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I know most people believe this fruit only grows well in a Mediterranean climate. However fig trees can survive in temperatures close to 15 degrees. A fig tree can even survive in lower temperatures if extra care is involved and the right species is utilized. There are several good winter species that withstand the colder weather of the North. These fig trees would include Chicago,Brown Turkey and Celeste. The extra care to be taken is either to wrap the fig tree in some type of insulated material or plant dwarf trees in containers.
The dwarf tree is known as the Italian Money Tree. This dwarf tree is available from some nurseries located on the Internet. It requires four or more hours of sunlight which is provided by a south facing window. A good daytime temperature should be maintained between seventy-five and eighty degrees. The nightime temps should be sixty-five to seventy degrees. The fig tree's humidity would be average and keep moisture at an even level.
A fig tree residing in a container is often seen in the world of today. If you don't have the required capability of housing a dwarf fig tree in your house,then the tree can spend the winter months in your basement or garage. If the area chosen is unheated or is not deemed to be properly heated,then I would wrap the tree prior to storing it. In the case of the dwarf tree it is possible to have two crops. The fall one one being the more predictable one. It is a green-skinned fruit and is honey colored and delicious that will ripen in mid September. Blooming will not occur if the light level is too low.
Now the absolute dyed-in-the-wool fig grower feels that somehow a fig tree raised in a container is somehow like an animal trapped in a cage and provides less pleasure to its owner or in this case the fig tree grower. It is true,if you put a regular fig tree in a container the fruit production can sometimes be smaller and the beauty of its large leaves are some what hampered by the container growing.
If the decision is to plant either a dwarf fig tree or a regular species in a container,it needs to moved inside prior to winter arriving into your area. If your moving it into a sheltered area and not the house,the tree will only require one cup of water per month. This will keep the soil from becoming a powdery substance. One other caution here,don't remove the tree from outdoors until it is totally leafless. The fig tree should be checked on a routine basis to observe if any new growth has appeared. If this is the case, then it needs to be moved into the light or definitely store it in a cold and dark area to prevent this growth.
Now if you think this reduces the fun of raising the fig tree,then position your fig in a protected section of your garden such as a south facing wall and even a solid fence will work to maintain a wind breaker. The fig tree can also be wrapped with a tarp or burlap.You can even construct a mini greenhouse by planting posts around the fig tree and wrapping plastic around for protection. If you choose this method don't allow the plastic to contact the tree.
Most gardeners,that I have talked with in colder climates,are in agreement on one thing it is worth the result of delicious fruit from the fig tree. They also maintain that the fruit is ready to go just wash and enjoy directy from the tree. It just might be worth a try and besides figs are very healthy containing a lot of vitamins.
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