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5 1/2 weeks

This air layer was started June 11th on a Black Mission NL to take advantage of a very low branch. I used a two-liter bottle with the top cut off, positioned to get watered daily by the micro sprinkler. The bottle was filled with 100% compost and wrapped in cardboard to protect it from the sun. I removed the cardboard today for the first time to see how the roots were coming along, and was surprised to see that I had nearly waited too long.

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nice looking tree ken...enjoy !
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Great looking Air Layer Ken


BTW....what does the "NL" in that Blk. Mission mean?
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Thanks, Eli, and the best to you as well!


Alan--are you doing air layers or cuttings? I haven't tried either with green wood, but have been so pleased with the easy, almost instant success of air layers that that's the way I go when I have a choice.
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Cecil, that's a designation Jon added, referring to the location where he found the mother tree (New Life Presbyterian Church, La Mesa, California; see http://figs4fun.com/Thumbnail_Black_Mission.html). He said there's quite a bit of variation among Black Missions, and that the NL was his favorite (at least as of a couple of years ago--who knows; maybe something better has appeared by now). At any rate, I look forward to comparing the fruit to the BM I got several years ago from a local nursery.
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Thanks Ken,


I had saw that many times, now I know.
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Ken, those are some amazing looking roots! Very inspiring! Must go find a tree to air-layer now. :)
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See Air-Layering for those wanting to try it.
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Good step-by-step instructions, Jon--thanks for posting.


For AnnieBee and anybody else who wants to give it a try, just go for it. For me at least it's been fun, easy, and (so far) foolproof. Jon's instructions will ensure success, but there are other methods people have posted about recently. The thing they all seem to have in common is that they work. Another post (I think it was also by Jon) suggested cutting off the top of the container and leaving it open so you can moisten the soil, just as you would water a potted fig--which is why I tried it on this one.

If air layers get time to produce a good bunch of roots, they can be pretty tough. One that I cut free recently got shade for about a day, but since it showed no signs of stress it went right back to full sun. Still no stress, and it's already ripened two figs with several more on the way.
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  • BLB

Just looked at an air layer I started around  July 4th but it does not appear to have any roots yet, hoping they are started, just not showing.
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Ken,


Nice air layer.  How is the flavor of this fig?  I have a small one that will probably only start giving me fruit next year.
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Thanks Joe--I'm actually just going by Jon's recommendation, because I've never tasted one. However, growing up in southern California, all the figs I ever ate were (at least reportedly) Black Mission, and I never met one I didn't like. My dad loved them and knew an old lady who sold them by weight on a pick-them-yourself basis. If these are in the same ball park taste-wise, I'll be a happy camper.


BLB, that's probably a little early to expect anything, but I'll bet in a few weeks you'll have more roots than you know what to do with. Good luck!
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Hi Ken,
thanks for taking the time to capture that picture of your airlayer.
It looks excellent.
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  • BLB

Thanks Ken. Well if I get half the roots you have on this one I will be a very happy camper indeed!! Yours looks great! 
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Thanks Martin. I wish I had shot some pictures while I was making it, but maybe next time.
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I am just happy to see people exploring and trying new things. Sometimes you just have to go for it, and see what happens - maybe you have to learn from a failure, and move on till you make it work, More than likely you get an easy win. Air-layering figs has been pretty straight forward.

As Ken observed, there are different ways to go about this. No one is the correct way. Just like rooting, there are a lot of ways to "skin a cat" I worked out the one with the bottle because I thought the bag was a hassle. So find a method that works for you and go for it!
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Great job Ken.
Those are some fat roots! keep us posted on the progress. But like you said, I too owe my success on air-layering to Jon.

BTW,
My birthday is on June 11. It falls every year on June, 11. LOL
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Thanks Rafed--and what better way to celebrate your birthday than starting an air layer in your honor! ;-)
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