Why I'm Giving up on the Orchard | Getting Fig Trees Growing Earlier

Summary

In this video, the creator discusses their journey of growing figs in a challenging climate. They share their experiences with the 'fig shuffle,' moving potted figs in and out of a garage to simulate warmer conditions. The video explores different strategies, such as building a greenhouse with clear plastic to extend the growing season, and even considering a small heated greenhouse. The creator reflects on their progress over the past four years, sharing lessons learned and emphasizing the importance of experimentation to successfully grow figs in a cooler climate.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker is experimenting with growing figs in a cooler climate near Olympia, Washington, facing challenges with shorter growing seasons.
• 🌱 They have been growing figs in pots, moving them indoors during the colder months to prevent frost damage.
• 🏠 The 'fig shuffle' method involves moving figs in and out of a garage or greenhouse to manage temperature and sunlight exposure.
• 🌞 The garage strategy has worked well so far, with figs waking up earlier due to exposure to sunlight through the garage door.
• 🌿 Despite efforts, planting figs directly in the ground has been unsuccessful due to the region's climate and short summers.
• 🌾 The speaker is looking into building a greenhouse to extend the growing season without the need for additional heating.
• 🌤 They are considering a small greenhouse with clear plastic to capture enough sunlight for figs to ripen naturally.
• 🤔 The speaker is unsure whether a simple greenhouse with clear plastic will be sufficient for figs to ripen without extra heat, especially with cloudy days in the area.
• 🔥 An alternative plan is to build a heated greenhouse, allowing for more control over temperature and possibly moving figs in and out to optimize growth.
• 💡 The speaker shares that after four years of trial and error, they have learned that growing figs in their current climate requires extra effort and experimentation with different methods.

Q & A

Why are figs challenging to grow in the speaker's area?

The speaker's area near Olympia, Washington, faces a cooler climate with more cloud cover, resulting in shorter growing seasons and insufficient sunlight, making it difficult for figs to thrive naturally in the ground.

What is the 'fig shuffle' and why is it used?

The 'fig shuffle' refers to moving potted fig trees in and out of a heated greenhouse to protect them from cold temperatures during the winter. This technique allows the figs to wake up early in spring while avoiding frost damage.

What does the speaker mean by 'figs should be in the Mediterranean'?

The speaker refers to figs' natural growing conditions in the Mediterranean climate, which has long, warm summers and mild winters. Since this is not the climate in Olympia, the speaker has to adapt the growing method.

What are the two greenhouse options the speaker is considering?

The speaker is considering two greenhouse options: a larger greenhouse with clear plastic to naturally extend the growing season and a smaller, heated greenhouse to move the figs in and out of based on temperature needs.

How does the speaker make use of their garage during the winter?

The speaker places their potted fig trees in the garage during the winter, and on sunny days, they open the garage door to provide them with sunlight, preventing the need for the fig shuffle.

What is the benefit of growing figs in pots as opposed to in the ground?

Growing figs in pots allows for more control over their environment. The pots can be moved to protected areas like the garage or a greenhouse, helping the plants survive colder temperatures and extend the growing season.

Why is the speaker excited about the progress with their figs?

The speaker is excited because their figs are growing much earlier than expected and are already producing fruit, which shows that their modified growing method (using pots and moving them indoors) is working.

What does the speaker mention about the figs planted directly in the orchard?

The speaker notes that the figs planted directly in the orchard are not doing very well. They have been in the ground for about four years, but due to the short summers and cooler climate, they have not shown significant growth or fruit production.

What is the speaker’s opinion on the long-term success of growing figs outdoors in Olympia?

The speaker believes that growing figs in the ground outdoors in Olympia is not viable due to the short summers. They are opting to focus on growing figs in pots to have more control over the plants and extend the growing season.

How has the speaker’s approach to fig growing changed over the years?

Over the years, the speaker has experimented with different methods, such as using pots, moving the figs to the garage, and considering greenhouses. They’ve learned from experience and have adapted to create a system that works for their local climate.