Overwintering Brown Turkey Fig in zone 6

[journey11]

I bought a brown turkey fig this spring and put it in a huge planter and it grew really well. I am really not sure what to expect from it for winter. Should I have just planted it in the ground? I was told they weren't hardy here below 10 degrees, but if I did, could it get by with some sort of protection? I could just as well bring it inside to my sunroom, but my history with houseplants has not been very good lately. I'm afraid I'll kill it either way.

 

[thistlebloom]

Whats your usual low Journey?

I have overwintered perennials in pots in our unheated garage when the outdoor lows were -20.

Could you bubble wrap the container and then bank it with straw or evergreen boughs?

 

[journey11]

Sometimes it will get down to the teens overnight for a few days at a time, an occasional rare dip into the single digits. My sunroom can get a little bit below freezing, but I am mostly worried about the woodstove drying things out. I wasn't sure if I should keep on watering it either, or if it would go dormant?

ETA: Also, will the leaves fall off?

 

[thistlebloom]

It should go dormant and lose it's leaves. You definitely don't want it to dry out even once it's dormant. I think you could keep it outside with protection.

Here's a link to a place that grows figs out of their recommended zone. You may be able to glean some good ideas from it.

http://www.brambleberryfarm.org/index_files/Page1167.htm

 

[journey11]

Thanks! Wow, this will be something very different from anything I've grown before then. I don't know anything about figs, other than my hubby loves them. I've never even tried one. Maybe it would do better in the garage, since it doesn't get dried out in there. It's supposed to bear next summer...