In spring, figs (Ficus carica) want to get out of their winter quarters and into the fresh air. This raises the question of the right time to move outdoors. Read here when it is best to clear out a fig tree as a container plant.
When can I put out my fig tree?
As a container plant, you can put out a fig treein Marchwhen the temperatures areat freezing point. You should clear out a fig with freshshootsat the earliest from3° to 5° Celsius and put it back in the winter quarters when night frost is forecast.
What temperatures can a fig tree tolerate in a pot?
As a potted plant, a fig tree can tolerate temperaturesat freezing point After just one night at -5° Celsius, a fig tree in the pot froze to death. For this reason, a potted fig should overwinter frost-free at a cool 5° to 8° Celsius. In regions with mild winters, overwintering outdoors is possible in a protected location and with extensive winter protection.
In terms of winter hardiness, there is a serious difference to the fig tree in the garden. Planted, winter-hardy fig varieties can tolerate temperatures down to -20° Celsius. Young shoots can freeze back without the fig tree dying.
When can a fig go outside from its winter quarters?
You can put out a fig tree in a potin March. This point in time has its pitfalls. The decisive criteria for choosing the optimal date are the local climate and the progress of budding on the fig tree. This is what you need to keep in mind when you put a fig out in a pot:
- Remove figs without shoots at temperatures just above freezing point.
- Put out figs with young shoots if the temperatures do not fall below 3° to 5° Celsius, even at night.
- Put the fig tree away again when night frost is announced.
- Important: Acclimatize in a shady location outdoors for 14 days.
Tip
Overwintering fig trees outdoors with winter protection
You can cultivate hardy fig varieties in Germany as fig trees in the garden. Good winter protection protects the fig outdoors from frost damage. It's best to put a fleece hood (€10.00 on Amazon) over the crown and wrap the trunk with jute. Place a brushwood mat in front of the fig tree on the wall of the house. Mulch the tree disc with leaves or straw and spruce branches.
