February 25, 2024 - Shade is sexy, and figs are too

Growing figs in colder climates
- Need to be protected above-ground for the winter under 12ºC / 10ºF
  - Prune heavily
    - Roots and branches
  - Wrap in burlap, or surround with leaf bags for insulation
  - Some people pin them to the ground and mulch with a dry medium
- Even in pots they will die back in winter
- Simon’s brother grows cuttings and makes more $ on the sticks than the fruits
- Cuttings can be sourced from
- Figs can be grown in thermal greenhouses year-round
  - Wallapini
Another fun-to-cut-and-root plant is mulberries
- Red are native to North Eastern North America
Growing in the shade
- Interesting shade-tolerant species:
  - Pawpaw
    - Tolerant of juglone
    - Require germination temps of around 25ºC
    - Require cold stratification of around 80 days
    - Seeds must be kept moist
  - Spicebush
  - Ramps
  - Black Cohosh / Blue Cohosh
  - Trilliums
  - Rhubarb
  - Hostas
  - Ginger
  - Ginseng
  - Goat’s Beard
  - Lettuce and other greens
Growing bananas in cold climates
- Some cold-hardy varieties can be grown for biomass and materials

Shade is sexy, and figs are too