Hey Ross, I appreciate your willingness to change your opinion as you learn more over time. I've watched several of your videos in the past where you talk about the importance of maximizing sunlight exposure. It's nice that you're willing to change that opinion now that you see evidence to the contrary. On another note, you state that you're in zone 7A, but do you know the actual minimum temperature that you've seen at your house for the past few winters? I'm on the line between 7A/6B and considering moving some container figs to the ground. Thanks for great content as usual!
Sunlight maximization is a different topic than sunlight requirements. Maximization will always remain the most impactful thing you can do to help your tree in countless ways.
Just wanted to make that clear, but I hear ya on your main point. Open mindedness is something our society desperately needs. Not just when looking at fig trees.
Yeah, the open mindedness was the main point. On the topic of sunlight maximization vs requirement, I agree that they are different, but I think they are very much connected. For example, a tree that gets 8 hours of direct sun and has a poor structure for maximizing collection may collect a similar amount of sunlight as a tree that gets 4 hours direct sun and a great structure. To me, this indicates that maximizing sunlight collection is probably only critical for trees that are otherwise limited on direct sunlight. For trees in a lot of direct sun, other factors (fertilization, water, temp, etc) are likely much more important than having a sunlight maximizing structure.
Thanks Ross for the efforts and experiments (I know sometimes they can be painful and rewarding of course!) Whats your experience on sending cuttings overseas to central or South America, Caribbean, etc or have you heard they arrrive right? Thanks! Peace be to you, also the name or a link to your video on what optimal space you would give to these varieties based on how they behaved
More details about winter protection please - I’m in zone 7A a few states below you and my fear is planting them in ground so I keep in buckets. Please advise
New fig owner here. I just got a Chicago hardy for father's day and planted it in a full sun sheltered spot. The tree came in a pot with a steak. It is 4' tall and all the foliage is at the top. I am in north west NJ. Should I cut the tree down to the ground before 1st frost or try and wrap and insulate until next years growing season? Just subscribed, thanks for all your videos.
Your comment about how much sun trees need made me think. Have you looked into how trees share resources through their roots and fungal networks in the soil?
Wow there you are talking about 400 figs I'm going to be tickled to get any better a first year grower just wondering Ross it's hot here in TN trying to figure how often to water
How are you freezing them and keeping good quality? I tried it with Celeste and they turned into a terrible mushy almost slimy texture. I dehydrate mine and then freeze the dehydrated figs.
My six in ground trees finally started making figs but only the two Brown Turkey. I plan to graft Celeste and LSU Purple onto the extremely vigorous branches of those. My Celeste are growing fast but even the Brown Turkey cutting I planted this year is already way larger than expected and producing fruits. I`ve never grown that type, only Celeste I think, so I wanted to try it for its large fruits. They get really sweet here in Louisiana according to everyone who grows them but I`ve never even seen one. I used to love the Celeste figs. I planted 4 Dwarf Everbearing Mulberry trees too this year and one is over 6 feet tall already.
When you say ‘minimal protection’ how are you protecting your larger trees? I’m between Philly and the beach and my trees see to die back in the winter even though they have been covered by a tent like structure and surrounded by leaves.
Hi Ross, my Italian Honey and Italian Black are fruiting hundreds of fruits .. they are about 4 years in the ground. Should I cut the leaves off the tree so energy could be spent on the fruits? Will that hurt the fruits? I’m in 9A, so I could have 2’crops too if the heat extends .. thanks
My fig is in its 4th yr. Southern WV. Growing well and always bushy...but I've not seen a fig yet! I do fertilize it with spikes and water when necessary...this year it has one branch shooting out from the rest, so maybe? Do you have any recommendations to encourage fruiting? I've got the Chicago Hardy. It is definitely hardy lol, but I have no fruits lol.
Can you show us the 500 fruits per tree? I don't believe. Its impossible for these sizes of trees you have. Don't BS just to get views and likes for your videos. You just talk a lot but hardly any evidence of where your fruits are
If I was trying to get likes and views, do you think I would make 100s of videos on figs? There will be an update later in the season when the fruits are more visible. Clearly, you don't understand what I'm doing on this channel. I don't think it's for you.
I didn't really pay attention to the size of the tree, but I just went outside and I have a 4 year old brown turkey that doesn't get enough sun, about 9 feet tall and it has over 200 on it. Used to have one about 20 feet tall, about 15 spread and it would have thousands, you could barely reach half-way standing on 6 ft ladder.
You have given me confidence to plant more trees. I only have one very limited spot on my property that gets good direct sunlight. The rest is mature oak and hickory. I put three in the ground and thought that was all I had room for. After seeing your fig forest I went out and measured the distance between my trees and they are 12 feet apart! I will be adding 2 new trees between these three, and one more on each end so they will be 6 feet apart. Every darn video of yours that I see, I find a new variety that I MUST have. You are quite the enabler!
that's a lot of of fig trees. Figs tree has that distinctive pungent smells that can be overwhelming (or sickening) although I like the fruit to a degree.
I did on some of the young trees I bought from another seller. They needed it and the soil at the new orchard is still lacking. Otherwise, no, because my soil has plenty of nutrients and life after years of adding organic material.
Hi Ross I'd like to ask you something regarding the fig tree. I live in the tropical area. Since the fig is said to be from the Mediterranean climate region, does it mean it's better to place the fig tree under a bigger taller tree coz the sunlight in the tropical area is more intense? Btw, my figs are brown turkey and matsui dauphine Thx in advance for your answer
Figs thrives in cool weather,as soon summers in our part starts from May the fruiting in pots start falling &leaves drying as rain s are scanty but starts giving good results when monsoons sets in after June.
@@RossRaddi that's correct, but I don't see the point in it, unless you are just trying to cram a bunch in a small space. I thought about pruning tops back were I could pick them with a ladder, but I just let them grow. I've got hundreds of yards of muscadine vines, I'm sorta burned out on the pruning.
Nothing. They go away eventually. Never bothered any of my plants. In their final stage they do however excrete a sticky substance. They disappeared before that.
Hi Ross, I have approximately 800 in ground fig trees in a warmer area, and fig’s color gets yellow and fall down. May I know the reason to get rid of the issue?
![State of Play | September 24, 2024 [ENGLISH]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/fVs0suPHAX8/mqdefault.jpg)
Happy Father’s Day too; appreciate it
Awesome! Happy for you!
Thank you!!
Hey Ross, I appreciate your willingness to change your opinion as you learn more over time. I've watched several of your videos in the past where you talk about the importance of maximizing sunlight exposure. It's nice that you're willing to change that opinion now that you see evidence to the contrary. On another note, you state that you're in zone 7A, but do you know the actual minimum temperature that you've seen at your house for the past few winters? I'm on the line between 7A/6B and considering moving some container figs to the ground. Thanks for great content as usual!
Sunlight maximization is a different topic than sunlight requirements. Maximization will always remain the most impactful thing you can do to help your tree in countless ways.
Just wanted to make that clear, but I hear ya on your main point. Open mindedness is something our society desperately needs. Not just when looking at fig trees.
Yeah, the open mindedness was the main point. On the topic of sunlight maximization vs requirement, I agree that they are different, but I think they are very much connected. For example, a tree that gets 8 hours of direct sun and has a poor structure for maximizing collection may collect a similar amount of sunlight as a tree that gets 4 hours direct sun and a great structure. To me, this indicates that maximizing sunlight collection is probably only critical for trees that are otherwise limited on direct sunlight. For trees in a lot of direct sun, other factors (fertilization, water, temp, etc) are likely much more important than having a sunlight maximizing structure.
@@RossRaddiyou ever try grafting a cold hardy fig to a white mulberry tree before
@@ColdtropicsI’m trying to cross fig and mulberry now.
I do love the dehydrated fruit and Figs are the best right there with Mangoes.
Thanks for the good information. Phoenix AZ
Thanks Ross for the efforts and experiments (I know sometimes they can be painful and rewarding of course!)
Whats your experience on sending cuttings overseas to central or South America, Caribbean, etc or have you heard they arrrive right? Thanks! Peace be to you, also the name or a link to your video on what optimal space you would give to these varieties based on how they behaved
More details about winter protection please - I’m in zone 7A a few states below you and my fear is planting them in ground so I keep in buckets. Please advise
I live in a similar zone and the first two winters I just packed my fig in!
Have you tried fig leaf tea? Dry the leaves until crunchy. I use a little honey, tastes amazing
New fig owner here. I just got a Chicago hardy for father's day and planted it in a full sun sheltered spot. The tree came in a pot with a steak. It is 4' tall and all the foliage is at the top. I am in north west NJ. Should I cut the tree down to the ground before 1st frost or try and wrap and insulate until next years growing season? Just subscribed, thanks for all your videos.
In NJ too; I would let it grow and prune in the winter
Do you think in winter prune all the way down so next spring it would be all new growth?
Your comment about how much sun trees need made me think. Have you looked into how trees share resources through their roots and fungal networks in the soil?
Yes 👍
This year there was not a late freeze or a killing winter hard freeze. I hope it keeps up.
Can we see the rest of your other fruit trees too? We miss that content.
Wow there you are talking about 400 figs I'm going to be tickled to get any better a first year grower just wondering Ross it's hot here in TN trying to figure how often to water
I've got a couple videos on watering: ruclips.net/video/S6gCpsJnR0Y/видео.htmlsi=zufo_Lx32XEcMiNR
You can also check the blog. There's a great article there.
How are you freezing them and keeping good quality? I tried it with Celeste and they turned into a terrible mushy almost slimy texture. I dehydrate mine and then freeze the dehydrated figs.
They don't thaw well. You freeze for eventual smoothies or jam.
My six in ground trees finally started making figs but only the two Brown Turkey. I plan to graft Celeste and LSU Purple onto the extremely vigorous branches of those. My Celeste are growing fast but even the Brown Turkey cutting I planted this year is already way larger than expected and producing fruits. I`ve never grown that type, only Celeste I think, so I wanted to try it for its large fruits. They get really sweet here in Louisiana according to everyone who grows them but I`ve never even seen one. I used to love the Celeste figs. I planted 4 Dwarf Everbearing Mulberry trees too this year and one is over 6 feet tall already.
When you say ‘minimal protection’ how are you protecting your larger trees? I’m between Philly and the beach and my trees see to die back in the winter even though they have been covered by a tent like structure and surrounded by leaves.
Why don’t you think that section out this winter. Wouldn’t that make what’s left produce better.
Do you have problems with squirrels? Wondering if I should protect my first year fruiting ones.
Absolutely. Once they find them, you have to start trapping.
Hi Ross, my Italian Honey and Italian Black are fruiting hundreds of fruits .. they are about 4 years in the ground.
Should I cut the leaves off the tree so energy could be spent on the fruits? Will that hurt the fruits? I’m in 9A, so I could have 2’crops too if the heat extends .. thanks
Do not do that. The leaves give the fruits energy.
Yes, we want a separate regrets video 😂
Is there still a benefit in staking the trees now that sunlight doesn't seem to matter so much?
Absolutely. It's the most important thing you can do to a fig tree that's fruiting.
Sunlight matters less when setting the fruit buds. That's moreso about hormones than anything.
My fig is in its 4th yr. Southern WV. Growing well and always bushy...but I've not seen a fig yet! I do fertilize it with spikes and water when necessary...this year it has one branch shooting out from the rest, so maybe? Do you have any recommendations to encourage fruiting? I've got the Chicago Hardy. It is definitely hardy lol, but I have no fruits lol.
Watch his video on “pinching”
Do you winterize by bendind and covering?
Young trees, yes.
Off topic
Do you see benefit’s from your Apollo Neuro?
Absolutely. It actually works.
Sir, you are now 7B. Check the 2024 map.
Not where I'm at.
Can you show us the 500 fruits per tree? I don't believe. Its impossible for these sizes of trees you have. Don't BS just to get views and likes for your videos. You just talk a lot but hardly any evidence of where your fruits are
If I was trying to get likes and views, do you think I would make 100s of videos on figs? There will be an update later in the season when the fruits are more visible. Clearly, you don't understand what I'm doing on this channel. I don't think it's for you.
I didn't really pay attention to the size of the tree, but I just went outside and I have a 4 year old brown turkey that doesn't get enough sun, about 9 feet tall and it has over 200 on it. Used to have one about 20 feet tall, about 15 spread and it would have thousands, you could barely reach half-way standing on 6 ft ladder.
Even though this hot weather is great for in ground trees, what about our container trees? We should keep watering them almost every day. Right?
Every day when temps are over 80.
You have given me confidence to plant more trees. I only have one very limited spot on my property that gets good direct sunlight. The rest is mature oak and hickory. I put three in the ground and thought that was all I had room for. After seeing your fig forest I went out and measured the distance between my trees and they are 12 feet apart! I will be adding 2 new trees between these three, and one more on each end so they will be 6 feet apart. Every darn video of yours that I see, I find a new variety that I MUST have. You are quite the enabler!
that's a lot of of fig trees. Figs tree has that distinctive pungent smells that can be overwhelming (or sickening) although I like the fruit to a degree.
Do you use Osmocote on your in ground figs too?
I did on some of the young trees I bought from another seller. They needed it and the soil at the new orchard is still lacking. Otherwise, no, because my soil has plenty of nutrients and life after years of adding organic material.
Hi Ross
I'd like to ask you something regarding the fig tree.
I live in the tropical area. Since the fig is said to be from the Mediterranean climate region, does it mean it's better to place the fig tree under a bigger taller tree coz the sunlight in the tropical area is more intense?
Btw, my figs are brown turkey and matsui dauphine
Thx in advance for your answer
Grow it under plastic. Otherwise, you're wasting your time.
Figs thrives in cool weather,as soon summers in our part starts from May the fruiting in pots start falling &leaves drying as rain s are scanty but starts giving good results when monsoons sets in after June.
I'm in SC about the closest you would plant fig trees here would be 15 feet and that's close side.
Without pruning* with pruning you can plant fig trees as close as I have in SC.
@@RossRaddi that's correct, but I don't see the point in it, unless you are just trying to cram a bunch in a small space. I thought about pruning tops back were I could pick them with a ladder, but I just let them grow. I've got hundreds of yards of muscadine vines, I'm sorta burned out on the pruning.
Have you ever or do you recommend ‘thinning’ the crop ?
Only on young trees that need to grow.
@@RossRaddi thank you !
Great video Ross
-Ernest
Ross, I live in south Jersey, what do you recommend to combat lantern flies. They are invading my fig tree. Thanks in advance.
Nothing. They go away eventually. Never bothered any of my plants. In their final stage they do however excrete a sticky substance. They disappeared before that.
Hi Ross, I have approximately 800 in ground fig trees in a warmer area, and fig’s color gets yellow and fall down. May I know the reason to get rid of the issue?
Pollination or a lack of water are main culprits. There's a video I published a few years ago on that.