Just got an email from a good friend who has a fig orchard.  It appears the best time is just prior to spring, and here is his comment:

By the way, they are in the best moment for rooting, February cuttings are the best, They are accumulating hormones to explode in the approaching spring.

February is a different temp in different climates, but just prior to spring would probably be the best.  So what do you think?

Suzi

Our friend Axier agrees, as does Pierre Baud. It does put a crimp on Christmas rooting though! I have had success with cuttings taken in November just as leaves are falling, nonetheless.

Good point and great question. I was kind of wondering about this. I took a bunch of cuttings from my trees last November so they were easier to move. They're rooting, but it's taken longer than many of the cuttings I've bought since January from other people. It could certainly be varietal-specific, but I wonder how many of my new cuttings were clipped just prior to mailing or had had some time in the fridge...

Last year, I took my cuttings in February, right when I wanted to begin rooting (from a Sicilian and a Lattarulla) and time until rooting is about the same as the cuttings from the same trees taken in November this year.  

I've heard the same thing, Suzi.

I'd believe it, I've always had better luck with cuttings taken in the late winter/early spring. I'm currently trying to root some Hardy Chicago cuttings that were taken back in the fall and so far they have done nothing but sit there and not budge since December.

I just took a cutting of my Black Madeira, and it was just starting to push leaves. I have an air layer lower on the branch, and I didn't want too much growth before the layer can root. I'll update when and if it roots. I do believe that freasher cuttings root faster.


 

Taking cuttings in late winter is great as long as you don't have any winter die back. If you are in the parts of the country where this is a probability (like me) I'd be taking cuttings in the fall. Optimal or not.

Good point Aaron

Suzi, I learn this from FIGNUT and my success rate soared with cuttings given to me
taken around this time. By the way, Fignut owns a commercial nursery. I have mentioned this
on a number of occasions but never started a thread on it. Glad you did it for all.

Makes sense since dormant means stored energy. We just,wake a tired cutting up with heat and,such. But we all know,we,will take,cuttings anytime of the year. Right or wrong. Lol.

I totally agree, cuttings taken in later in the winter like late Jan through February can't wait to get growing. But as mentioned above, it is a big risk if they are outdoors in a region that could experience killing temperatures. The last two years that has been a pretty big area.

I know that when I took "green" (but each had brown wood, they were tip cuttings) cuttings in August of a local tree I had a very high success rate. I trimmed leaves to just a few and cut the leaves smaller but left them on.

I lost maybe 2 (and these were after pot up) out of 40ish.  Humidity bin, in mostly shade, slowly leaving open longer and longer did the trick for me.

I think cuttings taken fresh are the best, and especially at this time of year. In a Mediterranean climate where most figs are from, things are beginning to break dormancy. So rooting now when growth is naturally being pushed makes the greatest sense.

THe answer to the question is that it's best to take them right before you are going to root them.  If you want to root in spring, then take in spring.  If you live in a nasty winter cold climate like us on the east coast and you want to root figs during the winter so you don't get stir crazy waiting for spring, then best time to take cuttings is in late fall/early winter.  Once the tree is one year old, it won't make a difference one way or the other, and it is possible to have a near 100% success rate with cuttings taken at either time.