The past few days, temperatures in New York, Zone 6b, have been on the warm side and I decided to get out there and “play” with the winterized figs.
Each bed has two one-inch PVC pipes running diagonally to connect its corners. Then, I covered the bed with a tarp to protect it. I installed them with New York’s wet winters in mind, whether from snow or rain. I figured the tarp, supported by the PVC pipes, would help keep the snow off, allowing it to slide away, and ensure rain drips off the bed efficiently.
When I winterized each planted fig tree, I added a thick layer of wood chips around the base and topped it with hay. With all the rain and snow we’ve had, I wanted to check under the tarp to ensure the hay and wood chips aren’t retaining moisture.
I have great news to share with you! When I checked the hay and wood chips under the tarp, they looked great—completely dry! This is important because excess moisture can cause the branches to rot, forcing the tree to spend extra time recovering in the spring. This, in turn, will delay fruit development.
Think spring!
Keep on rootin’ and happy growing!
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