FIRST AND SECOND YEARS 
A well rooted fig tree, or bush, once planted will take care of itself. Most 
varieties, in their first year continue their lush growth until late in the fall, 
and are vulnerable to severe cold spells that hit before the wood has hardened 
off. The first year wood can be protected by placing a cover over the bush 
when severe cold threatens. They must be uncovered the next morning and 
the protection repeated until the leaves have fallen and wood hardened, at 
which time the bush may be covered for the winter. The second year’s wood 
growth will, in normal seasons, harden and mature before the temperature 
gets low enough to cause damage. 
During about the first five years fig trees become progressively more 
resistent to cold damage. In our orchards we make no attempt to protect 
young trees. They usually ripen some fruit the first year, and we believe that 
they ripen as much the second year whether or not the first year’s wood 
growth is damaged by frost or cold. Letting nature take its course in our 
orchards develops a bush form earlier, which is the most desirable method 
of growing figs in this section of the country. 
This description of growing figs in their first and second years is for the 
guidance of those who have had no experience with them. We suggest that no 
protection south of Baltimore be practiced, except mulching around the base. 
