How to prepare figs for winter

Is it necessary to cover figs for the winter?

Classic varieties of figs freeze at -12°C, while winter-hardy varieties can withstand temperatures down to -20°C. In any case, it is better to insulate the plant. A frozen fig tree will reduce productivity, will not recover due to complete freezing of roots and shoots, or will die after flowering.

Important! In Russian latitudes, it is difficult to protect the tree from frost, so it is recommended to form the fig into a bush. This is convenient for covering it for the winter, trimming excess branches and harvesting.

These two factors can destroy a fig tree:

• excessive humidity;
• dried rhizome.

How to properly cover figs for the winter

The choice of shelter depends on the method of plant formation and climatic conditions:

1. Earth. In temperate climates, sprinkling the bush with soil will be sufficient. The shoots are bent to the ground, secured in a lying position and soil is poured on them, with a layer of fallen leaves or straw 5-15 cm thick on top, or a “layer cake” is made from soil, fallen leaves, straw and loose soil.
2. Vegetation and roofing material . If in winter frosty days alternate with thaws and there is no snow, it is advisable to cover the fig branches with a plant layer and roofing material on top.
3. Humus and straw. Humus and straw 10 cm thick are poured onto the branches, a film is stretched over the frame built above the bush and the entire superstructure is covered with burlap.
4. Car tires. If you create a barrier of them around the plant on all sides, you will get good thermal insulation.
5. Formation of sheaves. Fig shoots are collected into sheaves and tilted to the ground. They are covered with weights (boards or plywood) on top and sprinkled with a soil layer. The structure over the fig tree plant is built when the temperature reaches +2°C. During the day, when the temperature rises, the superstructure is ventilated.

In areas with cold climates, it is advisable to plant figs in long holes, which will cover the plant during frosts.

To protect against mice and rats, poison in sachets is dropped between the branches. To protect against fungal infections, the plant is provided with constant access to air.

If the fig is planted in a temperate climate, it is optimal to cover it with a structure made of tires or any other materials with good density. In this climate, it is preferable to plant figs in a hole.

In cold regions, it is recommended to sprinkle the bush with earth or wrap it with matting.

Important! Plastic film will not work as a cover. The structure will have to be constantly opened so that the tree is ventilated.

Laying branches

A couple of weeks after harvesting, they begin to bend the branches to the ground. In order not to break them, this is done in 2-3 stages with breaks of 4-5 days. The procedure is carried out after watering the bush. Then the branches are secured with twine, hairpins, and pegs.

Insulation

It is recommended to insulate figs by covering or wrapping groups of its branches with insulation. The material should be breathable and preferably white to reflect sunlight.

For insulation use:

• sugar bags made of polypropylene;
• agrofibre;
• lutrasil;
• burlap;
• canvas;
• old fabric from a tent.

Never use any type of polyethylene, as it does not breathe.

Time frame for insulating the plant:

• in areas located in the south - after the leaves fall;
• in the middle zone - during the fall of leaves, after the first frost.

Fixing the shelter

The wrapped sheaves of branches are fixed. To prevent them from rising, weights are placed on top - a weight, a wooden shield, or sprinkled with earth.

Methods of shelter for the winter and from pests

The method of shelter will depend on the method of formation of the bush, planting and climatic conditions:

1. Earth. In more temperate zones, it will be enough to sprinkle the bush with soil. This method is similar to the one used to cover grapes. The branches are bent to the ground, pinned and soil is poured on them. This method is very simple, but not the most effective, because if the winter is snowy or slushy, then moisture can get to the roots, and as a result they will freeze. For a better effect, you can sprinkle a 5-15 cm layer of fallen leaves or straw on top of the soil. You can also make a “layer cake” from a 5-15 cm layer of soil, a 5-15 cm layer of fallen leaves, straw, and a 25 cm layer of loose soil.

   

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2. Plant layer and roofing material. In areas where winters are characterized by sharp changes between frost and thaw and a lack of snow cover, a good way is to cover the branches with a layer of vegetation, and then with roofing material.
3. Polyethylene film. Some gardeners build a house out of film over a tree. However, this method is not very good because it creates a sauna effect, which will negatively affect the development of the plant. Therefore, such a shelter will need to be removed periodically to ventilate the tree.

   

4. Humus and straw. Another way is to pour a 10-centimeter layer of humus and straw, and then stretch the film over the frame on top and cover the structure with burlap.
5. Car tires. They surround the tree and cover it from above, thus providing thermal insulation.
6. Formation of sheaves. Another simple way is to form sheaves from shoots. The branches are collected in bunches and bent to the ground. Then they are covered with boards or plywood and reinforced with an earthen layer.

   

Thus, for places with a temperate climate, the optimal shelters will be those constructed from tires and other dense materials. It is best to plant figs in a trench in such areas. In colder regions, you can sprinkle the bush with earth or wrap it with matting.

Other stages of preparation for wintering

Figs are prepared for the dormant period:

1. Stop watering. Excess moisture in the trees will lead to freezing, and overdried rhizomes will not survive the winter. The last time a fig tree is watered abundantly is immediately after harvesting - in September. The fig bush is no longer watered; the root system is allowed to dry out so that excess moisture does not lead to its rotting.
2. Stop feeding. During the period of setting and ripening figs, figs are fed only with potassium fertilizers, which stimulate the formation of wood. The mineral complex should not contain nitrogen, as it provokes the growth of green mass. Fertilizers are applied after abundant watering of the plant. After the last fertilizing of the figs during the formation of the figs, the plant is no longer fertilized, as it enters a dormant period.
3. Crown branches are trimmed correctly . Short shoots are easier to cover for the winter.
4. Sections are processed . An infection can get into open wounds of a tree or bush, causing it to wither or even die, so the cuts are covered with garden varnish.
5. Mulching. Winter-hardy fig varieties are mulched with spruce branches, straw or peat. Heat-loving varieties are insulated using breathable materials.

In rainy weather in the fall, it is recommended to put plastic film on the tree trunk to prevent water from getting deep into the soil. After the rain stops, the film is removed.

Trimming

Fig pruning is needed to:

• thin out the crown for better sun exposure of the branches;
• prevent crown thickening;
• strengthen the plant before winter;
• remove dry branches;
• trim unsuccessfully grown branches;
• reduce the crown of a tree or bush.

Figs are grown as a tree, trunk or bush. Depending on the form, use:

The first type of pruning is carried out in several stages:

1. At one year of age, only one vertical and two horizontal shoots are left on the plant.
2. In the second year, horizontal branches are shortened by three buds and tied to the trunk. The conductor is also cut to stimulate active branching.
3. In the third year, the shoots of the previous year are cut into three buds, and the vertical shoot is insignificant. When forming a crown, at the end of pruning no more than five tiers are left.
4. In the future, they monitor the condition of the tiers, cutting off branches of the second and third order.

Features of caring for figs in the fall and preparing for winter

It is necessary to take care of heat-loving figs especially carefully in the fall, since southern guests are poorly adapted to the frosty winter. In order for it to please you with its fruits again, you need to perform a number of important manipulations to prepare the crop for winter.

Watering . Despite the fact that figs are very demanding of moisture, watering before the onset of winter should be reduced to a minimum . The tree is watered for the last time in September, after fruiting has ended . Moreover, if it’s a rainy autumn, the tree trunk circle is covered with plastic film to prevent water from getting deep into the soil. After the rain stops, the polyethylene is removed.

Important! In winter, due to exposure to a humid environment, rot appears on the roots and the tree dies.

Feeding . The last feeding of figs in the fall in the form of a mineral fertilizer with a large amount of potassium is applied during the formation of the fruits; subsequently the crop is not fed, letting it know that a dormant period is beginning.

Trimming . In addition to the main goals pursued by pruning figs in the fall - high yield and decorativeness, autumn manipulation allows you to grow a fig tree even in the north. Since small shoots of a tree are easier to insulate than long shoots of natural length.

Mulching . Frost-resistant varieties are mulched with spruce branches, straw, and peat. To protect heat-loving varieties, mulch as such is not used when covering figs, since a more reliable method of covering is used to insulate the tree.

Shelter . In order to continue cultivating the plant next year, they begin to take care of covering the figs for the winter from the moment of planting. In order to maximize the protection of the tree from frost, it is planted in deep trenches, which during winter serve as a hiding place for heat-loving shoots.

Video: preparing figs for winter in the fall.

Features of preparing figs for winter depending on the region

If winters are mild in the region where figs grow, the best time for pruning is autumn. In a cold region, autumn pruning will not allow the plant to grow stronger before frost, its bark will freeze, and the wood will dry out.

In the spring this is done before the buds open, and in the fall - after the leaves fall.

When pruning branches, you should not be too zealous, as excessive pruning leads to the growth of side shoots. As a result, the fig crown becomes very thick.

In the southern regions of Russia, for example, in the Krasnodar or Stavropol Territories, fig branches are thinned out twice - both in spring and in autumn.

In the middle latitudes of the Russian Federation, a fig tree is pruned once - in the fall, but to a maximum - up to 20 cm. New summer shoots are carefully pruned, then the branches are insulated for the winter.

Since figs set on shoots that grew in the summer, and the plant itself is capable of rebirth from the root, some gardeners from central Russia do not insulate figs, but mulch the circle around the trunk. There is evidence that figs only get stronger from the cold.

Another part of gardeners insulates the fig tree with improvised materials. The most effective method is to hide figs in a trench.

In the Volga region, the plant is insulated with a thick winding or hidden in a hole under the flooring.

In the Urals and Siberia, figs are grown as small bushes or trees, with seasonal shoots heavily pruned.

Preparing figs for winter: main autumn activities

In fact, all autumn care for figs, or rather, their preparation for winter, comes down to proper shelter. It does not require any other measures (fertilizing, water-recharging watering). Unless you need to trim the shoots to mature wood and for the convenience of shelter.

By the way! Figs grown in containers (pots) are brought into a cool room (basement, cellar, loggia or glassed-in balcony) in the fall for wintering.

How to get berries to ripen

Very often, gardeners who grow figs in less than ideal conditions are faced with the fact that they simply do not ripen in the fall. The leaves have already fallen off, but the fruits are not ripe and were killed by frost.

What should we do, what should we do?

• Grow figs under a plastic greenhouse or in a greenhouse . Only in such (greenhouse) conditions can you increase the amount of positive temperatures required for the figs to fully ripen.
• In the summer, be sure to pinch the shoots after 5-6 leaves , thus stopping the growth of green mass and redirecting the juices inside the plant to ripen the fruits of the 2nd harvest (autumn).
• Rate (pluck) part of the ovaries of the second harvest without sparing - everything will not ripen before the cold weather.

By the way! You can make delicious jam from unripe berries.

When and how to properly cover figs for the winter

Do I need to cover it for the winter?

Despite the fact that most varieties of figs are able to survive temperatures dropping to -15..-20 degrees , in order to avoid unpleasant surprises, it is better to cover figs in the fall even in those regions where such frosts are rare (in this case, you can use a vertical shelter).

Worth knowing! The root system of figs, even at -25, will not freeze out and the bushes will recover quickly enough (from the root collar), but... only on old wood can you get large and tasty fruits.

In short, the whole point of covering figs comes down to initial thermal insulation and subsequent waterproofing, i.e. everything is almost the same as covering grapes for the winter .

Important! If you do poor waterproofing (or don’t do it at all) and moisture gets inside the shelter, the thermal insulation materials (agrofabric, leaves) will get wet, rotting processes will begin and the buds on your shoots will simply dry out...

It is also very important that mice do not get , otherwise goodbye young bark...they will gnaw it clean.

How to properly cover and prepare figs for winter

Fig, or fig tree, is a plant that bears healthy and tasty fruits, widely used for food, cosmetology and folk medicine. Few people know that it can be grown not only in southern countries, but also in cool regions. Today, even varieties have been bred that survive at temperatures of -20 degrees. Also in the middle zone and northern zones, the plant is grown in pots. The main condition for successful cultivation of figs is proper agricultural technology, in particular, shelter for the winter. We will talk in more detail below about how to cover a tree before frost.

Preliminary work

Figs, or fig trees, belong to the heat-loving fruit crops of the Mulberry family, which, under favorable microclimate conditions, bear fruit at the very beginning of autumn. This plant is considered to be very demanding in terms of growing conditions and care characteristics. In order for the tree to bear fruit abundantly and delight you with a rich harvest of tasty and juicy fruits, you will have to make a lot of effort. It is important to know how to prepare a heat-loving fruit crop for the upcoming frosts.

Preparing figs for winter begins immediately after harvest. With the arrival of autumn, the frequency of watering decreases. The plant is moistened only in the absence of rain. In case of heavy rainfall, it is better to cover the tree trunk circle with plastic film. Excess moisture in the soil can lead to rotting of the root system.

Pruning the crown is a mandatory procedure for preparing figs for wintering. The shoots are shortened so that they bend easily to the ground. In some regions - in Siberia and the Urals - branches are cut off almost completely.

Autumn is the time to feed plants with mineral fertilizers and mulch the soil. A layer of mulch allows the root to “breathe”, absorb moisture and feed on the beneficial and nutrients that are in the soil.

How to cover figs and protect them from pests

Even in winter, the possibility of pest attack and disease cannot be ruled out.

Most often, fruit bushes can become prey for mice. They penetrate the warm mounds of the earth and damage both the root system and the stem itself. To prevent this from happening, it is necessary to bury sachets of rodent poison in the hiding place.

Most often, fruit bushes can become prey for mice.

Colonies of harmful insects may also appear, which infect the plant not only during the fig reproduction period, but also during the hibernation season. To prevent this from happening, you need to carefully monitor the cleanliness of the insulation layer. If natural materials are used, insect larvae may remain inside them, which, when the optimal temperature is created, can begin to develop and drink all the juice from the stems of the bush.

Another problem may be fungal infection. Fungal pathogens always choose compacted areas. Therefore, when choosing a way to prepare figs for winter, you need to give preference to the option in which the plant’s shelter has free ventilation, especially during thaws.

Three steps to cover

Preparing a heat-loving fruit tree for wintering depends on the climatic characteristics of the growing region. An incorrectly chosen shelter technology can lead to irreversible consequences: figs will not be able to fully recover after winter.

Let's figure out how to properly prepare a fig tree for the upcoming cold and frost:

Step 1: Laying branches on the ground

2–3 weeks after harvesting, the soil in the tree trunk circle is well moistened. After a few days, they begin to bend the branches of the fig tree to the ground. This procedure must be performed carefully and carefully so as not to injure the plant. The bending process is performed in several stages, maintaining an interval of 4–5 days between them. The branches bent to the ground are secured with twine with wooden pegs or metal arched pins.

Step 2: warming the plant

With the onset of the first frost, fig branches are wrapped with covering material. To insulate a heat-loving fruit crop, you can use agrofibre, dense non-woven material or canvas, lutrasil, burlap, and white polypropylene bags. It is not recommended to use waterproof and synthetic materials that do not allow air to pass through and create a greenhouse effect inside.

Step 3: fixing the shelter

To eliminate the possibility of branches lifting, you need to secure the covering material with wooden boards or pegs, building materials, stones, or sprinkle with earth. The best option for covering figs for the winter is to make a wooden box.

The process of covering figs

Sheltering figs for the winter includes several stages:

1. 2-3 weeks after the end of fruiting, you can begin to bend the branches of the fig tree to the ground. This needs to be done in several stages with an interval of 4-5 days. It is necessary to water the soil first so that you can carefully bend the branches. After which they must be secured with ropes and pegs.
2. After the period of falling leaves has passed (and in some latitudes even during it) after the first frost, the grouped branches of figs need to be wrapped with covering material. The following can be used as such shelter:

• white polypropylene bags (sugar is usually sold in them);
• lutrasil;
• modern agrofibre;
• not heavy canvas;
• old burlap;
• shabby tent fabric.

Any option is suitable if you skillfully cover the plant. The main thing is that it is not water-repellent and synthetic. When heated, synthetics can not only emit harmful gases, but also interfere with normal air circulation in the shelter hill.

3. The third stage is fixing the insulated branches. For reliability, you can put a load or shield on top, and then sprinkle it with earth. This eliminates the possibility of branches lifting during gusts of wind.