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schaplin

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Posted Reply with quote  #1 
I think I may have a problem.  I mean Jon's cuttings don't become available until Feb. yet somehow my refrigerator is filling up with cuttings.  I keep getting things that are not on my wish list because they sound so interesting.  Last year I had about a 90% success rate from cuttings to pots.  I have about 30 trees right that will need much bigger pots next year (maybe more).  Now I look at last years list and think there are still things I would like to grow.  Intervention may be need here.  Lucky I have an acre to play with but eventually I will run out of room...
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COGardener

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Posted Reply with quote  #2 
I think we all feel your pain, there will always be more varieties that we want.  I thought I would be happy with just two or three, I now have 7 trees, I am rooting 5 addition varieties and being gifted an unknown quantity from and extremely generous member. 

So yes, out of room....  I feel ya, I'm sure we all do.... or will.  
rcantor

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Posted Reply with quote  #3 
Welcome to the madhouse  :)   There were 2 layers of pots in my garage then three, four, 6 and it's full.  Fortunately my neighbor has space...

There were 1,068 plants, now there are 1,947.  I only have room for three more but there are 200 other varieties I want to try...

We've all been there.
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Ruuting

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Posted Reply with quote  #4 
Admitting it is an important step...so is accepting it :)
Welcome, dear Sharon.

How about planting in ground, and culling the rootballs in Fall, or protecting the trees after chopping them to 2' height?
I'm going with 6' spacing, which should allow for at least 50 in ground. You can always graft other varieties on, and keep your potting soil costs down by not having to uppot or fertilize as much.
You can also start air layers of those that you don't want to risk losing to weather, and make a small group of backups every year, just in case.

The way I reason with my addiction is by telling myself (and my wife, friends, and coworkers) that I'm trialing 100 varieties, and will eventually only keep 2 (4) dozen or so.
If it sounds like you have a plan, your loved ones won't be so sure you have a problem ;)
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Rui
Southeast CT, zone 6B
brianm

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Posted Reply with quote  #5 
I already have my money ready for Jon's cuttings, im itching for more lol.
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ADelmanto

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Posted Reply with quote  #6 
I feel your pain. I'm at about 100 varieties and counting. I still have Davis and Jon's cuttings to look forward to. :-)
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RichinNJ

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Posted Reply with quote  #7 
Quote:
Originally Posted by schaplin
I think I may have a problem.  I mean Jon's cuttings don't become available until Feb. yet somehow my refrigerator is filling up with cuttings.  I keep getting things that are not on my wish list because they sound so interesting.  Last year I had about a 90% success rate from cuttings to pots.  I have about 30 trees right that will need much bigger pots next year (maybe more).  Now I look at last years list and think there are still things I would like to grow.  Intervention may be need here.  Lucky I have an acre to play with but eventually I will run out of room...


You have a fig problem. Welcome to the fig forum.
schaplin

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Posted Reply with quote  #8 
Wow.  I don't feel so bad.  Looking at the 5 acres across the street seems just about normal now..
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COGardener

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Posted Reply with quote  #9 
I'm looking at 5 acers also and yes, figs will grow to being a chunk of that. I can't waIt. ... thinking around 300 varieties one day and multiples of my favorites. 
Charlie

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Posted Reply with quote  #10 
I don't see what the problem is? :)
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FiggyFrank

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Posted Reply with quote  #11 
We have discussed moving within the next 3-5 years and it would be so nice to have at least 2 acres of nice land to plant trees and have room for a decent greenhouse.
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Frank
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Posted Reply with quote  #12 
You are preaching to the Choir!...: )
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schaplin

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Posted Reply with quote  #13 
It could be worse.  I think this is way cheaper than most addictions and they have not yet developed a breath test.
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Charlie

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Posted Reply with quote  #14 
Sir, have you been eating figs tonight?  Step away from the fig basket nice and slow.  Hiding one up your sleeve eh!!!  I'm going to have to confiscate those...
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jkuo

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Posted Reply with quote  #15 
My collection is small, but I too appear to have overrun my capacity.  I originally thought I was going to plant 1-2 trees in ground.  One season later, I have 10 trees in pots overwintering in the garage, 9 unknowns inside under grow lights, and 22 cuttings started.  I checked my yard plant map, and determined that I can plant 8 fig trees in ground.  I'm contemplating cutting down an ailing birch tree just to make space for a few more varieties in the yard.  I didn't expect figs to be so addictive.
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Johnny - Lancaster, PA, Zone 6b
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donpaid

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Posted Reply with quote  #16 
rcantor,

1,947 is an extraordinary number of plants...wow...I applaud you sir

And yes schaplin, we're essentially all fig junkies on this forum, and Jon's the dealer :P It get's out of hand quick. But there's nothing wrong with that! No intervention needed! Keep rooting those cuttings! :)
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Posted Reply with quote  #17 
rcantor,

1,947 plants, How many varieties is that?
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snaglpus

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Posted Reply with quote  #18 
My problem is, I keep finding varieties that taste great. But, I've already started cutting back. I won't be buying cuttings from Jon or UCD next year. Like Sharon, I too have cuttings in the fridge. I'm in no hurry to start cuttings. I can get cuttings to root now in 17 days. So, presently, my propagation station insidde my garage is overrun with dormant figs. And I don't pull figs out until Easter. So, Sharon I feel your pain.

I was worried about my cuttings until I bought a food saver. Its the fastest way to store cuttings.
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Dennis
Charlotte, North Carolina/Zone 8a 
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Posted Reply with quote  #19 

Just because a year ago I wanted 2 -3 fig trees and I now have 7 in ground and 11 in pots plus another 12 varieties of cuttings in my fridge doesn't mean I have a problem.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

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Phil - Zone 7A - Newark, DE Newbie fig lover just trying to learn.
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Posted Reply with quote  #20 
No intervention from us enablers
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Dave Zone 6b Illinois

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Norhayati

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Posted Reply with quote  #21 
No problem...no problem at all

Norhayati
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FiggyFrank

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Posted Reply with quote  #22 
Quote:
Originally Posted by snaglpus
I was worried about my cuttings until I bought a food saver. Its the fastest way to store cuttings.


Dennis,

That is a genius idea.  I'm surprised I've never seen this mentioned or perhaps I simply missed it.  I'm going to try this out tonight.
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Frank
zone 7a - VA
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Posted Reply with quote  #23 
James you are my idol.
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john
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DonCentralTexas

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Posted Reply with quote  #24 
Wow James, I couldn't agree more....that's why i moved to the "country".  I am glad you found more lands to conquer.  I see a grant in your future for teaching kids about the importance of growing real food.

I too thought a dozen varieties would do it total, ha, that was so last season. 
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If you have these for sale/trade PM me: Zingarella, Grantham's Royal, Calderona, Genovese Nero, Noir de Barbentane
Norhayati

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Posted Reply with quote  #25 
Wow James...you said it all!!!

Norhayati
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Rewton

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Posted Reply with quote  #26 
James that was an inspiring description of your "journey".  I've been doing something similar on my 0.29 acres but don't have the Florida climate so my repertoire is much smaller.  Don, I'd like to move to the country too but I have a wife who fantasizes about downsizing to an apartment in the middle of the city.  Hmmm...
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jkuo

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Posted Reply with quote  #27 
James, that is awesome what you've done.  Inspirational.

I started converting my yard into edibles after I had children.  I figured I enjoyed growing fruit, and I wanted quality food for my family.  So far, the berries have been a smashing success.  In fact, my 3 y.o. has even spit out store bought berries and requested some from the backyard.  I was quite happy that he knew what good fruit tasted like, but a little chagrined that the lesson on not wasting food hadn't sunk in yet.  I'm looking forward to ramping up with figs, paw paws, jujubes, and persimmons.
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Johnny - Lancaster, PA, Zone 6b
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cis4elk

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Posted Reply with quote  #28 
Quote:
 eventually only keep 2 (4) dozen or so.

HAHA! Rui you kill me.

James, strong work. That probably would have taken me a couple hours to write such a good compliation of my efforts, or mission statement. 



.
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Posted Reply with quote  #29 
Akkkk! I cant believe I just deleted that! What was I not thinking!
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James, North Florida zone 9A
Ampersand

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Posted Reply with quote  #30 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rewton
...my 0.29 acres...


I'm with you there...I've got 1/3 acre, but about 25-30% of that is too shady for most fruit. Those trees are on the neighbors property, unfortunately! But I still squeeze in plenty: 3 pears, 2 apples, 2 plums, 2 shipova, 7 blueberries, black raspberries, blackberries, raspberries, figs (7 in ground and growing), a peach, 2 pawpaws, and so forth.

Sorry I missed your post James!
COGardener

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Posted Reply with quote  #31 
It seems as though many of us are driving down the same road. Bound by more then our love of figs but our love of growing, especially edibles. I have 39 non fig trees currently growing in my orchard, over 3000 square feet of garden, plus edibles in my flower beds and an assortment of berries, grapes extra. Anything that will grow here, I'm going to try it, if I don't have room in ground, I'm adding a graft or 20.  Some off my trees are now frank'n trees with 12 or more grafts and more coming every year. 

I am going to dedicate an area to figs this year, which I'm sure. .. ok, positive. ... Will be expanded every year.  It will be enclosed with wire in its entirety, not so much for birds and tree rats (squirrels) but more to protect the figs from hail.   My trees where destroyed, grew back and got destroyed again last spring.  I got no figs this year do to the delay of regrowing twice, there was not enough time for them to ripen.  That is not going to happen again! !!

Like the rest of you, I just love to grow things, I like to eat fresh and healthy, I like my flowers.... and in some cases, I like to eat the flowers too. 

To many? Is it possible? I don't know. To me it is all perspective, and priority.   Out of room, I'll make more if it's that important to me.   The question of how many is to many can only be answered by the observer. 
nycfig

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Posted Reply with quote  #32 
Quote:
Originally Posted by snaglpus
I was worried about my cuttings until I bought a food saver. Its the fastest way to store cuttings.



Oh my goodness.... You're killing me Dennis!  Now I have to get another toy!
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cis4elk

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Posted Reply with quote  #33 
Quote:
It will be enclosed with wire in its entirety, not so much for birds and tree rats (squirrels) but more to protect the figs from hail.


Scott, I have thought many times about that. My plan was to basically make a pergola style structure over the garden. But instead of using stupid useless boards on top(well you would need some boards for structural support) you put a covering of 1/4-1/2" harware cloth. 1/4" would stop anything that can really cause much damage but may shade a little(which is no big deal if your in full CO sun), 1/2" would probably be more like a patial bypass filter and let some through yet break-up a good deal. I suppose 1/2" could possible do the job seeing most of the time hail doesn't fall straight down anyway, usually it is falling at some angle from the wind push and that would make a 1/2" opening smaller.
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Calvin Littleton,CO z5/6
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Posted Reply with quote  #34 
Calvin, 

I will be testing 3/8 and 1/2 inch in theory, available local supplies my change my mind our add ideas.  I am planning to use 4X4X8's for uprights with 2X6's connecting at top and bottom. The 4x4's with not be in ground so that the cage is mobile, it will also be built in modular panels so that removal of panels to expand, relocate or disassemble for storage it fast and easy. 

After some other projects are complete, I'm going to start to draw it on Visio. I'll post the drawing when I'm done to show the idea and get some input.
rcantor

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Posted Reply with quote  #35 
My post was pure hyperbole.  Even Jon doesn't have that many plants (as far as I know).  That's why I said, "we've all been there."  when none of us has   :)

Too bad I didn't get to read James' post.
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Zone 6, MO

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Galicia Negra, De La Reina - Pons, Genovese Nero - Rafed's, Sbayi, Souadi, Acciano, Any Rimada, Sodus Sicilian, any Bass, Pons or Axier fig, any great tasting fig.
COGardener

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Posted Reply with quote  #36 
Quote:
Originally Posted by rcantor
My post was pure hyperbole.  Even Jon doesn't have that many plants (as far as I know).  That's why I said, "we've all been there."  when none of us has   :)

Too bad I didn't get to read James' post.



I'm glad you posted the numbers you did, now my thinks that 100 or so isn't much!!!  :)

Thanks Mr. Cantor
jkuo

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Posted Reply with quote  #37 
Quote:
Originally Posted by COGardener

I will be testing 3/8 and 1/2 inch in theory, available local supplies my change my mind our add ideas.  I am planning to use 4X4X8's for uprights with 2X6's connecting at top and bottom. The 4x4's with not be in ground so that the cage is mobile, it will also be built in modular panels so that removal of panels to expand, relocate or disassemble for storage it fast and easy. 

After some other projects are complete, I'm going to start to draw it on Visio. I'll post the drawing when I'm done to show the idea and get some input.


I'd be interested in seeing how you plan on making modular panels.  I contemplated a modular panel approach to caging my blueberries (dang birds eat all of them) or for making a cold frame that I could break down and store flat.  I didn't come up with any feasible ideas, and I gave up on the idea since I figured two little ones occupying my time wouldn't let me start prototyping anyway.
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Johnny - Lancaster, PA, Zone 6b
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Posted Reply with quote  #38 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jkuo
Quote:
Originally Posted by COGardener

I will be testing 3/8 and 1/2 inch in theory, available local supplies my change my mind our add ideas.  I am planning to use 4X4X8's for uprights with 2X6's connecting at top and bottom. The 4x4's with not be in ground so that the cage is mobile, it will also be built in modular panels so that removal of panels to expand, relocate or disassemble for storage it fast and easy. 

After some other projects are complete, I'm going to start to draw it on Visio. I'll post the drawing when I'm done to show the idea and get some input.


I'd be interested in seeing how you plan on making modular panels.  I contemplated a modular panel approach to caging my blueberries (dang birds eat all of them) or for making a cold frame that I could break down and store flat.  I didn't come up with any feasible ideas, and I gave up on the idea since I figured two little ones occupying my time wouldn't let me start prototyping anyway.


I have several ideas, so I may post several renditions when the time comes.

I'm hoping to keep it simple yet strong. 
waynea

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Posted Reply with quote  #39 
Simple is good!
pino

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Posted Reply with quote  #40 
I am jealous of all the F4F members living in fig paradises.   Nice warm climate no winter to worry about just watching fig trees mature into those beautiful iconic shapes and worrying about not eating too many figs.  Your problems seems more like just getting used to your fig hobby and learning how to enjoy figs fully.
    
Me on the other hand living the land of  ice wine have a rapidly mounting dilemma of how to handle the work involved to either protect the in ground fig trees every year from the winter (-25C) and maintain, build more winter storage and up pot as required container figs. 

It makes sense that in my area many people are settling on 20-30 favourite fig trees and hanging up their heat matts and just doing an air layer or 2 as needed.
 
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Pino, zone 6, Niagara,  JCJ Acres
Wish; Peace on earth and more figs Italian 258, Galicia Negra, Luv, trade suggestions welcome.
waynea

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Posted Reply with quote  #41 
Pino, most of us deep southerners would love to have Canadian summers instead of our steamy hot humid summers.
pino

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Posted Reply with quote  #42 
Wayne,
I agree for the most part we do have nice summers here.  I guess the grass always looks greener on the other side.  
Maybe instead of a new car I will put in a climate controlled greenhouse for my figs...LOL
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Pino, zone 6, Niagara,  JCJ Acres
Wish; Peace on earth and more figs Italian 258, Galicia Negra, Luv, trade suggestions welcome.
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Posted Reply with quote  #43 
Quote:
Originally Posted by pino
Maybe instead of a new car I will put in a climate controlled greenhouse for my figs

It's the reasonable thing to do.  Can't eat a car.
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schaplin

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Posted Reply with quote  #44 
I suspect many of you folks also are addicted to other interesting things.  For example I have over a thousand orchids which far exceeds my fig addition.  Nice thing about figs is you can always have something in the fridge.  Can't wait to start my cuttings tho.
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COGardener

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Posted Reply with quote  #45 
Quote:
Originally Posted by pino
I am jealous of all the F4F members living in fig paradises.   Nice warm climate no winter to worry about just watching fig trees mature into those beautiful iconic shapes and worrying about not eating too many figs.  Your problems seems more like just getting used to your fig hobby and learning how to enjoy figs fully.
    
Me on the other hand living the land of  ice wine have a rapidly mounting dilemma of how to handle the work involved to either protect the in ground fig trees every year from the winter (-25C) and maintain, build more winter storage and up pot as required container figs. 

It makes sense that in my area many people are settling on 20-30 favourite fig trees and hanging up their heat matts and just doing an air layer or 2 as needed.
 


Pino,

I'm going through the same issues as you. I'm no where near as far north as you, yet do to my elevation it's actually colder here only being USDA Zone 5B on a good year. It's part of living in the foot hills of the Rocky Mountains, the front range is the view from my front window, Pikes Peak a 14,000 + foot mountain is perfectly framed my view. It has snow on it for all but a few weeks in the peak of summer. 

So in ground figs, are a lot of work, green house are expensive to climate control.  Especially when your Summer is only 4 maybe 5 months. 

I guess it's all in how bad we want it. 
snaglpus

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Posted Reply with quote  #46 
Sad to say, but I am still bringing trees indoors! At one time I had 70 trees in the ground. Starting this year, I've decided to move some of my hard to find trees from in ground to self watering pots. My climte is so up and down. My in ground trees produce figs every year but the numbers of figs are reducing. So, I brought these in yesterday, Smith, Native Black, and Italian 258. For now, I just wrapped the root balls in burlap and placed i doors. I also brought in Kadota, Excel, Saint Anthony, LSU Champagne, Aubique Petite, Black Mission, Monticello, and a few others. I already had 500+ indoors. I got plenty of room. However, I had to buy 20 3 foot plant stands. I'm going to plant these in in my orchard, Brown Turkey, Florea, Marseilles Black, LSU Purple.
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Dennis
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Posted Reply with quote  #47 
It is very hard to explain this fig passion that we all feel. I don't know why we always want "just one more tree" when we all know that we have enough.
This is a most difficult time for us North East fig growers. The trees are all dormant and put away, and as I learned last year, rooting too early is more of a hassle than anything else.
So we wait. Frig full of cuttings, and anticipation in our hearts.
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Coop  
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schaplin

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Posted Reply with quote  #48 
I know what you mean.  I keep saying OK it's time to settle down and grow what you have but it doesn't work.  Next time I'm back up in NJ I would like to see your plants.  Most likely that would not be until summer tho.  I still have to make a couple more trips to finish cleaning out my old greenhouse.  It's very close to Bill's Figs.
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Posted Reply with quote  #49 
Pino from Niagara zone 6a wrote "I guess the grass always looks greener on the other side." How true.

When I look at his situation at Niagara on the Lake area Zone 6a, from my point of view from Zone 5a he seems to be in fruit paradise; & yes, the grass always looks greener on the other side.
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