Hello,
Over this summer, my wife has grown a beautiful fig tree(can it be called a tree?) in a medium-sized pot.
With fall & winter approaching (we live in Toronto), I worry that this small tree won’t survive if we just Lea it outside.
I’m looking for advice on how to keep this plant alive through the coming fall & winter. Can we bring the pot inside? If we do, will this fig plant survive inside? Or is it possible to leave it outside & somehow wrap it for winter protection?
I don’t have any gardening experience about something like this.
Can you please help? I can send a photo if it helps.
Thanks,
nv
I’d recommend bringing the fig inside, as opposed to overwintering it outdoors, which may be riskier for your young fig tree, which is more susceptible to cold than those with older, woodier stems. Other issues concerning outdoor survival of the tree include how long cold temperatures persist, the occurrence of large temperature fluctuations, and how sheltered (protected) the tree is – e.g., is it in a windy location, etc. See horticulturist Steven Biggs’ Fig tree winter hardiness
Figs will lose their leaves once the first frost arrives, and become dormant. At this point, the tree does not require heat or light and can be brought inside. Keep it in a cool, dark spot – e.g., an unheated basement, cold cellar or attached garage. The temperature should be between 7°C (45°F) and around -3°C (27°F). Water it once a month or so to ensure the roots don’t dry out. See Penn State Extension’s Winterizing your fig tree and the excerpt from Steven Biggs’ Overwintering fig plants.
There are additional excellent points about overwintering figs at Biggs’ website, Food Garden Life’s Fig trees in winter. The site also includes several links of interest, e.g., what to do if the trees wake up too early in the spring (which could affect the yield of next season’s harvest), and taking care of the plants during the winter – watering, temperature, as well as how to protect the fig outdoors during winter.
All the best in keeping your little fig tree happy over the winter months!