Well, let’s talk about this here fig tree, the one in the pot, you know? Folks call it a “potted fig tree,” sounds fancy, but it’s just a fig tree in a pot, ain’t nothin’ special ’bout that.
Now, about this temperature stuff, it’s kinda like us old folks, can’t stand too much cold, and can’t stand too much heat neither. This fig tree, she’s the same.
I heard tell that when the fig tree is sleepin’, you know, like in the winter, and its roots are covered up good with that mulch stuff, it can handle the cold, maybe down to 10 or 15 degrees, that’s Fahrenheit, mind you. But that’s only if it’s a big, old tree, and it’s really sleepin’ good. The little ones, they ain’t so tough.
There’s this one little fig tree, they call it “Petite Negra,” it’s a small one, stays small even in a pot. That one, it can stay inside when it’s cold, most fig trees don’t like being inside though, they need the fresh air, just like us.
- Cold Hardiness: Fig trees are tougher than folks think. A grown-up fig tree, when it’s sleepin’ in the winter, can handle temperatures down to 15 or 20 degrees, sometimes even colder! But the young’uns, they’re more delicate, you gotta be careful with them.
- Warmth Preference: This here common fig tree, she likes it when it’s warm, you know, above 40 degrees or so, that’s Celsius. Gotta keep her warm in the winter, above somethin’ like minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit. If it gets too cold, way down below minus 13 degrees Fahrenheit, she might look alright in the winter, but come spring, her branches will be all dry and brittle, and she won’t grow no more.
- Chicago Hardy Fig: Now, there’s this one fig tree they call “Chicago Hardy.” Folks up north, where it gets real cold, they like this one ’cause it can handle the cold better than most. But even that one, you gotta take care of it.
If the roots freeze solid, well, that’s the end of that, no matter how big or tough the tree is. So, you gotta keep them roots warm, that’s the most important part. Don’t let ’em freeze, you hear?
They say fig trees do good in them “USDA zones” 7 to 11. I ain’t no expert on them zones, but I know it means they can handle temperatures down to zero or even 10 degrees, that’s Fahrenheit again, mind you. But that’s for the big, old trees. The little ones need more care.
So, you gotta watch the weather, see? If it’s gonna get real cold, you gotta bring the little ones inside, or wrap ’em up good, like you would a baby. And even the big ones, you gotta give ’em some help. Mulch them roots good, that’s like puttin’ a blanket on ’em.
Don’t go waterin’ them too much when it’s cold neither. They ain’t thirsty then, just like us old folks don’t drink much water in the winter. Too much water, and them roots will freeze, and that’s bad news.
And when it warms up, you gotta watch out too. Don’t let them get too hot, specially in that pot. The pot can get hot in the sun, and that can cook the roots. So, give ’em some shade in the afternoon, when the sun is the hottest.
It’s all about common sense, you know? Just like takin’ care of anything else, a fig tree needs a little bit of this and a little bit of that. Not too much, not too little. Just right. And if you take care of her, she’ll take care of you, give you some sweet figs, come harvest time.
Fig Tree Temperature Tolerance Summary, if you don’t remember nothin’ else, remember this: Keep the roots warm in the winter, don’t let ’em freeze. Give ’em some shade in the summer, don’t let ’em cook. And watch the weather, you gotta be smarter than the weather, you know?
That’s all there is to it, ain’t rocket science. Just good old common sense, somethin’ young folks these days don’t have much of, seems like. But that’s a story for another day.
