Hi everyone.  I just found a really nice (unknown variety) fig growing here locally.  It's originally from Lebanon (the family is from Lebanon).  It has a very good, highly productive breba crop of large figs that is ripe right now. 

I found it because they told a friend they had more figs than they knew what to do with (and that is a problem I would like to have as well).

I would like to get a start, but what are your success rates with rooting cuttings this time of year?  Can I try to root cuttings now or should I wait till next Spring?  And while I'm sure I can get cuttings now, who knows in Spring?  People move, etc.

Hope everyone is well.

Best wishes.

John
North Georgia Piedmont
Zone 7b

I had very good success with one last year from green wood (with a little bit of last-year's wood at the bottom of the cutting), but since that's the sum-total of my experience with rooting from green cuttings, I'll defer to those with more experience!

Watch first video here for some tips from our resident (Georgia) expert: http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=4223945

Thanks Ken.  I just wanted to hear what others with more experience thought, so I appreciate your input on this.

I'm pretty sure I'm going to go for it.

Worst case scenario and it doesn't root, I will just see if I can talk them out of another cutting next Spring, and I'm pretty sure they won't care either way.  They were trying to give away the figs there were so many, so giving away some cuttings should be a pretty easy sale.  And they are very nice people too.  I will also offer to share cuttings from any of my varieties they may want also, more figs for everyone. 

With any luck, I will have my own plant by next Spring, and possibly maybe even a new variety or variant to share with others in a couple years.  It sounds like a winner so far, and I don't recognize it (but others might; we will see).  I will let everyone know what I end up with, and if it's promising I will share.

To give the cuttings a little extra chance in the less than ideal hot summer conditions, I think I'm going to try some longer cuttings in ground, and in shade, and watch them closely for proper moistore because of the heat this time of year.

In general figs seem to root pretty easy.  So I am optimistic even this time of year.  Mulberries are a related plant that also roots very easily.  I had a White Mulberry tree that I cut down in late Winter, because no one liked the fruit, and then I used it for stakes in the garden this Spring because they were nice straight sticks (some of you already know what happened at this point, right?).

Yes, the mulberry stakes rooted and leafed out.  I keep stripping off the leaves, and they just keep popping back out.

Best wishes to all.

John
North Georgia Piedmont
Zone 7b

Thanks for sharing this Jason.

This fig (a yet unknown variety they were growing in Lebanon) seems to be doing well here in Georgia, so if it ends up being a variety you might like to try, I will be happy to send you some cuttings as soon as I can.

Best wishes.

John
North Georgia Piedmont
Zone 7b

Go for it. Not a problem. In fact, if you get wood that is somewhat hardened off (not real green), they are already in growth mode, so will probably root in a few weeks.

Geogiafig
My tall fig trees in pots were falling all the time because of winds and I will find broken limbs and will stick it in the ground. That was a month+ ago and they are still green/erect meaning they are going to make it. Go ahead and take a chance and you will have a happy surprise.

Thank you Jon and Ottawan.  I greatly appreciate your advice on this, and it will help me to have greater confidence in trying this.

And as they say, gardening is not like parachuting.  If something goes wrong, you get to try again.

I will keep everyone posted, and if it's a promising variety I will be happy to share.

I've just started fig hunting in the area, so who knows what I will find (other than several thousand BTs that is!).  ;-)

Best wishes to all.

John
North Georgia Piedmont
Zone 7b

Why not just air-layer a branch? It's easy and now is a perfect time to do it. You should get pretty much 100% success rate.

Hi John.  Air layering is a good idea.  But the mother tree is in the yard of people I know a little, but not enough to be conducting any extended agricultural activities in their backyard.  I think they would be happy to give me a cutting, but probably just as soon prefer that I then took the cutting and left!  ;-)

Best wishes to all.

John
North Georgia Piedmont
Zone 7b

Good find Georgia Fig --- In the past, I had good success with wood taken now for rooting. You can start the rooting process now. No need to callus by putting in fridge. Infact I just started rooting some fresh cuttings straight in 1 gal pot with plastic bag over them and they have leafed out in partial shade. Not sure about their root system. I won't be taking bag out for at least 2 months.

When I tried my green wood cutting last year I first removed all the leaves, figuring they would transpire too much moisture. Is that what other people do as well, or is there a better method? Could the leaves end up being a benefit if the cutting were rooted in a high-humidity container?

I remove all leaves.

Remove leaves.

Thanks Jon and everyone.

The figs from Lebanon are planted in ground here now.  Their father, who unfortunately has pasted away now, brought a stick with him from his family home in Lebanon and planted it here.  I think he would be very happy to know that the tree will be enjoyed by children here, and possibly other places if others want a start, well into the future.

The cuttings looked great, and the mother tree is strong and healthy.  I will keep everyone posted on progress, including pictures.

Best wishes to all.

John
North Georgia Piedmont
Zone 7b