I mentioned on another thread how my neighbor has a tree that produces green figs that are delicious. I took cuttings last year and have 7 trees now, very vigorous and so far, healthy. Will be asking the forum for ID help later when the figs on my neighbor's tree ripen.

I went over the other day to see his tree in order to see how the figs are progressing. The base is surrounded with suckers. I don't know if they have roots, or sprouted from the trunk, or what.

So is there a use for these? I hate to see them go to waste.

I love grabbing suckers. Dig down a bit into the ground and try to get some roots. These little suckers  have always done well for me and makes me feel like a surgeon. Do it carefully and you will be rewarded, especially if they are being lost down there.

They are great for rooting! Will do just fine if they are at least as thick as a pencil.

Yes.
They can all be new plants without the need to root cuttings. cut the bottom out of a pot, place over them and drop it to the ground, fill it with damp soil or potting mix, cover with mulch, check in 4-5 weeks. You have performed layering.

The leaves look like Brunswick. 

Tam - Brunswick leaves are different. They are more skinny and fingerlike. The leaves in the pic are too fat to be Brunswick, I don't know what they are but pretty confident they're not Brunswick IMO. Might be a nice surprise though.

Part of the fun of figs is trying new techniques, even if they do not succeed the first time. And then there is the fund of discovery that comes with an unknown. Keep experimenting.

Jon,
Can you explain the fund of discovery and tell us where we might contribute?

R,
Whatever you do these are easy to turn into plants. Have fun.

What I do with all those above ground suckers that are at the base of the tree is to place a 1gal. pot(half full of potting soil) right under the sucker, and then gently bend the long flexible branch into a "U" shape right into the pot, and then fill the rest of the pot right up to the top(no stone or brick is usually needed to keep it in place)...then water thoroughly and wait 6 to 8 weeks...at that time clip the end of the sucker off where it connects to the tree, and you have a new tree that is already in the 1gal. pot with no need to mess up the root system with transplanting...I have a circle of six 1gal. pots around the base of my 7yr. old tree at this time...will be ready to sever the branches around Aug. 15th. 

i prefer to keep my container culture to single trunk tree. i cut almost all suckers off when they start. however, on occations, i leave one to grow so i can take air layer for another members.

Thanks for the suggestions! This looks like a great opportunity, and what I'm really happy about is that it will present itself every year. My neighbor says there are a ton of suckers every year, and he has no interest in propagating them.

I really like the technique of using pots at the base of the tree.

If I were to cut some suckers off at the base, i.e. no roots, is there a simple way to root them?

TIA

_____________________

Robert
SW Washington
Zone 8b

P. T. Barnum

Try to dig down and get some roots. They are there. That has been a more successful method for me.Otherwise just root it like any other cutting