FairfieldFigs

Fresh Figs in Iowa. Education & Inspiration: How to grow, Eat and Share the abundance. We are in "Fig Consciousness" with help from the community

Would you like to have Fresh Figs for a few months of the year right here in Fairfield, Iowa? Figs can be grown in Iowa but only if they are protected in the winter. There are different ways to grow hardy varieties. Colleen Bell has been growing figs in large pots and taking them into an unheated garage or basement for the winter and then moving them outside when it is warm. Of course they will be

able to grow larger and produce more figs if they could be grown in the ground. This is being done in other parts of North America by utilizing High tunnels to give them protection from the cold winter winds. The extra month in the Spring and Fall will yield larger deep rooted trees that will produce more figs. Potted trees have been producing between 100 – 150 figs a year. This should double or triple when they are planted in the ground. They will produce fresh figs sooner and continue through the fall and into the winter as well. Younger trees may take a year or 2 to catch up to produce large number of figs. At the moment Colleen has over 60 fig trees in various sizes with 17 different varieties. The experiment will be to see when which ones will be happy in the High Tunnel. Different varieties grow at different rates, Have different needs and different tastes. Having several varieties will insure an extended season of harvest. FIGs come in Yellow, green, brown and black. Some are stripped. There are 100’s if not 1000’s of varieties. It will be fun to find out what varieties Fairfielders will like & which like our unpredictable Iowa weather.. Colleen has recently received the EQIP Grant to build a high tunnel to extend her growing season. Unfortunately the grant only covers less than ½ of the costs to get the job done. An additional $15,000 is needed to get the High tunnel up and ready to be home for the figs. Lets brainstorm how to make this happen ASAP. The tunnel could go up this fall or early winter. So that the figs could go in the ground in the early spring. FMI: Colleen Bell at 641-472-7010
[email protected]

06/26/2024

08/06/2018

09/14/2017

I had fund giving away figs last weekend at the Farmers Market. I gave away about 12 dozen 1 at a time. So many people wanted to buy them. Maybe next year I'll have enough to sell!
These figs are ready to pick!

03/15/2017

I wonder if anyone will talk about figs? They are tremendously healing

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01/23/2017

I just came across this time lapse of putting the plastic up on the inner layer of the Fig House! It got too cold to go much farther in the process. Lots of people participated in getting this done.

09/02/2016

I'll be at the Farmers Market in Fairfield tomorrow with some fresh figs and 1 yr old trees to sell. The Green house is proceeding slowly but surely. With wonderful volunteers helping. (They get fresh figs.)

08/31/2016

06/21/2016

WE broke the ground for the new Fairfield Fig House (High Tunnel Green house) today. See picture of the mini excavator pulling out a walnut tree stump. The figs are happily growing. All 100 of them. I will have many to sell this year!

05/23/2016

THe Fig greenhouse planning and preparation is coming together.

Now I'm networking for the use of a
1. skid loader to move soil and level
2. A trencher to "trench" and a
3. Jack Hammer to put in the post in deep holes.

I have someone with a truck and trailer that can 'haul' and drive/use such equipment. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

04/23/2016

In the book the "The Meaning of Trees" it is said the fig regulates the heart and that the true essence of Figs is...food for the soul.

Look at all my happy fig trees free from even the green house and enjoying fresh air, sunshine and rainfall! Several Figs are already emerging!

Look how much they have grown since last month. See below!

03/26/2016

Here's a couple pics inside my little high tunnel Greenhouse taken 3-21-16

03/26/2016

All the Figs that spent the winter in the basement have moved into the small high tunnel next to the garage. Some had started leafing out in the dark basement so I decided they should have some light. I hope it will be warm enough in there for them. I am leaving a light on at night for a bit of warmth and covering them if it gets well past freezing. They seemed to survive the 25 degree night recently.

I've also got a slew of cuttings in clear bins on top pf heating pads to give them a good start. Some are starting to show roots.

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Fairfield, IA
52556-52557