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Subject: Way OT: Hot Pepper Seeds - split an order? Replies: 14
Posted By: AndyInNYC Views: 199
 
I keep most of my seeds in zip lock bags and tuperware (not always with the lid on).

So sorry for the seed loss.  How does a fridge fail in such a way as to ruin seeds?

Andrew

Subject: Way OT: Hot Pepper Seeds - split an order? Replies: 14
Posted By: AndyInNYC Views: 199
 
It appears that we have Richie Boni and Travis participating (guys, send me a PM on your choices in addition to the Ghost and Reapers).

Anyone else want to jump in?  I'd like to get these ordered by Friday (slow growers/starters).


Andrew

Subject: Way OT: Hot Pepper Seeds - split an order? Replies: 14
Posted By: AndyInNYC Views: 199
 
We will need to see how many people want in.  Basically, I'm hoping for 4 or 5 (that would be 5/4 seeds per pack).  That would be 5 packs (7 x 4 + 10 = $38 plus any shipping - call it $10 each, but it will be actual cost, I'm not arbing anyone).  I'll do a double share if we only have 3.

Take a look at their catalog and figure out what peppers other than Carolina Reaper and Ghosts you have an interest in growing.

Andrew

Subject: Way OT: Hot Pepper Seeds - split an order? Replies: 14
Posted By: AndyInNYC Views: 199
 
http://www.chiliplants.com has a 5 packet minimum.  Each packet is 20 or so seeds.  While I want to grow Carolina Reapers and Ghost Peppers, I can't imagine using 100 seeds spread over 5 varieties.

The super hot seed packets are (to my mind) expensive: between $7-$10 (the Reapers appear to be the only $10 packet).

If I plant 3-4 of each and get 1-2 to sprout I'm way ahead of my possible consumption.

Anyone(s) willing to split an order of 5 packs?

I'll spring for postage to spread all the partial packs around.


Andrew

Subject: $7 fig trees for spring/summer delivery, around 150+ varieties Replies: 775
Posted By: AndyInNYC Views: 28,740
 
A couple of things.

1.   I think everyone who ordered understood that the money being collected up front was going to be used to root/grow/raise trees.  GreenFig explained that he needed to pay for heat in the greenhouses in winter, etc.
2.   I think more was bitten off than it was possible to initially chew and efforts are being made to grow all the trees and get them out.  We've been told that if refunds are requested, they will be made.  We haven't heard back from anyone saying they didn't receive a refund.  Yes, if everyone requested a refund the system would collapse.  I believe most of us are willing to wait - we're talking figs here, not a kidney for our child, after all.
3.  While I presume money is important to each of us, anyone who 'invested' more than they can afford to lose on $7 trees, if everything goes in the toilet, needs to rethink their priorities.
4.  Could whomever posted the popcorn post some more - I ate all of mine.


Andrew

Subject: Up Potting....please help me understand Replies: 5
Posted By: AndyInNYC Views: 138
 
Steve,
The additional issue is that a fig moved from 1 gallon to 15 gallon pot isn't going to use the full 15 gallons.  So, if you need to move and/or store your figs (winter for example), you've got a tremendous amount of wasted space and effort.

Perhaps your figs grow a lot faster than mine, but the ones I stuck into 5 gallon containers haven't yet filled out that container after a year.


Andrew

Subject: Cloner is filling up!! Replies: 0
Posted By: AndyInNYC Views: 91
 
Well Spring has arrived (not!).  I've cleaned and restarted the cloner with cuttings from two members.

There are still 9 spots remaining for clone wars, round 1.  PM me if you have 3 of the same variety cuttings you'd like me to attempt to root.  Rules are if two or more root I have an option on 1 of them.  First to root belongs to the sender.  Variants of Brown Turkey need not apply.

[Cloner1] 


Hoping for great success again this year, but one never knows.


Andrew

Subject: 10 gallon Nursery Containers Replies: 5
Posted By: AndyInNYC Views: 332
 
Free shipping code:  H341611N

Good through 12/31 (we think).


Andrew

Subject: 10 gallon Nursery Containers Replies: 5
Posted By: AndyInNYC Views: 332
 
BrooklynMatty at ourfigs.com posted a note that AMLeonard has free shipping through year end.

They have 10 gallon nursery containers (10 to an order) for $41.99 with (using a code) free shipping or $10 off first order (haven't checked which is cheaper).

Here's a link to the page (along with all their other blow molded sizes):

http://www.amleo.com/haviland-plastics-hpp-large-blow-molded-nursery-containers/p/VP-HC/

The 10 gallons are $41.99 for 10.   Anyone want to split an order with me (I'm in Central Jersey near Princeton/Trenton)?  I can use 5 eventually, but not 10.


Send me a PM if there's interest.

Andrew

Subject: Bethlehem Black Cuttings? Replies: 7
Posted By: AndyInNYC Views: 336
 
Thank you to everyone and for your suggestions.  I have located some cuttings from a fellow member - we'll see how they do in the cloner.  I'm looking forward to seeing how winter hardy this variety is in NJ (it's likely more winter harder than I am).


Andrew

Subject: Bethlehem Black Cuttings? Replies: 7
Posted By: AndyInNYC Views: 336
 
Does anyone have this fig?

Andrew

Subject: Bethlehem Black Cuttings? Replies: 7
Posted By: AndyInNYC Views: 336
 
Does anyone have any cuttings for Bethlehem Black?  This is Bass' fig.

I'd be happy to throw any extras from the sender in the cloner and share the rooted cuttings (or just pay and keep for myself <g>).


Andrew

Subject: End of the year do's and don't list Replies: 7
Posted By: AndyInNYC Views: 380
 
After learning the hard way:

Don't: Leave your year old 1 gallon figs out until the snows come - they become dead sticks in a 1 gallon container.
Don't: Keep your fast growing cuttings in 1 gallon containers because 'they'll be much easier to store for winter'.  If the fig needs a bigger pot, give it a bigger pot.


Andrew

Subject: Turbo kloner Replies: 36
Posted By: AndyInNYC Views: 415
 
Sorry for the delay in the question aimed at me.

I built mine 'sort of' from plans.  Basically, it's a proper sized hole saw for the top of the container/tote and then a PVC manifold connected to the pump.

For the manifold, HD/Lowes has right angle connectors and PVC.  I have a PVC cutter, but, frankly PVC is soft - I could have used a hacksaw.

I bought the pump and mister heads along with the inserts and baskets from Amazon.

I'm from the measure once, cut three or four times school (mechanically completely incompetent), but even I was able to do this in an hour or so.  Depending on what tote you buy, you may need double sided insulation tape to seal the lid to prevent leaks.  I used plastic sheeting and duct tape to form a 'shower curtain' around the areas which were leaking/spraying out.

Space efficiency is something my design lacks (really big tote) but it's better than the smaller designs since the pump is the most expensive item and I get more cuttings in my cloner than using smaller designs (like the tote with squares built into the lid).

If I had hundreds of easy cuttings to start I'd use Root Riot cubes in 72 cell trays with a dome.

For the couple dozen I start each season I like the results I got this year from the cloner.

Do a search for my username and you should see my pictures.


Andrew

Subject: Root now or induce dormancy in fridge? Replies: 29
Posted By: AndyInNYC Views: 581
 
I've found the figs like the heat, but until you have leaves they don't need the light (unless it is your heat source).

I've had good luck with a humidity dome and heat mat, but any lights were just so I could see - not for the plants.

You don't want to encourage leafing until you have roots.  Roots, then leaves = good.  Leaves, then roots = precarious.


Andrew

Subject: OT: pulled pork Replies: 55
Posted By: AndyInNYC Views: 489
 
Please stop this thread.

I love figs.
I love BBQ.

If we discuss both at the same time, I will become morbidly obese.

Subject: if you were rooting hundreds of cuttings, how would you do it and why. Replies: 16
Posted By: AndyInNYC Views: 800
 
For lots and lots of cuttings, I'd go with Root Riot cubes in 72 cell trays.  Lots of density.  Use a humidity dome and low setting heat mat.
Keep the trays full of cuttings (consolidate when you start up-potting).

i used this 2 years ago with a lot of success.  I'm not doing much smaller batches and using a less efficient (but highly effective) cloner.


Andrew

Subject: OT: pulled pork Replies: 55
Posted By: AndyInNYC Views: 489
 
The 18" Webber appears to be about $299 - obviously more than $29 and also not an Impulse buy.

Are we talking about the same model?

I'm likely to use this a couple times a season - maybe - so a $300 toy will just annoy my spouse (as I think it should).

Andrew

Subject: Clone your cuttings & never see gnats! Replies: 400
Posted By: AndyInNYC Views: 9,300
 
I've tried a variety of techniques (but I'm no expert).

I liked Root Riot cubes (last year's best new thing); I got great density and good results.  As I moved rooted cuttings out I found that the remainder dried out quicker and it was harder to maintain humidity.  I found that once I moved the cuttings to cups the cubes made it harder for the roots to really take off.

I built my cloner as an experiment.  In terms of density, there's no comparison - I get 50 or so in a space that would have held hundreds.  But I found that I got great rooting.  If I were rooting 400 Brown Turkey cuttings i'd use Root Riot.  If I were buying expensive, hard to root cuttings I'd happily throw them in my cloner.

Andrew


Quote:
Originally Posted by Woodville
I've never cloned figs and this is going to be my first season trying to clone cuttings. I have a clonex cloner, do you think this is the best way to root cuttings?

Subject: OT: pulled pork Replies: 55
Posted By: AndyInNYC Views: 489
 
Can you provide a link as to what your referencing as the $29 end of season smoker?  From where do you/can you pick it up for this price?  Doesn't sound like a Home Depot kind of thing.



Quote:
Originally Posted by rcantor
I'm known for smoking my chickens by the flock for big parties.  I'll smoke or grill almost anything edible. (Not ice cream) I've used the generic R2D2 style ($29 at the end of the season) and a char griller ($59 - 129 at the end of the season).  For bang for the buck those are the 2 best smokers around.  Others have some improvements but at a much higher cost.  The Char griller has more room for a bigger turkey than anything I've seen.



Andrew

Subject: Exhausted Replies: 12
Posted By: AndyInNYC Views: 286
 
I've offered this before.

I'm having great luck using my home-built cloner.

If you want to send me cuttings later in the year and then spring for the small tree postage back to you (obviously only if I get the cuttings to root), I will drop your cuttings into the cloner and hope to give you a tree.  No charge, but I get to keep 1 extra of any interesting duplicate varieties which take off (assuming they aren't Brown Turkey <g>).

No promises of success either.  I had a few (can't remember which cuttings) which were total losses.

This isn't a large scale production (we already have a member hoping to hand out $7 trees at some point), but if you have tough to root types, I'm happy to make space (assuming I have any).


Andrew

Subject: OT: Light setup (12" CFL x 4) Replies: 2
Posted By: AndyInNYC Views: 72
 
Some of the little ones I want to keep non-dormant (more as an experiment than anything else).  The ghost pepper and the pineapples I want to keep green and growing.

Andrew

Subject: OT: Light setup (12" CFL x 4) Replies: 2
Posted By: AndyInNYC Views: 72
 
I have 4 high lumen CFL bulbs with (about) a 12" length.  They fit a standard socket and are like these (not sure if these are standard sockets): https://www.1000bulbs.com/product/62837/FC105-FEIIIB10565.html

In theory, each of these bulbs is 6000+ lumens.

I'd like to use these mounted in some way to overwinter a few of my figs and two pineapple cuttings my kids rooted.

Is there a DIY reflector and base setup I can plagiarie?  I don't mind buying bases, but I don't want to rewire something that will end up biting me (my technical skills suck).

If there is a cheap hood that will take 4 of these, I'd happily take a look (but I'm not spending $100.  This will hand on either my seedling shelves or above the plants on a PVC frame.


Andrew

Subject: Turbo kloner Replies: 36
Posted By: AndyInNYC Views: 415
 
I built my own cloner - had great success with a wide variety of cuttings.


Andrew

Subject: Cooling Black Pots Replies: 26
Posted By: AndyInNYC Views: 578
 
I was considering white, plastic-ready spray paint for some of my black pots.  I'm using this paint on my 5 gallon 'soy sauce' pails to pretty them up and protect them from UV (they get brittle in one season otherwise).

Wouldn't this exterior painting dramatically lower the temps as well?  I realize that the bamboo looks great, but it seems like a lot of work and expense.


Andrew

Subject: Another Batch of Unknowns Replies: 19
Posted By: AndyInNYC Views: 780
 
I take pictures with my iPhone and then email them to myself (to get them to the PC).  When I email, the phone gives me the option to resize the pictures (which I do in order to post them).  If I just transfer the shots over via sync, the pictures remain the original size.


Andrew

Subject: DIY engravable plant tags (how-to video) Replies: 16
Posted By: AndyInNYC Views: 414
 
Yes, if I needed 11,000 at once I could get them there for $.085 each.
Even 500 is far too many for many, many years of use - and that's still only $.0115 each.

I wonder what the shipping is on 11K of these things.

I bought 2 boxes once upon a time and I still haven't opened the second box of 100.

Thanks for the input, but 'wholesale' is a far larger order than most mere mortals will ever need.

Andrew

Subject: DIY engravable plant tags (how-to video) Replies: 16
Posted By: AndyInNYC Views: 414
 
I think the 'what I had in hand' is a major part of it.  If you already have it, why buy it?

I'm just lazy, and with the letter punch, 'VdB' on a tag looks really nice <g>.


Andrew

Subject: DIY engravable plant tags (how-to video) Replies: 16
Posted By: AndyInNYC Views: 414
 
I can appreciate the work that goes into your solution.  I'm considerably lazier.  I use these tags:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ALUMINUM-IMPRESS-O-TAGS-Plant-label-tree-marker-tag-marking-metal-100-labels-/361261661753?hash=item541cdf7e39:g:-JsAAOSwnDxUhKPu

I bought mine a little cheaper from Grainger, but they no longer stock this part.  These are $20 delivered off ebay.

It's a 1 x 3 3/8 inch tag with wire to secure it in a pack of 100.

No muss, no fuss, no sharp corners or cutting.  The only tool I need is a ball point pen.  I'm sure along with my sweat I'd shed some blood if i had to cut my own tags.

At 20 cents a tag it's not free, but they last forever and could in theory be reused.  I put them on all my permanent labels (grafted limbs on fruit trees, tomato varieties I always grow and my figs, for example).  Single season stuff in the garden gets the plastic version of a popsicle stick.

Since I can never find my tin snips, I'd spend more time trying to make up a label than actually accomplishing anything - I can always find a ballpoint pen.

When I'm really trying to impress someone with a fig or tomato I use my letter press/punch from Harbor Freight to spell out the name on the tag - very pretty, but too time consuming.



Andrew

Subject: Leaves all fell off potted up cuttings Replies: 5
Posted By: AndyInNYC Views: 219
 
ChrissyChris,

Two weeks ago (or so) I potted up 5 os my figs from Big Gulp cups which had been outside for a week or two (already hardened off) into 5 gallon pots.  My MBVS dropped all of its leaves and is now a tortured looking stick.

I feel your pain.

I have two MBVS back ups still growing in cups on the deck, so I'm not concerned about losing the variety, but it hurts when you take your winners, give them more room to grow, etc. and they turn around and go critical on you.

Hopefully both yours and mine will survive.  In NJ, we haven't really seen the sun for more than a day or two since early April (when it was still cold as well).  I'm hoping for some sun and warm weather so that the trees can get a big push.


Andrew

Subject: Does Anyone Have Any Left Over Cuttings? Replies: 13
Posted By: AndyInNYC Views: 444
 
Ross, I have a few extras rooted in Big Gulp Cups - most still haven't leafed out, but they've rooted.

PM me.

Andrew

Subject: Fig cuttings update from 10 days ago. Replies: 5
Posted By: AndyInNYC Views: 303
 
I think 'ProMax' was a typo and people are referring to Pro-Mix.  Lowes has it on their website but no longer carries it in my local stores.  The nursery/garden centers do have it.

Unfortunately the Pro Mix HP is $25 on Lowe's website and I ended up having to buy Pro Mix BP (retains more water according to forum members) at $40.  Oh well, it goes far.  I mix it with perlite and pine bark fines.


Andrew

Subject: Cloner Space available for lease <g> Replies: 3
Posted By: AndyInNYC Views: 163
 
Paul,

I put mine together with parts from Home Depot and Amazon.  I'm using a really big tote so that I could have more surface area on the lid to do cut outs.  I could have drastically increased the number of holes, but I was uncertain how much rigidity the lid would have remaining.

I did a lot of reading on the pot sites since those guys seem to have cloning down to a science (since for them it's money and not a hobby).

For figs, my reading indicated that the 5 gallon bucket system was doomed from heat buildup - there just isn't enough water to keep the temps down with the pump going full time.

Most people seem to use the XL Commander tote which has a yellow lid and predefined squares for cutting.  I'm using a 54 gallon RubberMaid Roughneck tote.  During the winter I had a heat mat under it and used that to bring the temps up a bit and then mostly left it off.

I'm going to try to clone some raspberry plants just to see if it works.  At some point I'm going to shut the cloner down and clean it out; I just don't know when.



Andrew

Subject: What has Bill been up to? Replies: 9
Posted By: AndyInNYC Views: 264
 
I grew up in Clearwater as well - went to Belcher Elementary and Pinellas Park High School.  That seems so long ago that I think zip codes only had 4 digits.

Where are you in CA?  When were you in Clearwater?


And Bill, that is an envy-inducing photo!

Andrew



Quote:
Originally Posted by zeitgeist
Beautiful! I live in California now but was raised in Clearwater, FL. I miss the gulf coast. Any issues with nematodes?

Subject: Cloner Space available for lease <g> Replies: 3
Posted By: AndyInNYC Views: 163
 
I've had great success with my cloner this season.  Most varieties rooted without issue as long as they were viable from the start (I had a few Black Jack's which did nothing, but the source threw them in for me and we both expected very little).

I'm winding down, but if anyone has cuttings they want me to drop into the cloner I'd be happy to give it a try.  You'd ship me the cutting and I'd pot it up and you'd pay shipping back to you.

My 'fee' would be one rooted cutting so long as multiples rooted (if only one of a batch lives, it goes to the sender, not me).  This assumes that it's a cutting I want <g>.

Thick green cuttings seem to work well as do dormant thick cuttings.  Slender cuttings don't seem to have enough energy to take.

Please respond if there is any interest.


Andrew

Subject: Potted Up the first 5 Replies: 0
Posted By: AndyInNYC Views: 116
 
After killing all my figs during an early (to me at least <g>) snowstorm 2 years ago, I'm getting everything started again.

This has been tougher than in the past when UCDavis simply shipped everything I could ever want (or pay FedEx for).  This year I made a bunch of purches and got a few gifts from members on this site.  At least one cutting of each type purchased or gifted rooted; some had multiples and some had almost all which took (Desert King as an example).

Below is a picture of the first 5 which have made it into 5 gallon pots.  From left to right the varieties are:

VdB, Rob's Genovese Nero, MBVS (in a homemade SIP), RdB and LSU Purple.

I have 5 more 5 gallon buckets that need a coat of white paint and a bunch more I need to acquire to pot up all/most of the varieties in the Big Gulp cups.

Several people have asked for some of the extras, and I'll be getting to them shortly.

The garden (behind/around the figs) gets cleaned up next weekend.  Today was the first day in two weeks without rain.

First 5 to Pot Up - VdB, Robs Genovese Nero, MBVS, Rdb, LSU Purple.jpg 



Subject: Has anyone used 'Soil Moist' for their containers? Replies: 3
Posted By: AndyInNYC Views: 111
 
Lowes sells a 1 lb bag of Soil Moist for about $13.  This stuff retain and slowly releases water.  Supposedly the crystals swell to 200x their original size with water - a tablespoon or two is all that is needed per 5 gallon bucket.

Before I use myself as a guinea pig, has anyone tried this already?

I'll be planting in ProMix BX with some pine bark fines and perlite.  I'm slightly afraid I won't get enough water retention and this stuff should do the job without giving me a sodden mass of soil.

This is the stuff: http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?productId=3047249


Thoughts?


Andrew

Subject: Ambermsam's Antigone's Mystery Fig Replies: 3
Posted By: AndyInNYC Views: 167
 
I rooted several cuttings from Amber and other's will be getting some of the excess.

I don't even know how to describe this fig.  I think it's a dark fig, but have little other knowledge.

Did anyone ever come to any 'good guess' as to what kind of fig it is?


Andrew

Subject: Covering drainage holes Replies: 43
Posted By: AndyInNYC Views: 1,538
 
I use screen door material from Lowes/HD.  A roll will last forever and if you move up to 5 gallon buckets or larger (which have larger holes most likely) you'll still be set.

Andrew

Subject: vdb: rooting but no leaf Replies: 16
Posted By: AndyInNYC Views: 316
 
If it is a dried up stick, it's dead.  Since the roots are growing, it probably isn't a dried up stick.

You could cut a small slice off the top of the cutting to see if it is still green - I'd cover it with wax if you do that.

You're in much better shape to have roots and no leaves than the other way around.

I'd suggest you just leave it alone/ignore it.  You can't 'fix' anything, so just let it do whatever it is going to do.


Andrew

Subject: I have a cutting problem.(Too many) and need advice Replies: 28
Posted By: AndyInNYC Views: 585
 
In the year where I had dozens of cuttings I found that I had success using Root Riot cubes in 72 cell trays with a tall humidity dome.  Each cutting grew (or not) on its own so I didn't need to worry about roots getting tangled or failing to see if something had rooted soon enough.  I had very little loss to rot or mold.

Using the 72 cell tray allowed me to get a lot of density - they are all really close and (obviously, since it's math) 3 trays allowed me to grow 216 cuttings in a really small space.  The same density was also helpful in keeping the humidity up - I found that as the tray became depleted (cuttings were taken out and potted up) the remaining cubes would dry out faster.

Downside - using the humidity dome required me to gradually adjust he humidity as cuttings came out of the trays.  Lots had great leaves/light roots and died from shock or other mal-adjustment after being removed.

I'm presently using a cloner (search my username for posts with pictures).  I had a lot of success with my cuttings and never had to harden off/adjust humidity when I potted them up.  Of all that rooted I only lost 2.  I'm finding that the cloner isn't great for really small cuttings; some of my LSU Purple had 3" of growth after 10 days, however.

My problem now is that I have too many dupes which rooted that I'll have to give away (which is a great problem to have).

If you have the time and the few bucks to build a cloner I would definitely experiment.  Its downside is space - I made my hole spacing far more generous than I could/should have - I could have fit a lot more cuttings.  Even with tight spacing it is still much, much less practical than Root Riot cubes in 72 cell trays for a given space (both horizontal and vertical).  One also has to worry about leaks and punctures (that was fun!) and mold can be an issue.

Good luck.


Andrew

Subject: what is it ????/ Replies: 23
Posted By: AndyInNYC Views: 418
 
Sunburn?

DId the plants go outside recently into 'real' sunlight?


Andrew

Subject: Which to plant in ground? Replies: 6
Posted By: AndyInNYC Views: 111
 
Yes, I rooted them all - and some others still in the cloner.

How big is your HC?

Quote:
Originally Posted by bgli
Andrew,
I am looking forward to some expert opinions on your question as I have many of the same varieties in pots and considering putting one ar two in ground. I do have a hardy chicago in ground and it does well here in southern NYS, Long Island. I cover as best I can but obviously need a better system as it has died back and does suffer winter damage. However it always roars back growing 6 feet in a season and rewards me with 100s of sweet dark figs. Looks like some of those big gulp figs ready to go into larger pots. Did you root all those nice varieties? good luck.

Subject: Which to plant in ground? Replies: 6
Posted By: AndyInNYC Views: 111
 

I have spots for 2 in-ground figs at present.  More to follow, but everything else is going into 5 gallon buckets.

I'm in Mercer County, NJ, so yes, we get lots of winter snow.  I'll do my best to get the in-ground ones protected, but I'm not building igloos as some others on the site have time and ability to create (not a dig at anyone, just a recognition of my limitations - both time and skill).

My semi-complete list of options (all in Double Big Gulp cups at present) includes:

VdB
RdB
Hardy Chicago
Marseilles Black VS
Rob's Genevese Nero
Gino's Black
Papa John
LSU Gold
LSU Purple
Desert King - obviously breba only
Brown Turkey 
Teramo (Unknown)
Verdonne
Lyndhurst White


Coming from the $7 offer I have

Black Mission NL
Col de Dame Noir
Kathleen's Black
Nero 600m
RdB  (couldn't get Preto and didn't know if my RdB would root)


Jumbled Fig Collection from Cuttings April 2016.JPG 


I also have a few others growing which I know nothing about.

I really like dark figs - the few light fights I've eaten I didn't care for (perhaps they weren't ripe or the variety was bad or the tree was too young ...).

My present thinking is

Marseilles Black VS
Hardy Chicago

A close third/nearly tied is VdB.

I've eaten both VdB and HC (before killing the plants over winter) and really liked both.  I've never had a MBVS, but I hear good things including that it is very cold hardy.

Everyone is welcome to have an opinion.  Opinions of those native to California will be accepted with a grain of salt and a bowl of envy.


Andrew

Subject: Time to Pot Up? Replies: 2
Posted By: AndyInNYC Views: 143
 

These plants were started from cuttings over the winter.  I've finally moved them outside and hopefully our nice(r) weather will continue.

The figs are Gino's Black and an Unknown Teramo.

Given the root mass in the cup, do I need to repot these into something larger?

Regardless of whether they should be moved now or later, what size pot should I move them into next?

They, as the picture shows, are in 7-11 Double Big Gulp cups.  I'm not yet hitting them with fertilizer.

I have a large number of cuttings at the same stage as these, so I'm not looking to go out and purchase a bunch of 50 gallon drums <g>.


Andrew

Ginos Black.jpg   

Teramo.jpg 

The pictures are a little dark, but the quantity of roots should still be visible.

Subject: Take the figgies outside? Replies: 2
Posted By: AndyInNYC Views: 32
 
I'm in Mercer County, NJ.

I presently have all of my cuttings under lights in the basement - they're doing well.  I'd like to get them into the sun and see if they thrive.

The 10 day forecast has all lows above 40 - the projected lows are 42/43 next Tuesday/Wednesday.

Highs max out at 75 on Monday.

Anyone think it a bad idea to drop the figs on the deck in a shaded area with shade cloth on top and gradually wean them into full sunlight.

Since I don't want to drag them in and out, I'm hoping to move once and leave out unless there is suddenly a freeze predicted.

So, are my lows high enough to leave the figs outside?

They are all growing in 7-11 Double Big Gulp cups.  The attached picture is an LSU Purple as an example of their present size/growth.

LSU Purple 3.JPG 



Any opinions?


Andrew

Subject: OT: Peaches and Plums Replies: 21
Posted By: AndyInNYC Views: 510
 
I'm in NJ and therefore way behind you guys season-wise.  My son wanted a 'Fruit Salad' grafted tree (we already have a multi-apple) so I went searching.  My normal choice, Bay Laurel Nurseries, was out of stock for the year on their Dave Wilson trees, so I turned to Peaceful Valley/GrowOrganic.com.

I purchased a 3-1 cold hardy fruit salad for $51 including discounted shipping.  It was 'the last one they had' and they couldn't hold it until it was warmer in NJ.  It sat in my basement for 2 months while we battled freezing weather.

In the interim, Home Depot has their version of fruit salad trees on display - the Santa Rosa plums on their trees, without exception, look like mistakes.  They are tiny little twigs usually growing right against a stem (oh, and more expensive.

Now that I've bored you with the story, it's time to unbury the headline.  The tree I received is gorgeous.  It is, by far, the best multi-graft tree I've ever been shipped.  It turns out to be, not a 3-1, but a 5-1.

On Lovell peach root stock, I have:
Late Santa Rosa Plum
Blenheim (Royal) Plum
Gold Dust Peach
July (Kim) Elberta Peach
Independence Nectarine.

Each of the grafts seems well placed and, after sitting in wet saw dust and dirt in my basement, it still seems full of life.  I wasn't crazy about the roots it shipped with, but I'm hopeful.

Here's a picture of the newbie.  Hopefully it will leaf out shortly.

FruitSalad2016.JPG

Andrew

Subject: DO I THROW THESE AWAY? Replies: 16
Posted By: AndyInNYC Views: 461
 
One option might be to root them and use them for rootstock and grafting some other variety (hopefully known this time).  Since you think the cuttings aren't what you bought, perhaps they'll be some wickedly strong growing variety to serve as a base for the kinder, gentler variety you thought you bought.

You likely wouldn't want to lop the top off something in your collection you like, so it might make the experiment easier (you know, whacking the head off the bastard child).

I wouldn't be inclined to be kinder and gentler to the seller, however.


Andrew

Subject: Son of a @#$% Replies: 8
Posted By: AndyInNYC Views: 359
 
Rewton,

I think he clipped off a fig, not a fig leaf.


Andrew

Subject: Aeroponic cloning in garage Replies: 1
Posted By: AndyInNYC Views: 97
 
Depending upon the size of your bin and the heat thrown off by your pump, you might want to invest in a heat mat/thermostat to bring/keep the water up to a higher temp.  Perhaps an inverted clear cup on each cutting to trap more heat?

If the water is warm enough (but not too warm), I'd guess that the overall temp and radiating effect from the water would keep the cuttings safe and happy.

I'm no expert, however, so this is just an opinion.  My basement is warmer that 40 at night and my cloner has produced some terrific results thus far.


Andrew