3 on this tree.  I've never started an air layer this early before.  Everything is growing, so I 'should' be okay.
I dragged the tree in the garage just to air layer it.  The tree has been outside otherwise.  I'll wrap them in foil tomorrow.

Good Job Frank!! You got me wanting to do some too! Think I will do some tomorrow! Thanks for the idea, like the way you are supporting the limbs, gave me a great idea also! Good Luck!  :  )

Super job Frank, I have air layered some last year, looks familiar, same setup. Good luck, feels great when you see those roots.

Nice technique. I think cuttings and airlayers really take off early in the season while the growing energy is really just taking off. Let us know how it does

Excellent!

Nice Frank! Good use of clothespins. By June you should have 3 nice plants.

Hi FiggyFranck,
What strain is that ?
Some questions for you :
Why didn't you set the airlayers closer to the bottom of each airlayered branch ?
Especially the one on the left and the one at the top.
On the top one you will be leaving a big part of it behind. That leftover piece wouldn't fit within my pruning habits .
If size control in on your mind, I would airlayer both top branches as they each have one replacement branch just under .
Well, just my way of doing and some thoughts for you , the tree is yours, and so are the choices you make :) .
Airlayering now is a good move, but remember that you might be fining the crop potential if you remove the airlayers too soon ...
Good luck !

Looks good! Keep us posted on the progress.
I am starting some today as well. They will look very similar to yours.

That looks great Frank!

Questions for those with experience doing air layers:

I was given a large Adriatic(Grasa) tree, may be same as Desert King according to some.  It is just starting to put out leaves at the terminal buds, and there are a number of tiny breba figs at lower nodes.  I was thinking of doing air layers on it this year because the tree is now 7 ft tall in a pot.  If I air layer the trunk and large branches right below where the brebas are now, would the brebas fall off?  Or if I want to try them this year, should I wait till after it produces to start the air layers?

Thanks for any advice!

Ed,

Check out post #8

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/signs-of-autumn-central-tx-style-6000021?highlight=etiolating&pid=1274928045#post1274928045

The airlayers look good Frank,they'll start off with a nice structure.I have 5 hanging from
my Preto that I started mid February.

 

 
I took a look at them yesterday and they've rooted well.I'll probably leave them on the tree another
month or two.

Ed,if I want to harvest fruit on an airlayer I leave the layer on the tree until after harvest.Last year
I had airlayers still hanging in Oct. on the Preto because I didn't want to chance losing the fruit.

Happy growing,

Paul

Hi eebone,
The choice is yours. For me, since Desert King is a San Pedro type, I would start the airlayers in July, harvest the figs, and after remove the airlayers.
For me a shocked tree makes inferior figs - The airlayers will be shocked when removed from the mother .
The airlayers will have a hard time establishing a good root system  and feed the fruits at the same time. That would shock them even more.
So I would first harvest the figs from the tree so that the fruits are fed as needed to be the best fruits that the tree can provide.

So internet expert please tell me ....

 Are air layers  started in the spring  or in the fall  best or most successful ?

Austin,

Prime time is June and July for air layers, since this is when they're in full force.  Anything past August may not produce roots as quickly.  It takes 6-8 weeks on average before an air layer is ready to remove from the tree.  Then, it needs 2-3 weeks to adapt to its new roots.

I'm doing a few air layers this summer AFTER I have taken advantage of all the Breba crops.  They seem to root easily in the shade of the fig tree in the heat of summer.  I wrap with foil to help protect from sun and to make it seem like it's under ground where roots want to grow.

Suzi

Nice picture.  I have never tried air layers but this picture makes it seem like a great idea.

I have been wondering when to start some airlayers, haven't felt good on what composition I should use to put into the plastic bottle. Something that holds a lot of moisture, (dirt) or maybe a cactus mix (good drainage) or ????  I had one too wet last year and I felt that I would get mold issues that could hurt the tree.

Armando,

I have used:

• sphagnum peat moss
• peat moss
• Pro Mix BX

I find air layers root the fastest if they're on the tree when it starts waking up from dormancy.  Nice looking air layers, Frank & Paul!

Thanks Bob.  Great to hear!

I am going to start some this weekend.  Thanks for the inspiration!