Awake at last

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eboone

Registered:1378418906
Posts: 1,100

Posted 1403185417	Reply with quote #1

During the winter I was gifted a young dormant Marseilles Black VS plant by a generous forum member. This plant was about 2 ft tall with 2 smaller stems arising from below soil level. During the winter I kept it in an unheated room in my basement with my few other figs, and uppotted it to a 5g container. One of the small stems broke off, very brittle and dead when I uppotted it but the main stem seemed very supple. I was very disappointed when it did not wake up with my few other figs when I started the fig shuffle back in April. The other smaller plants all woke up 6-8 weeks ago, but those were in my basement room all winter. I suspected that the MBvs might have been exposed to some pretty cold weather before I got it, and waited to see what would happen. I kept it watered and lightly fertilized, but nothing happened. The tip of the main stem got shriveled and I prunted it back some, and the other small stem looks dead. To my surprise and joy I found leaves sprouting from the main trunk yesterday, and another 2 green buds growing from the trunk as well! I do not know what finally woke it up. We recently have had very warm days (for Western PA in June) - mid to upper 80s for several days, and the nights have finally been staying in the 70-72 degree range - maybe that is part of it. Maybe just needed time after the cold winter. Sorry for the sub-par photos, but I'm not the best with iPhone photography. Hope that the rest of you with late-awakening plants will be also rewarded for your patience! __________________ Ed Zone 6A - Southwest PA --------------------------- Short wish list: CDDG, LSU Red, Dark Greek (Navid), Col Littman's Black Cross. And any cold hardy early fig.

Pattee

Registered:1345750012
Posts: 1,417

Posted 1403186318	Reply with quote #2

Great to hear Ed! My Marseilles Blk VS awoke last week and is now getting a nice amount of growth. Malone is still a tiny bit of green . About 4 others are just stark naked , patience , patience I know, I'm trying... __________________ 7a & 9b ►I assume all my figs carry FMV ◄ Seeking : Italian 376,395 , Galicia Negra, Negretta,UNK Pastilliere ,Pananas Purple, Malta Blk+purple/red, Italian + Calabrian UNK's , Catanzaro, Malone, Sucrette(Baud) "We may have our private opinions but why should they be a bar to the meeting of hearts?" - Gandhi

eboone

Registered:1378418906
Posts: 1,100

Posted 1403203957	Reply with quote #3

Pattee - are yours in pots or inground? Were they protected from the unusually cold winter? __________________ Ed Zone 6A - Southwest PA --------------------------- Short wish list: CDDG, LSU Red, Dark Greek (Navid), Col Littman's Black Cross. And any cold hardy early fig.

jdsfrance

Registered:1376988473
Posts: 2,591

Posted 1403205386	Reply with quote #4

Hi eboone, The tree might have had roots problem and recovered the root mass before growing leaves. Put her in full sun and water + fertilizer like crazy. Luckily my figtrees did not have to suffer a bad winter this year- but the elders had it in 2012 . Until July there is still hope for figtrees. I remember one of mine from the ufti strain waked up in July the first year. I almost weeded her but once I had her in my hand I all of a sudden remembered that this couldn't be a weed and there she was with her five leaves. I had kept on watering the place from April to July 2009 with no signs of life ... But I got my reward ! well, later, she died in February 2012 ... I never got to taste a fig from that particular tree although she popped a dozen in her short life ... __________________ ------------------------ Climate from -25°C to + 35°C Only cold hardy figtrees can make it here

Pattee

Registered:1345750012
Posts: 1,417

Posted 1403206864	Reply with quote #5

Ed mine are in pots and were heavily protected with tarps , insulation and blankets on our unheated glass enclosed side porch. Lost one for sure , another really looks bad so far and 3 others ,trunks are green when scratched , but no show of green leaves yet. Without all that extra care we put into covering/insulating them, I know my casualty count would have been much higher. __________________ 7a & 9b ►I assume all my figs carry FMV ◄ Seeking : Italian 376,395 , Galicia Negra, Negretta,UNK Pastilliere ,Pananas Purple, Malta Blk+purple/red, Italian + Calabrian UNK's , Catanzaro, Malone, Sucrette(Baud) "We may have our private opinions but why should they be a bar to the meeting of hearts?" - Gandhi

blueboy1977

Registered:1375760370
Posts: 459

Posted 1403207439	Reply with quote #6

Congrats, I had a similar experience with MBvs. I rooted mine last Oct. It went dormant over the winter and this spring when every thing was waking up this little plant kept struggling to get going. After a couple months of watching it suffer I pulled out if the pot and removed all the dirt from the roots. From what I could tell the soil seemed to collapse and most the roots had rotted off but there were still a few roots attached to the bottom of the cutting. I potted it back up with a heavy dose of coarse perlite and about 1/3 potting soil. It responded immediately and double in root mass and top in a month. Since it has slowed down again and shows heavy signs of FMV. I need to go ahead and fertilize it again but I have a feeling it might go to the trash bin soon if things don't change. I don't have the time to baby along a sick little plant when I have plenty that are thriving. Good luck and I hope it thrives for you! __________________ Rob Zone 9a/9b were the too meet. South Houston Tx Growing: Black Madeira, Smith, LSU Scott's Black, Improved Celeste, VDB, MBvs, RDB, Unknown Peach/Apricot, Salce, Malta Black, Texas BA-1, JH Adriatic, Atreano, CDDN, CDDB, CDDG, Strawberry Verte

newnandawg

Registered:1344130335
Posts: 2,535

Posted 1403207598	Reply with quote #7

Ed, I started with 41 pots that did the exact same thing. So far only 8 have come around. I did a root check on all of them and discarded 25 after finding no signs of life. Still holding out hope on 12 others. We shall see.

Pattee

Registered:1345750012
Posts: 1,417

Posted 1403208399	Reply with quote #8

That's a huge loss Mike, sorry. I hope the 12 grow for you. If there's something I can help you with in the fall re: cuttings , pm me and I'll list what I have that I can take cuttings from. __________________ 7a & 9b ►I assume all my figs carry FMV ◄ Seeking : Italian 376,395 , Galicia Negra, Negretta,UNK Pastilliere ,Pananas Purple, Malta Blk+purple/red, Italian + Calabrian UNK's , Catanzaro, Malone, Sucrette(Baud) "We may have our private opinions but why should they be a bar to the meeting of hearts?" - Gandhi

greg88

Registered:1359498953
Posts: 800

Posted 1403222197	Reply with quote #9

Congrats! My MBVS is a very vigerous grower for me so yours hopefully will make up for lost time. __________________ Greg North West Arkanasas Zone 6b Wish list: any SPECTACULAR cold hardy figs, and/or perhaps a Niagra Bl., Laradek EBT, Kathleen's Bl, Hunt, a great UNK or anything anyone wants me to have???

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