Great story, I really enjoined it. Now can you vandalize the place to make it really look bad so it won't sell. Just kidding

i'm glad it worked out for you Daniel.

Congrats Gene!! Keep us informed of your progress! :)

If the place has not sold by next fall, will you offer cuttings to the forum from your 'offsite' tree  ;)

Jackpot! Keep us posted! Any photos?

Love it -- your very own off-site fig tree! Nice going, and send some pix!

Very exciting Gene!

A sort of update on the cold hardy green fig.

Back in the fall I took a half dozen long cuttings off the same bush. I wanted to do a trial-run of an article I read. I buried them in my compost pile until a month ago. Then I pulled them out and laid them in shallow trenches filled with 1/2 sand, 1/2 potting soil. Then I covered them with 1 inch of potting soil. Now those dudes are popping up everywhere! I think every cutting I buried is showing signs of growth. Not only those, but I stuck the "scraps" from digging up the rootball in soil too, and those are growing. This is one vigorous variety!

Unless some catastrophe strikes, I will have 10-15 rooted young trees from this unknown variety by season end. I know a couple of friends who might want one, but any ideas what to do with the rest of them? (State law prevents me from selling them at the farmer's market)

Mybe we can help ? :) 

If you're shipping 'em, just say the word on what you are asking!  I think a lot of us would be interested  :)

Hi Gene. Since it seems to be SO hardy, you may want to save some for rootstock and try grafting to it. Nice story; Gary in CA

I would be very interested in trading some of these once they are well-rooted for rooted younglings of other varieties. I am thinking middle or end of May I should have several ready to trade as barerooted plants. If anyone has a trade in mind, send me a PM.

On second thought, that is probably way too soon. What if we think about trading rooted plants in the fall?

The little "clump" of the unknown fig is doing really nicely. It has 5-6 pencil sized trunks about 12 inches tall. Each of these small trunks has an off-shoot at EVERY SINGLE node! Some of these already have 4 and 5 leaves. The plant is obviously quite vigorous. I am going to make some kind of support to tie all these small trunks because at the rate they are growing they will get top heavy and will fall over.

What would you use? A wire cage? 3-4 small stakes?

I would use stakes.  Keep it simple.  Buy a roll of velcro tape at HD and cut off 2" pieces.  I use that instead of rope or ties.  They work great and they're reusable.

Do you have a name for this 'off-site' fig tree?  Maybe 'Off-Site (Unk)' would be a good name.

Nice story, and I'd definitely be interested in one of your trees. 

I went back today to see my "off site" fig. That bush is growing like crazy! I pinched back to 5 or 6 leaves on all the dozens and dozens of new growth coming out. Some are shoots coming straight out of the rootball, but there are also lots of branches growing on the shoots from last year.

My fear is that the owners will send a lawncare company over and when they mow they will just weedwack the bush to the ground. But there is not much I can do but hope for the best. If it makes it through the summer I will certainly gather cuttings for any forum members who want them

Gene - do you think you could put a little sign on the shoots that says "do not mow"?

The whole "who takes care of the place" thing is a bit weird. The owner lives in FL, but his sister lives near-by the house and makes sure the place is presentable for buyers; mowing, etc. I have not talked to the sister, only the owner in FL. So I don't want to mess around the place too much lest I raise neighbor's suspicions and end up completely losing access to the tree. I am hoping that if I just stop by for a few min at a time to "manage" the tree and pick when ripe, then I can keep my strange situation going all year.

Also, the clump that is forming from the old bush is quite large. Someone would have to be deliberate to take it down. I am hoping that since it would require extra work to take it down, the lawn care people will leave it alone ;-)

Here is a pic of the clump from the "UNK Jacksonville Green" I dug up. It seems very happy and is starting to put on lots of growth:

 
 
It is about 18 inches tall and has 5 slender trunks.

A green tomato cage at the off site one might help.  Please add me to your list.  :)

What a nice story. So much love for a left behind fig tree.
I'd use rebar from HD.
It'll never break,you'll never have to replace it and it's cheap. 

Here is a pic of the little guy I transplanted. She has 6-8 little figs on it right now:
 

Great effort to save that fig. Hope it is tasty for you. You have some standing water next to your transplant, but the fig looks great. I look forward to hearing your taste report.

Mike in Hanover, VA

I took the pic a couple hours after a VERY heavy thunderstorm. That area is a little wet, but not too bad usually.