I recently got 3 cuttings from unknown tree I think they are doing well I have them in spagnum moss and they are beginning to root, my first question is when are they ready to pot in my soil mix they have been rooting for about 2 weeks, is there a round about time thats good?
My second question is; can anyone recommend some good varietys that do well in Northeast, Connecticut. My mother has always had a fig tree and we just bring it into garage in winter and it has always done well, but we dont know the variety, I want to buy another and dont know what tyoe to get. 

Jen,

     I think any of the Mangibello types, like hardy Chicago will do well. Forum member Rob in Connecticut can give the run-down on many types.

Good luck!

Get Ronde De Bordeaux.  Marseilles VS.  Verte.  This name is so confusing....  Desert King?  Like the desert is hot, but this fig is hardy in cold.  Weird.

Suzi

If your plants are in pots and brought inside for winter protection from freeze then many varieties will do well if you have good warm sunny summer. These are just a few to mention:
Mars VS Black,
Hardy Chicago
Celest,
Desert King (Breba only)
BT English
Florea
Natalina
Vista
etc etc

Thanks for all the good advice everyone!! 

Hey, another Nutmegger!
Welcome, Jen.
Where in CT are you?
We're in a small state that's well represented on this forum.
As long as there are roots on your cuttings, they are ready to pot up. Some people will even move them into pots as soon as the bottom is calloused. The longer the roots are, the more likely they are to get damaged.
Herman2 has a lot of good information about cold hardiness. He's in NJ. Ascpete is in upstate NY, and he does a lot of good research, with good documentation.
RobertHarper is here in CT, and he grows a good amount of varieties in ground.
Try doing a couple of searches, you'll find some names coming up repeatedly.
You should also check out the threads about the earliest ripening varieties.
Welcome to the forum.

Hi Jenlomas0422,
What is an unknown tree for you : A tree you know that she's producing but you don't know the strain, or a tree you saw in the wild and took cuttings of it ?
If you have a neighbor that has one fruiting tree, it is best to take cuttings from such a tree you know although the strain is unknown.
If you have space, I would try a tree in ground , with winter protection, as well .
I would advise to start 2 or 3 trees, so that you wouldn't be deceived if you screw one tree - dogs or kids passing by - I read that occasionally "construction's machine " get angry at fig trees and raze them to the ground ... :°°(

In addition to the above, try: "Italian Fig Trees . net"    for a local source of different varieties that will do well in your area.  Joe Morle grows good quality figs, and I believe he's up near Boston, Mass.  "Bill's Figs", in New Jersey:...  also, another great source for dozens of different varieties.

You will have many options, especially since you will be over-wintering your tree(s) in a garage.  However I would opt for a short-season variety, and do some pinching to ensure a properly ripened main-crop.  Connecticut has a short-season, so allowing brebas to ripen may not be a good idea.

Good luck, and happy growing.


Frank

Hello Jennifer,
Welcome to the forum community.

The rooted cuttings can be potted as soon as roots are visible, but they have to be watered very sparingly. in the early stages of growth fig cuttings are very sensitive to excess water. Good Luck.

You didn't mention if your existing tree is a dark or a light fig. Purchasing a fig tree that produces a different colored fig will provide another fig taste. I've posted the following recommendation,

Well I went into my local nursery and the owner gave me 3 cuttings (after much begging) of a extreamly large fig tree someone had donated to him, he wasnt sure of the type.  I live in Farmington ct.
So, taking everyones advice I potted up my cuttings today, I have been doing some reading and some people say not to leave them near a grow light, this doesn't seem like it makes much sense, all the other cuttings i've done have always gone under after I potted them, what do you guys think? Any tips for keeping my little one's alive?

Yes try not to over think it and they should be fine.

  


 Here are 2 of them, the other is coverd with a plastic bag, was wondering which way is better?

Welcome Jennifer,

I would put them on a heat pad made for plants. This will help them root more quickly.
Do your pots have drain holes? If not, try not to give your figs to much water.
Good luck and welcome to the forum.

Dana R.
Scarborough ME
Zone 5b

<quote=swizzle>Do your pots have drain holes? If not, try not to give your figs to much water. </quote>
I'd say:   if they don't, then give them drain holes.

Welcome Jennifer.

To the good advice about varieties that you've gotten above from others, I'd add a few thoughts also.  I live in a similar climate to yours (I'm in central NY state, USDA zone 5a).  The best producers here (in terms of producing figs with good taste, and which ripen nicely, rather than necessarily in terms of numbers) have so far included Hardy Chicago (aka Bensonhurst Purple, aka Mangibello) and other very similar figs such as Sal's EL and Sicilian Red.  (All of those are dark figs, and probably my favorites of the ones that have done well here thus far).  English Brown Turkey has also done well here (breba crop only, not the main crop).  Battaglia Green produced some excellent figs here last year (it's a green fig with a jammy red center).  (I believe it is similar to Ischia Green, mentioned by Pete / ascpete up above).  And for a somewhat different taste, Verte produced figs that had interesting crunch and a tangy / tart taste.  I'm doing trials on quite a few others.

There are others that have reputations for doing well in a cold climate, including Nordland, Florea (mentioned by Ottawan and others above), and Tenica.  But I'm still trialing those, and they're too young to have produced anything yet.  I have a third year Florea but it hasn't yet produced any figs.

Good luck and welcome to the forum.

Mike   central NY state, zone 5a

welcome. if you go with figs pot, almost everything will work... first decide on what you want by looking at some old posts on the forum. once you make up your mind, start searching for the cuttings.

some figs do need long hot summer, but if you really want them, there are ways to get them to ripe... fig shuffle... .greenhouse... and others.

Michael, yes my pots have drain holes and when I water them I do it with a spray bottle, how much water is nessisary during the early transplant phase? Thanks for all the good advice on types of figs, I am hoping that some of the nursurys around here in Farmington have some of those varietys to choose from. what do you do with your plants over the winter?