Hi Gang  I am new with Fig trees and growing them. I have put my trees in garage for the winter. My question is, can I prune some limbs at this time of the year to make some cutting, with out damage to the trees or should I wait till spring. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Hi Jeff, Welcome to fig mania. 
You don't say what zone you are.  People who are concerned that they might get winter die-back, usually take cuttings now.  Folks covering their figs also tend to cut them back now to make them easier to cover.   And so do folks who just like to have the cuttings growing inside over the winter. 
I usually overwinter in a garage, and feel safe leaving the trees until spring.  So, just before the buds break in the spring, I'll prune and root my cuttings.  That way I don't have to store them, or nurse them a long time inside, until  I can put them out.
Whatever you prefer (and your conditions dictate). 
Good Luck. 

HI FIG NUT thanks for your res ponce I live in Conn.I was hoping to try to root some cutting this winter but I can wait till spring maybe there is someone that might have some extra cutting and I can try it.Best regards Jeffz55

Hi Jeff,
I'm in CT too. If you are close enough I may be able to help you out with some rooted cuttings. Send me an email.

Peg

Anyone live in Ohio?  I'd like to know where to get cuttings.  Thanks.

newfignut,

So we have fignut, newfignut - does that make me oldfignut? No, I am Fig Nazi, though USDA/UC Davis says that they prefer the term "fignatics".

Anyway, There will probably be more than 100 varieties available to members of seedsavers.org Their new Yearbook with the listings will be out in a few weeks. I found several new things there last year, which weren't among the 200 I already had. Membership is $35, and each selection is $5 (4$ if you offer things in the yearbook) and they have thousands and thousands of seeds, cuttings, tubers etc, for all sorts of fruiting and flowering plants.

Jeff,

In San Diego we have to wait for them to go dormant, so I just started taking cuttings this week. Some trees still have leaves and/or fruit, and warm weather in the Fall made some trees think it is Spring, and they leafed out and put on breba figs in November. My White Kadota has already broken dormancy, and warm weather next week may cause many more trees to do the same, so I am taking a lot of cuttings this weekend, and sticking them in my "new" $35 frig to keep them dormant.



In your case, if freezing isn't an issue, you can take them now, or wait till later. Where the tree/wood is unprotected, and subject to freezing temps and possibly being killed or dying back, they are often taken in the Fall before freezing temps arrive.

Jon,

How long are your cuttings in this photo?
 
Another question for Jon:  When do you anticipate receiving the cuttings from UC Davis?
 
Thanks.
 
Darcy

USDA/UC Davis cuttings are usually shipped 2nd or 3rd week of February,

I take cuttings about 6-8" long, closer to 8" when possible.

I feel like I'm out of my league.  I just want to have certain plants in my house.  I have a nice lemon tree I started from seeds.  It's as tall as me,  (5'-2").  Since I live in Ohio, I put it out on the front porch in the summer,  It loves it there then I take it inside in the fall / winter. 

I teach 6th grade math and have 2 smaller trees (12" each) in my classroom.

I want to grow a fig tree and an olive tree since they are mentioned in the Bible. I just want to bless my new house by having them.

You guys sound like such experts.....cuttings, dormancy, zones, seasons and so forth.  I'm not looking for fruit, just to have those 2 trees in my home.  I tried planting olive seeds, but no luck.  A whole year now, and nothing has come up.  Perhaps I'll try to plant fig seeds and see what happens.

Newfignut...

As a fellow teacher (I teach high school math, though I did teach 6th grade math for 6 years) I've got a soft spot for ya.  Besides I'm probably the closest member of the forum to you (I'm in Michigan).  I can offer up a couple cuttings for you. 

reply if you're still interested.

~Chills

Ciao New fignut,

I grow olive trees here in Pennsylvania as well as a variety of fig trees.  I never started Olives from seeds, they are harder that way.  I will find my old olive supplier and see if I can send you some information to start a couple olive trees for you.  I of course being in Pa keep them in large pots and cut to my desired height.  Then I bring them in my warm basement under large grow lights for the winter.  I will let you know,  Ciao, Maggie

Your alot like myself.  I grow figs for the fruit of course, but its more than just the fruit for me, they are memories mostly for me growing up.  More nostalgic, I hope thats the right word.  Ciao.

Italiangirl74
If your fruiting Olive behave similar to ornamental 'Russian Olive' then it may be easily air-layered in spring or summer. I am saying this because I air-layered twice to keep a clone or two of the tree that was severely damaged in the ice storm of January 1998 in Eastern Canada. On a humid warm June evening its scent is air born to the whole neighbourhood. The tiny blossoms are not very visible so quite often they ask me about the source of the fragrance.

FIGS4FUN  so  OLIVES2LIVE ?

Hi, Chills!

Please email me, I'm interested in cuttings!!

thanks!

Hello, OttawanZ5,

I didn't know olive trees would survive outside in Canada....shows my lack of geographical and climate knowledge, I guess.  If I could grow olive trees outside too (Ohio), that would be great!! 

Sorry, guess I need to find an olive tree forum also.  ;-)

NewFigNut: There is difference between the fruiting Olives that are mentioned alongside the figs in the religious scriptures of the Abrahamic faith and the one that can be grown in Ottawa Zone 5. The one I am growing in Ottawa are ornamental "Russian Olives" which are very cold hardy and survive in Zone 5 with no problem at all but the fruits these trees produce has the same relation to edible Olives as the smaller crab-apples have to the real edible apples.
I have never tried to grow the fruiting Olive in Ottawa Zone5.

Wow, there is so much to know and learn about all kinds of trees.  I'm just happy to stay at the "kindergarden" level and have the 2 types of trees in my house!!

Thanks for explaining everything to me, it is all good to know, and I"m glad to know that I can one day have an olive tree in my backyard as well as in the house,.....if I'm lucky!

My Olives are Fratoio,  They are brought in every winter, they can be propogated by cuttings.  They are the Tuscan type used for Oil ect.  The Russian is a different type and hardiness all together.  They are not really a true " olive "  the ones that can be found in the Mediterranean.  They have alot of Russians planted along our highways here in Pennsylvania as a beautifying technique by the state.  ciao

Hi!

Where did you get your Fratoio olive tree?  Did you start from seeds, cuttings or purchased the tree from a nursery?  Spring is coming and I'm feeling the urge to get new plants.  I've looked here in my city and the nurseries and greenhouses just don't have anything.

Thanks.