When is the typical month New York,NJ, collectors start rooting their cuttings? I'm asking because I don't plan on using additional lighting.

It typically takes 3 weeks for rooting to happen but a cutting can easily start pushing buds in 2 weeks.  Those buds will need light or the foundation of your tree will be weak and lanky.  Figs root best in temperatures between maybe 73 - 80.  So start 2 weeks before you can put them out in the shade or dappled sun and have the daytime temps over 73 for at least part of the day.  Or you could put them on a heat mat outside with cooler air temps if you wrap the rooting zone with towels or sheets or something to keep the heat in.  If you can put a 100W equivalent cfl over your buds, that's good enough until their leaves get big so a small investment in lighting can carry a few early budders a week or more if you're not totally opposed to it.

Good luck!

My rooted cuttings are done! I need this time for onions, peppers, and tomatoes, I can't root figs now! So I have been rooting figs all winter. I have the lights, so it doesn't matter. But now I need time to prep veggies mentioned and flowers and other veggies, so I can't be messing with figs. Now established so out of the way. I'll put them out in the cold frame once we hit the 40's (60's in the cold frame). Everybody has different circumstances, it really matters little when you start. In your circumstances of want time to get them out, maybe wait till March 1st. It should be warm enough to get them out at that time. Takes about 5 weeks for them to be close to needing to go outside. Longer in many cases.
I'm not sure when people put figs out, but it seems to me if 60F you could put them out. For me it's 40 with the cold frame. I feel once rooted you still need to baby them for a couple weeks before putting outside. Not sure how one can do that without lights? I need lights for sure.

I initially planned on buying lights but never did. I have a lot of cuttings now and would need a big setup to get them started. I'll just wait until March now.

Hi sal,
If you're a tomato seeder ... Fig cuttings behave like tomato plants. So just start them like you would start tomato seedlings.
But remember, that normally you plant to keep say 30 tomato plants. So you cull seedlings at some point for lack of space - at least I do.
Because you don't want to cull the fig trees, you need to plan according to your available space.
I here start the fig trees in April till July. That is when they perform the better by me.
When I want to start more cuttings, I put them 2 or 3 per pot, instead of 1 per pot. To be honest, this year, I made one bucket with 10...
I don't sell the trees. I keep most of them. So 2 per pots is not a problem.
If you plan to sell, then you might want to stick with 1 per pot.
You could start yours in 2 or 3 waves. Planning that the first batch will go to the garden outside to free the space for the second batch...
I have a test on going. I made some pots with cuttings in November. And they have stayed outside in the walkways of the garden. Let's see what the outcome is...
Last weekend, I moved 3 pots to the tomato greenhouse, as I have some free space inside for at least one month more.
I hope they'll root but stay dormant as they'll go out again in April. If they leaf out before ... well, oh well, one problem at a time ...

I'm over in Western Mass (not far from Albany, NY), and I started my cuttings back in December. It's a very personal preference thing, but it gives me a jump on a short season to start them so early. They will remain inside till I start doing the in and out shuffle in April, but they are mostly up to 12" pots now and still growing away. Like Drew it also leaves my seedling rig free in time for starting veggies as a bonus. Lots of folks prefer later starting too, so it's all about figuring out what works best for you.

With no lights I'd start March 1 if you can transfer to a heated hoop or greenhouse once rooted and growing. If no outside heat protection is provided I'd wait until mid to late March. 2-4 weeks between starting to root and potting up.

I'm in the Hudson valley, 6a; started a dozen in December bc Ii was anxious and excited. Going to start the rest this weekend as well as my winter sowing for veggies. I'm a noob, grains of salt included.

There is no bad time to start, it helps pass the winter. I try not to fertilize mine or warm the plants until about now though, otherwise they grow too large inside.

Every year I try to start later but February and March seem best here in 7a. That doesnt mean I dont experiment starting Jan 1. Hard to wait that long, gotta play in the dirt a little

Since I don't have a greenhouse I'll wait until late March. I have no additional lighting either.