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Hello everyone I am new to this forum, and am already enjoying the content.  From NYC and love to grow vegetables.  I have a couple of fig and persimmon trees in Brooklyn and out on Long Island that were brought here many years ago from Italy.  They were my grandfathers plants and they are all healthy fruitful trees.  Anyway I am starting cuttings and I have wrapped them in damp newspapers and put them in plastic bags.  Any advice guys? How long till roots form?  Do I put them in soil (potted) immediately after rooting?  Any advice would be greatly appreciated.  I will post more pics when I get a chance.

Thanks!

-Stephen

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Stephen welcome. If it was me I would use long fiber peat moss like they use for orchids instead of the news paper. Will be less mold issues. Most start cuttings from dormant wood.

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Bass has a great tutorial here for summer rooting: https://web.archive.org/web/20131013013550/http://www.treesofjoy.com/content/rooting-softwood-fig-cuttings

I have just stuck them in pots in the shade and had good luck,
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Thank you so much! I know everyone keeps telling me to start from dormant plants but is it 100% necessary?
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Ive made cuttings from both dormant and active trees. The dormant ones seem to do better, but Id say its not 100% necessary.  
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Originally Posted by scnyc88
Thank you so much! I know everyone keeps telling me to start from dormant plants but is it 100% necessary?


It is considered better to start with dormant cuttings because you can usually get a full growing season in before winter and allow the plants to go dormant without issue. Dormant cuttings are also easier to ship and store until one is ready to start rooting. Summer/green cuttings may not establish well enough before winter to safely overwinter as a dormant plant and often need to be brought indoors to a bright window or under grow lights for the winter to keep growing. It's not necessary by any means to do dormant cuttings, just easier for most.

I've rooted both now, I prefer doing dormant cuttings because: A) it's something to do in the winter B) the plants grow better the first season and can go dormant safely C) if you're lucky you can get figs that year, talk about a fast return on investment. 

Regardless, just keep doing what has worked for you. There is no one right way, everyone has a method and a preference.

Hope that helps!
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Thanks so much! I really appreciate the help/ advice!
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Originally Posted by Ampersand
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Originally Posted by scnyc88
Thank you so much! I know everyone keeps telling me to start from dormant plants but is it 100% necessary?


It is considered better to start with dormant cuttings because you can usually get a full growing season in before winter and allow the plants to go dormant without issue. Dormant cuttings are also easier to ship and store until one is ready to start rooting. Summer/green cuttings may not establish well enough before winter to safely overwinter as a dormant plant and often need to be brought indoors to a bright window or under grow lights for the winter to keep growing. It's not necessary by any means to do dormant cuttings, just easier for most.

I've rooted both now, I prefer doing dormant cuttings because: A) it's something to do in the winter B) the plants grow better the first season and can go dormant safely C) if you're lucky you can get figs that year, talk about a fast return on investment. 

Regardless, just keep doing what has worked for you. There is no one right way, everyone has a method and a preference.

Hope that helps!



So what is your suggestion? I have already started these figs. I have grow lights and all of the proper equipment.  Shall I just keep them indoors for the rest of this year 2014 and transplant them spring 2015?
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I'm no fig authority, others may be able to answer better...but if you're just starting them now, I would expect you'll need to keep them indoors over the winter. They might OK going dormant in pots and spending the winter in a garage or shed, but I wouldn't chance it. I definitely wouldn't expect them to survive being planted in the ground from summer cuttings. I'm trying to root some cuttings presently and intend to bring them indoors. If there are plenty that root I might leave one in the garage to see how it survives for the sake of curiosity and science.

If you have open access to the mother tree, it might be best to just wait and get dormant cuttings in November or December and start rooting in the winter. But there's no harm in trying what you have now, the worst that can happen is you have to try again this winter.

Like I said, there's no wrong way. I'm sure it's frustrating to not get a straight answer, but do what you want to do and have fun!
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Originally Posted by Ampersand
I'm no fig authority, others may be able to answer better...but if you're just starting them now, I would expect you'll need to keep them indoors over the winter. They might OK going dormant in pots and spending the winter in a garage or shed, but I wouldn't chance it. I definitely wouldn't expect them to survive being planted in the ground from summer cuttings. I'm trying to root some cuttings presently and intend to bring them indoors. If there are plenty that root I might leave one in the garage to see how it survives for the sake of curiosity and science.

If you have open access to the mother tree, it might be best to just wait and get dormant cuttings in November or December and start rooting in the winter. But there's no harm in trying what you have now, the worst that can happen is you have to try again this winter.

Like I said, there's no wrong way. I'm sure it's frustrating to not get a straight answer, but do what you want to do and have fun!



Ok got it! Thanks again!
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Stephen, Welcome and good luck.

What else can you tell us about your grandfather's plants?
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Welcome.
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Welcome, Stephen, sorry that I am too inexperienced to help with your question.

There is tons of info here on growing figs and most questions have been asked before.  The search function is your friend.  The pinned "Start Here" thread at the top has a of topics that are helpful to review for noobs and experts alike.  And this link on searching is one I have found very useful:
http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/How-to-search-the-forum-using-2-or-3letter-terms-5972738
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Thank you!!!
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Welcome Stephen I think where neighbors where are you living now I am reading my crystal ball annnnd yep I see a trade in the future.
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Stephen, I received a Hardy Chicago tree back in late June with a branch broken during shipping. The branch was only about 3 inches long with 2 leaves on it. I thought with nothing to lose I would give it a go. I took off 1 leaf and used scissors to trim the other leaf down to about 3/4 inches in size. Then I stuck it in a small pot of half miracle grow potting soil/half perlite, watered it, put the pot inside a gallon sized ziplock bag that i zipped closed except about an inch and placed it on a window sill. Long story short after roughly 5 weeks the sprig popped out a new set of leaves and is still thriving at the moment. Good luck. And welcome to the forum =)

billy
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Sounds like lot's of good advice so far.  So I'll just say welcome to the forum enjoy.
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Originally Posted by musillid
Stephen, Welcome and good luck.

What else can you tell us about your grandfather's plants?


They are from the southern area of Italy, specifically the Puglia region.  Both trees are around 20/25 ft high and produce amazing sweet figs.  The same can be said for the Persimmon tree which is even larger and produces softball size fruits, Not kidding its pretty incredible. 
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Welcome, Stephen.

I'd enjoy seeing some photos of these trees! :)
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Welcome and yes I agree with Harvey.  Photo's!!! :)
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Welcome to the forum Stephen, a place that has a lot of information and members willing to help answer all your questions and enjoy seeing your accomplishments.
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Welcome...
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Stephen welcome from a fellow New Yorker!

Growing a fig indoors in NY winter w dry heat is a dicey proposition, and you could screw up any possibility of fruiting next summer. My plants that I grew from cuttings did not thrive under my T5 lights last winter, developing a rusty mite disease on the terminal buds and setting back growth 4-6 weeks in the spring.
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Originally Posted by rafaelissimmo
Stephen welcome from a fellow New Yorker! Growing a fig indoors in NY winter w dry heat is a dicey proposition, and you could screw up any possibility of fruiting next summer. My plants that I grew from cuttings did not thrive under my T5 lights last winter, developing a rusty mite disease on the terminal buds and setting back growth 4-6 weeks in the spring.


I think i'm gonna just save most of my cuttings (when I prune) this winter and plant them in the spring (outdoors).  Should I just throw the cuttings in the freezer/ refrigerator during the winter?
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What is the best way to store cuttings for transplant in the spring? What's everyones method?
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