Garden

[Marp]

I have a potted fig tree that suffered throughout the spring and summer from the weather--too hot, too dry, too wet.

By the time it set fruit it was too late for them to mature and ripen before the fall/winter weather sets in so I would like to bring the tree inside and hopefully save the fruit.

However, before doing so I would have to treat the soil for primarily ants but it is anyone's guess what other insects may have set up residence.

Any suggestions about what to use to eliminate any insects yet not potentially toxify the developing fruit?

[Still Raining]

Just for me, I would be afraid I would spill my coffe when the worms slithered about!  Outdoors is outdoors....

[RedTop]

I put my outside plants in the garage to winter; you won't kill everything that's living in the dirt of a large plant, so the warmth inside the house will cause everything to hatch and either crawl or fly out.  

[gardenman]

In my experience, if you leave outdoor plants out until it gets a bit cooler than they'd like (40's) the bugs will vacate the soon-to-be houseplant for someplace warmer. If I brought them in while it was still warmer at night (50s-60s), I'd bring in all kinds of bugs. By waiting until it got cooler, the bugs would have abandoned the plants/pots and I'd have no real issues.

In terms of ants, the Terro baits are pretty safe and effective for use around food crops. They're basically corn syrup with Borax mixed in. Nothing too dangerous for humans or pets. 

[on the bay]

Borax if inhaled or ingested is not safe for pets or children.

[Icegoddess]

You can use Neem Oil.  It's even safe for the fruit as long as you wash it.  

[Marp]

After reading the suggestions and giving it a lot of thought I have decided to leave the tree outside.  I will try, probably unsuccessfully, to get the fruit to mature by moving the tree under my grill canopy and hanging plastic sheeting to protect it.

Among my reasons for deciding to leave the tree outside even though I risk losing the developing fruit is thanks to @Still Raining reminding me about worms.  If any are in the pot I certainly do not want them killed along with ants and other insects.

Thanks to all for taking the time to offer your suggestions.

[Lucky Charm]

Our neighbor has a huge fig tree in his back yard.  It survives our Jersey shore winters just fine.  Lots of fruit.  His is pretty much done.  I did see him picking some off the ground today.  I actually rinsed well and froze the figs he gave me a month ago.  Good sized figs.  You won't plant it outside permanently and let it grow in nature?

[gardenman]

HGTV used to have many gardening shows, one of which was "Gardener's Journal" with Kathy Renwald. She visited a Candian gardener who grew fig tress.  His were quite big. Each fall, before the first frost, he'd cut the roots on one side of the tree and then use a winch/come-along to pull the trees over sideways so they were more or less lying on the ground. He'd then add lots of straps to hold them in the position, covered them with a plastic tarp, and then mounds of leaves on top of that for insulation. Then another tarp on top to hold the leaves in place. In the spring he'd uncover them again, winch them back up into an upright position. stake them upright and the trees would do fine.  Fig trees are pretty tough little trees. His were probably twenty feet or so tall and had been there for quite some time getting the same treatment each year.

[Carmie]

I overwinter a few delicate plants.  What I do is stop watering and let them go dormant after a light frost.

Then wrap in burlap.  I wrap the pot too.  I then move the plants into the garage in a dark corner until spring away from the door opening.

Most of my plants have survived this way...even my mandevillas.