and may be a challenge to contain…
I grow persimmons, too (I’ve seven mature figs and four mature persimmon trees). I’d have to look up the minimum temperature necessary to over-winter a persimmon, but expect you have. There are American and Asian persimmons; I believe the indigenous, or American persimmons can take lower temperatures, but am not sure how far north they naturally grow. Though ‘astringent,’ or unbearably puckery until ‘soft ripe,’ they’ve also a very brittle structure and are prone to wind damage. The Asian’s, or at least the ‘Fuyu’ (or Jiro) are less cold-hardy, though my identical cultivar has thrived here in the valley for twenty years, I doubt they’d handle your yearly lows…
The ‘early ripening’ is a good thing; it means those with cooler summers will eventually get ripe fruit. Just like a fig, you’d have no problem ‘ripening’ persimmons. But the fruit is definitely prone to freeze damage, and virtually worthless after. So, if you had fruit hanging on into November, you’d likely experience some serious freezes by then… I’ve allowed mine to hang on into December, the leaves will drop with the first ‘frost,’ but the fruit will hang until the birds and/or raccoons discover it.
…so… I couldn’t recommend either one – but I’m no expert on the east side. I’d research American ‘highbred persimmons,’ and the damaging lows for Asians, too. Another thing, you’d likely not have success potting a persimmon. Supposedly they’re quite dependant on a single ‘tap root,’ which would be impossible to establish inside a pot. …Just as my dad treks your way for his Apricot supply (we don’t have much luck with them in the big valley), you may have to ‘visit us’ for some figs and persimmons, if not Safeway…
I would force the fig to 'live or die' outside but that is just my cruelty streak coming through... lol Actually, I think it will make it.
There most definately are figs that can handle living totally outside in Spokane WA. No doubt of this at all. Figs can be totally frozen down to the ground and still produce good fruit from new growth right out of the stump. Finding best varieties may be a challenge but you might start with 'Chicago Hardy'
http://www.google.com/#hl=en&#.....+hardy+fig
There are crosses between asian and american native persimmons that are great and here is one of them
http://www.onegreenworld.com//product_i ... cts_id=952
above is from http://www.onegreenworld.com - Nikita’s Gift™
A second generation hybrid of American and Asian Persimmon, Nikita's Giftâ„¢ bears bountiful crops of flattish, 2-1/2" diameter, reddish-orange fruit.
The 'quick and dirty' in CRFG fruit facts are helpful.
http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/fig.html
Please let me know if my links above fail to work.
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