I bought a Brown Turkey fig this year – a further foray in to new fruit trees. I specifically chose a “hardy” type, which is allegedly capable of withstanding a drop in temperatures. But, with last year’s arctic conditions in mind, I decided not to take any chances and, having nowhere else to store it, bought a small plastic greenhouse to give it a little more “winter protection”.
In fairness, I really hadn’t had 90 mile an hour gales and flooding in mind as this year’s winter onslaught. One puff promptly toppled the greenhouse and floored the fig. Pot unbroken, two paving slabs jammed on the bottom of the greenhouse frame and with much garden furniture wedged around it for good measure, I felt fully prepared for the next storm. But a couple of puffs later and the fig was back over – this time shunted sideways by ripped, billowing plastic.
What was left of the greenhouse has been dismantled (having done more damage to the fig than anything the weather ever could) and what remains of the fig is covered by garden fleece and bubble wrap.
Hopefully the relative robust “hardiness” rating can also now be taken as an indicator of the plant’s “ability to recover well following battering” rating!