Hi,
I was thinking that 6 months to get those big figs on a cutting ... I need some to go back to school . But ok, I don't have a greenhouse nor proper installation for growing veggies at home...
As a comparison, I have a rooted (at least) one yo tree/cutting (maybe 2 yo) I bought last year and she didn't show any brebas this year and seems now to start some buds that look like figlets - Just don't dare to ask about my fertilizing schedule.
So some 18 months after starting her life on her own roots.

Wow!  You will have everyone convinced to get a greenhouse! 

Suzi

Those don't look to be VDB to me.

I know they don't look exactly like "normal" VdB's, but I think it's likely that they are.  As Jon has often harped, even your neighbor's breed of dog can affect how figs express themselves in different environments, so mine could reasonably be expected to vary quite a bit given that I grow mine in a radically different environment from the rest of you. 

Mine were rooted in paper towels in baggies just like "normal," but then they went into a big aquaponics system where they had to deal with growing submerged in high pH ultra-hard water, subsisting entirely on fish/worm poop, and facing consistently wild temperature swings (60-115 on summer summer days, 45-115 on winter days).  The ones in the dirt were just recently moved there.

Since there is good reason to expect tremendous variation due to those growing conditions, I think it's more important to look for key markers of similarity and other evidence.  So with that in mind, here's why I think they're VdB:

1) it's doubtful that Suzi sent the wrong cuttings;
2) there's no reasonable chance that I mixed them up (they were immediately labeled, and I wasn't receiving other cuttings at that time);
3) their leaves are identical to the two Vista figs growing adjacent to them that I got from Jon;
4) the fruit is small with pink/red eyes;
5) the plants have a slow growth habit compared to my other figs in the same environment;
6) they exhibit some "normal" 3-lobe and 5-lobe VdB leaves (in addition to the weirdos from a stressful youth);
7) they're highly productive.

I really do think the differences we're seeing are just due to the extremely different growing environment.  I hope I'm right, too, because I really want to taste some fresh VdB!

Well, I KNOW I sent VDB because I had to practically demolish my tree to get it into the car when we moved.  It was the only tree I offered cuttings on, although if I put something else in, the recipient knew about that.  I would never have taken cuttings with figs on them, but time was of the essence. 

I hope your VDB's ripen well for you!  I just isolated a breba on one of mine about a week ago.  It was black, but not ready to pick, so I stuck it in one of those critter proff snap together berry plastic basket thingys.  It stayed there for 4 days, and then I enjoyed!  Wow!  Fabulous!!  I should have taken a photo, but life is pretty busy here right now.  I'm in "Apples are getting ripe and there are thousands of them, mode"  I have a lot of frozen pie filling done, and am working on more today.

The compost pile is enjoying all the cores and apple peel, but next year it won't see a thing.  I woke up!  Next year I will ferment all that stuff and make apple cider wine/hard cider or something along that.  What a waste!  All those peels and cores!

I expect next year to be a big fig year too.  Most of them got planted in ground last summer (oh did they struggle), and many this winter.  This is their year to settle, and walk a little.  Next year I expect a leap!

Keep us posted on your progress.  Fun to see it!

Suzi

My VdB figs start out with color, not green...

His are in a GREENhouse!  Capece?

I had my first fig from these cuttings about a week ago, and it was awesome!  It was my first genuine ripe non-spoiled fresh fig of any variety ever -- the only other fresh figs I've tasted have been spoiled Conadrias.  I didn't remember to take a pic until after I'd already eaten it, though.

Today I picked the 2nd fruit, and this time I managed to take some pics before chomping.  This one was delicious, too :)



 
   

Congratulations!  More to come!!

Suzi

Suzi,
You can make vinegar out of the apple peels and cores.

Norhayati