had a pretty good year rooting and growing, even though the weather (temperatures) weren't very condusive to fig ripening here in Michigan.  I just finished wrapping my one in ground fig and I'm trying something new again this year (I haven't done it the same way twice and I keep looking for easier ways to accomplish wrapping my tree.).  This year, back when the weather was warmer, I built a small enclosure out of 2x4's, and reflective metalic plastic insulating bubble wrap (that stuff needs an easier name).  Preparing the tree for winter now, if this works, will only include cutting the tree back to 4 feet lowering the enclosure onto the tree (carefully) and tarping the top.  Next I pack leaves all around the enclosure (I decided against putting any within) and bracing the whole thing with stout branches and I am debating against putting a bale of hay atop it.  I left about a dozen unripened figs on the tree and hope they will awaken and finish ripening when the tree is unwrapped in spring (I've seen it happen previously, but only with 1-2)

All in all protecting this year took 10 minutes....two years ago my winter prep took almost 2 hours. 

Rooting this year went well, with just a few stubborn varieties refusing to root out and grow.  I did get lazy in late spring and put 4 cuttings directly into the garden (between the tomatoes and such) and all four rooted and grew well (with little assistance at all from me except setting the irrigation timer).  I did end up losing one of these to a possum  (or something) and one to my 5 year old and the family dog.  But the ease in which they rooted and grew means that I will certainly be trying this again as it involved no prep and little aftercare.  I will be digging the 2 figs from the garden in the next week and given their top-growth I expect the roots will be significant.

How did the rest of your 09's go?

(and Vern did the Michigan cutting I sent you make it, if not let me know)

~Chills

Hello Chills

Well this year went good on some aspects and darn bad on some!

I got some very nice cuttings from someone and was able to root almost all of them....That is the good part, now to the bad part
with the exception of 3 young trees I managed to kill
1-heirloom Celeste
2- UCD Kadotas
1-LSU Gold
1-Smith
1-Hollier
1-B. Marseilles VS
1-Sal's (gene strain)

I used Roundup to kill everything, weeds / trees

You can bet what your sitting on that ain't gonna happen again

I have plenty to root/try to root next Spring.

Hi Chills, I had a pretty good first year, despite our 41/2 mo. drought. I've had great success rooting cuttings(thanks to all our great members), and now have lots of extras. Still have some to plant in ground. I'm not going to be held back by the fact that I already have too many, as I'm already collecting various cuttings for Jan./Feb. rooting.(I'm really sick!!! Help!!!) Guess I'll have to start a pick your own figs site in the next couple of years. LOL My failures, as with most newby's, is my purchases from unreliable sources on some of my figs. I'm through with ebay(except for forum members), local nurseries,feedstores etc. I can't stress enough how important it is to buy from reliable sources. I hope everyone has a great 2010. 

Tim,

have you ever visited these people?

Saxon Becnel and Sons of Texas, LLC

Thanks Cecil, ain't that a kick in the keester? I have never heard of it and it's just almost right here. I see they have LSU Gold which is still on my list. I've not got into citrus, yet! Can I rent your pasture???LOL I'll check it out Monday.

There are some well respected members here that talk highly of them!

Tell me later how it went OK

The best fig luck I had this year was stumbling onto f4f and finding out how many different varieties there are, and how much information is available. If half of the varieties I requested from UCD end up rooting, I'll be a happy camper.

How did the rest of your 09's go?

Hi Chills,
my season was worst for me to date, last winter i root pruned and failed to trim canopy of hardy chicago in short hurt production first time ever i saw this plant drop its figs, other plants while they did not drop there figs were not as productive as in past years and everything was getting ripe late and by the time i new it the cold set in early and i had to store my figs.

On a better note i purchased some different types some supposedly early ripers and some that need long season to ke3p me from getting bored and challenge me, another one i purchased early in season is unusual that im excited about as i do not know what to expect from it but time will tell.
In a nutshell that was my season nothing to brag about as the weather was not cooperative like a lot of other places across country.
But i see lots of excitement for me in the new plants and what they possibly might do in my zone and perhaps i might even venture selling some scion on ebay in future to recoup some back as soil, fertilizer , lime , containers add up for this retiree.
Best Health

Tm and Cecil, I just bought a LSU Gold at our  local feed and seed along with a fuyu persimmon. Both of them came from Saxon Becnel in Belle Chase La. The LSU Gold is 5 foot tall with nice branching. I paid only 21 dollars for it. I'm told that they are most relieable when it come to naming their plants.

Hi Gene,

Yes they have a VERY good reputation as far as True to the name goes, at least that is what I have heard other members say.

You did good!

 Gene, that was a buy. That rascal well be a nice tree by the end of next summer. Gene, you are going to love that Fuyu persimmon. I have two persimmon trees, a Tam o pan and a Tani nasha. I grafted a branch of one with a Fuyu, and I love it. The one Fuyu branch is a heavy producer and very reliable. The only thing I have found that affects the Fuyu is a very dry year. If it is not watered it will drop all the fruit.
J.A.

Gene, that was a good deal/find. I'm calling them later today. I'll let ya'll know what I find out.

Just spoke to Ricky at Saxon Becnel 504-656-7535 in Belle Chase, La.Didn't have a local number for Orange listed. Only sells wholesale and couldn't give me a local supplier other than Home Depot(never have found figs at HD here). He said that they would either be labeled with a red tag or a picture tag with their logo/name on it. So I'll have to do some searching around. Thanks for all the help.

I failed to tell y'all that the persimmon tree also was about 5 foot tall and had two full size fruit on it when I got it. Three days later the birds had eaten 1/3 of one and 1/4 of the other one. The hunting will start. Linda and I did get to taste them, and they were very good.

Hi Chills,

The Michigan cuttings did not root for me.  I did have success with the 143-36 Davis.

Vern