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
- 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
- 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
Resources & links