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My first baby fig tree...

Just had to share the pic of my first lil figlet.  I started this cutting from my friend Daisy's Cornilio BT on 11-11 straight into a mix of organic potting soil and vermiculite with a grocery bag tied on top.  Trying to follow the instructions given here simply.  And wow oh wow 11 of 12 have roots and leaves (I had to peak, using clear pop bottles now).  Exciting.  Not sure if this is just the virility of this variety, but it was fast and fun.  Helped Daisy and her husband trim this monster papa tree a second time last week and came home with lots of beautiful cuttings.   IMG_2328.JPG And if anyone wants some cuttings from this tree we have a bounty to share with the members that have not contacted me yet.  (more pics on the post "Daisy's 'Cornilio' unkown BT."  Happy figging.

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Very nice, Jodi! Wow, got roots so fast!! Congrats (i know that feeling)!
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Crazy fun addiction to the plants, the fruits and the stories that they hold.  This is a blast!!!
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very nice, I am praying I have success with mine, I started five, all different varieties. Good luck with this!
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Hey Peter are you a newbie too? I started 9 more all different varieties. I'm loving all the fig possibilities. Good luck to you too.

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yes, new to clippings but always had fig trees. I had two, a Brown Turkey and a White fig tree, now since being a member here and with the kindness of members here I have a total of 9 varieties. The clippings are challenging as I saw one today had white fungus on it. I also live in Long Island, not really the best time for this without heat lamps.
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Ah yes that is a colder place. We are having a storm and it's cold for the verde valley. I got a seedling heating pad today. My new starts are all toasty and 70' tonite. Happy figging!

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Looks great!
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Congratulations, Jodi! You have a beautiful figlet.
I have my first bunch of cuttings (different varieties started now, and confess checking their stems for beginnings of little roots on about the third or fourth day :)
I'm sure your little plants will grow quickly and you'll have productive trees in no time.
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Very cool Louneo and LJ Figgy.  I think you are both newbies like me.  I got a heating mat and large plastic storage box for the multitude of cuttings I am starting.  This is more fun than a little kids xmas!  I do have quite a few Daisy's BT cuttings still available.  If you are interested in them, PM me.  Happy Figging...
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Hi Jodi.
Congratulations on your new baby. You will have many more, soon you'll have more than you have room for.
Vito
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Originally Posted by Jodi
Very cool Louneo and LJ Figgy.  I think you are both newbies like me.  I got a heating mat and large plastic storage box for the multitude of cuttings I am starting.  This is more fun than a little kids xmas!  I do have quite a few Daisy's BT cuttings still available.  If you are interested in them, PM me.  Happy Figging...


Yes, definite fig newbie here :) Although I grew up in the country with a big garden in the late 60's-70's, an experience I would never trade and which taught me a lot about gardening, I've never grown a fig tree in my life until the past few weeks!

As you, this past week I also got plastic storage boxes for starting cuttings in damp sphagnum moss. These are on a table near one of my electric heaters, along with several jars containing cuttings trying to root with the (a) water method. In one of the jars, I have cuttings of several mulberry trees, because that is a fruit I am exceptionally fond of since childhood, and intend to grow quite a few varieties of.

I would love to get a few of Daisy's BT cuttings from you, and it is so kind of you to offer!, but I may have to put this on hold until the current cuttings are on their way to being established. Right now, if they all root, I will have enough for a small orchard! Actually, i hope every one does root and flourish, as i would just give any extra little trees away as gifts, or ideally for someone in need.

Happy growing for you also, Figgy Friend...:)
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Well done!  Now you need to provide enough light so the branches don't get weak and lanky.  Best of luck!
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Dave! Thats cool!! Graphics make it that much more exciting!
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Hey LJFiggy you can claim your vigorous Daisy's BT cuttings any time.  I have a frig full of them.  I am learning about rooting with them cause they seem to be crazy interested in growing.  It is so rewarding to have leaves on the cuttings.  I feel bad for all the cuttings sitting in my beer frig waiting for a home.  Thx for reaching out.  Jodi

;-)  

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Originally Posted by LJFiggy
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Originally Posted by Jodi
Very cool Louneo and LJ Figgy.  I think you are both newbies like me.  I got a heating mat and large plastic storage box for the multitude of cuttings I am starting.  This is more fun than a little kids xmas!  I do have quite a few Daisy's BT cuttings still available.  If you are interested in them, PM me.  Happy Figging...


Yes, definite fig newbie here :) Although I grew up in the country with a big garden in the late 60's-70's, an experience I would never trade and which taught me a lot about gardening, I've never grown a fig tree in my life until the past few weeks!

As you, this past week I also got plastic storage boxes for starting cuttings in damp sphagnum moss. These are on a table near one of my electric heaters, along with several jars containing cuttings trying to root with the (a) water method. In one of the jars, I have cuttings of several mulberry trees, because that is a fruit I am exceptionally fond of since childhood, and intend to grow quite a few varieties of.

I would love to get a few of Daisy's BT cuttings from you, and it is so kind of you to offer!, but I may have to put this on hold until the current cuttings are on their way to being established. Right now, if they all root, I will have enough for a small orchard! Actually, i hope every one does root and flourish, as i would just give any extra little trees away as gifts, or ideally for someone in need.

Happy growing for you also, Figgy Friend...:)
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Judi, it is too late. Now this little figlet will get you hook for life. Congrats.

Panamajack
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Oh they have me for sure panama Jack! One of the few times in my life where I wish I could move the clock ahead to having them grown up and making too many figs! Impatience! And fun!

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Originally Posted by Jodi
Hey LJFiggy you can claim your vigorous Daisy's BT cuttings any time.  I have a frig full of them.  I am learning about rooting with them cause they seem to be crazy interested in growing.  It is so rewarding to have leaves on the cuttings.  I feel bad for all the cuttings sitting in my beer frig waiting for a home.  Thx for reaching out.  Jodi

;-)  



Hi Jodi, I was going to order some of your cuttings for the beginning of Jan., and then did some reading about the Improved Brown Turkey, which I read on another thread is likely Daisy's BT. Here's part of the description I copied from varieties on this forum:

CALIFORNIA BROWN TURKEY
SYN: BLACK JACK(?) ,BLACK SPANISH, SAN PEDRO, SAN PIERO, THOMPSON'S IMPROVED BROWN TURKEY
DESCRIPTION
A large purplish-brown fig with good flavor. Brebas are oblique-pyriform, sometimes elongated; main crop figs are oblique-pyriform with variable neck. Well-adapted in California. Not hardy enough for the South. (001a) (004)  

***************
And in the More Info link on the page, it also indicates this fig doesn't do well during spring in the South (which is where i'm living), and that the fruits can rot from humidity.

What i'm planning on doing with all the fig trees I currently have and am starting from cuttings is to keep one or two in pots to take along when I move, and to plant duplicates outside in the yard if I'm at this house long enough. The trees I plant outside will produce for me now, and later on the new homeowners will be able to harvest from them, too. So i'm trying to get varieties suited to this area, unless they are a dwarf-type that will just stay in a pot.

So Daisy's wonderful Improved Brown Turkey wouldn't work here as well as your location :/

I do have an idea for any extra cuttings you have left over after all are claimed, though...
After pruning my little mulberry trees, I took all the cuttings I wanted and the rest I chopped into small pieces and put into compost for the trees. These are high in nutrition, as are the leaves.

Since watching a lot of videos on edible landscaping, gardening in small spaces/urban yards, permaculture, organic gardening, no till, etc., I've learned that you can actually use loads of woodchips (such as those from tree trimming companies). These are spread thickly right over even the worst soil along with some compost and possibly aged manure, and within a short period of time, there will be a rich soil to plant in. 

And "hugelkultur" which originated centuries ago in Austria, uses branches and woody debris to create simple garden beds. (Someone here on the forum told me about this fascinating technique, and I've been watching videos and reading about it since.) I'm thinking of planting one of my fig-trees-to-come directly into a hugelkultur bed in the yard!

Any fig tree cuttings left as extras don't have to be wasted, but used as nutrition for either the parent tree or another. This thought makes me feel a lot better, because I wouldn't want to throw them out and would probably eventually end up with hundreds of trees of the same type! And I would be the same way with a frig of cuttings, too! Maybe something I've written will help.
Thanks again, Jodi, and keep us updated with your vigorous little ones....
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Nice and fun isnt it. I live rooting fig trees. I am learning how to graft different varieties on one tree ! Well thank you for posting

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Thx LJFiggy for the commiseration on the problem of what to do with all the cuttings! We are going to start as many as we can. Daisy sells lots of plants at the farmer's markets here along with her Figs, other fruits and flowers. She has always just thrown out the cuttings. So share lil fullest has her stoked. We are also going to have an outdoor pizza party with fig pizzas cooked on the fig wood. We have a outdoor beehive oven and her husband is a great chef from Bolivia. Wish we could have all the new forum figgy friends join us. ;-)
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You're welcome, Jodi...And I'm glad that you have ways of using any extra cuttings!
Several days ago, i cut down a few tall gnarly trees (they were in poor condition) at the edge of the lawn, and today worked on trimming their branches into assorted pieces to use in making raised beds, so that I can plant at least a few in-ground fig trees next year. Not only can the wood be used for compost in the beds, but the property is opened up without them, and more sunlight available. If anything grows there, I want it to be productive fruit bearing trees.

What is a fig pizza? It sounds unusual and delicious, and I bet grilling with the fig cuttings will really enhance the flavor. I do wish we figgy friends could be there for your party :)
LJ
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Hey LJ. We have outdoor pizza oven parties with a pile of pizza crusts (try to use sourdough raised Italian flour for them ) then lots of toppings. Fire up the beehive oven and everyone makes their own version of a pizza pie. My current fav is olive oil, fresh ricotta, prosciutto, figs and fresh greens! Yum!! This year will be the first time for us to try fig wood. Most fruit wood we have used has been tasty. Your clearing and bed raising protects sound cool. Our current gardens are only 2 years old. Lots of change already and can't wait for them to mature! Enjoy. And let me know if you're ever in the Sedona/Verde Valley area to stop by for figgy pizza. ;-)

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Fig Pizza will be the first thing I make when my plants produce.  I like Prosciutto, arugula, and gorgonzola or goat cheese.  This is my favorite pizza and hard to get.  I've only made it with fig preserves, very excited to try fresh figs!  I imagine overripe figs would work best, kind of like banana bread.  Make sure the dough is thin and crispy!
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/pizza-with-figs-prosciutto-gorgonzola-balsamic-and-arugula-354313
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Thanks Jodi.  Now I am having Pizza for dinner when I should be eating a salad!
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