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Subject: New and LF Fig Replies: 9
Posted By: Llamalady Views: 323
 
Welcome! I'm new, too. I had never tasted a fig either. Many fruit trees do not grow well on my area, but figs, pears, and pomegranates are recommended. So I bought the only 3 types available at the time (Celeste, Brown Turkey & Texas Everbearing) and neglected them in pots for a few years. I didn't realize that the figs had to ripen on the tree, so I was hesitant to even taste one after the first try. When I finally tasted a truly ripe fig, it was like very sweet candy. Unfortunately, the squirrels had long since knocked the name tags off, so I'm not sure which variety it was.

I now have a 10' tall White Marseilles tree that produced its first real crop this year. Last year we had a late freeze and no figs. It was worth the wait. I have even converted the neighbor, who promptly bought 2 of the same online at a place called Petals From The Past (not a great selection of figs there, but the shipping was fast). I dont know which varieties are hardy in your area, but I would imagine that many would work. Good luck!

Subject: Cuttings Replies: 5
Posted By: Llamalady Views: 277
 
What sort of watering/misting method did you use?

Subject: Tissue Culture vs fruiting wood Replies: 8
Posted By: Llamalady Views: 304
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by 4bgood
I have had mixed experience in this area. Purchased the usual 4" TC plants about 30 months ago. 2 VDB and 4 LSU Purple. The LSU Purple  plants turned into the bushes from hell. They are tending to horizontal growth, but lots of it. They are like a fig "thicket". However, they have a few figs on them now (<15). The VDB are just the opposite. I couldn't ask for a better, more productive plant. I just counted 140 figs on the 7' tall one on my upper deck, and only 30 months old. (Plants are all being grown in 25 Gal SIPS with a mixture of LeafPro and Mushroom Compost, with lime and Osmocote added.)


I have had a similar experience with the LSU Purple and a few other TCs growing mostly horizontally, but the VDBs were normal/vertical. So should I prune the sideways shoots (and are those cuttings worthless other than to practice rooting)?

I wish I understood how/why the TC thing works, since I have about 10 different varieties.

I do have a single-trunked White Marseilles tree grown from a pencil-sized cutting that is probably 10 feet tall and covered with ripening figs. (It is planted in my raised bed garden.) They're pretty tasty to me, but I'm no connoisseur. It seems like the thought around here is that fig trees are multi-trunked and that a single trunk should not be the goal.

Subject: ROAD Trip Buying Cuttings Replies: 6
Posted By: Llamalady Views: 362
 
Also have been looking for a Smith plant in case I fail to root cuttings.

Subject: Tissue Culture vs fruiting wood Replies: 8
Posted By: Llamalady Views: 304
 
I'm a newbie, and I read a comment from a f4f member saying that a particular nursery sells "tissue culture trees, and those are generally far less productive (for many years) than trees grown from cuttings of fruiting wood. The difference is dramatic. Some tc's still haven't started producing fruit for f4f members after 7+ years, and even the ones that do fruit tend to do so comparatively sparsely. There are of course occasional exceptions, but the general pattern is clear."

So now I am wondering if I have wasted valuable time (because the tiny TC trees were very inexpensive) growing these. Is this accurate that I may never have fruit from these trees?

Subject: ROAD Trip Buying Cuttings Replies: 6
Posted By: Llamalady Views: 362
 
I would love a Hollier plant... happy to send $

Subject: Online nursery Replies: 8
Posted By: Llamalady Views: 490
 
GreenFin-

Thanks for the information about tissue cultured trees. I did not know anything about them. I was just having a difficult time finding Violet De Bordeaux at the time, and I found it at Wellspring via Google search. They are tiny plants for sure, but every one I bought seemed extremely healthy, and it was the best packing I have ever received via mail order. Mine are still small, because I bought them last year. Now I will be watching them more closely and possibly checking out Edible Landscaping.

Update: just checked and only one of my TC trees is growing a fig. I don't understand why a nursery would sell a tree that is never going to fruit. Is this a proven fact?

Subject: Online nursery Replies: 8
Posted By: Llamalady Views: 490
 
I can't speak to that, but Wellspring Gardens in Florida sells tiny trees from tissue cultures of several varieties at reasonable prices.

Subject: Free cuttings Replies: 81
Posted By: Llamalady Views: 6,212
 
Any updates on this tree? I would love to try it. It sounds tasty and is supposed to be easy to root.

Subject: Newbie's First Cutting Experience Replies: 2
Posted By: Llamalady Views: 223
 
I'm envious. Maybe I was over-babying them as you said. I did have the similar experience where I decided to water a bunch of healthy cuttings with leaves, and they all shriveled immediately. I'm about to the point of buying only rooted plants. I had a Smith cutting growing with leaves outdoors in the garden in the shade of a big climbing rose that suddenly died.

Subject: The "dark side" of fig propagation. Replies: 14
Posted By: Llamalady Views: 656
 
Aloe Vera plant leaves help with burns. I've never had poison ivy or fig sensitivity, but it's good on regular burns and sunburn.

Subject: Winter rooting-1st time Replies: 20
Posted By: Llamalady Views: 615
 
I have had the fungus gnat problem also. The fan idea, besides helping w/leaf motion, might also help keep the gnats blown away.

Subject: library book sale find Replies: 2
Posted By: Llamalady Views: 338
 
Envious!
Not found on Amazon

Subject: Interesting Root Scenario...does it matter? Replies: 14
Posted By: Llamalady Views: 494
 
I had similar problems (mold, rotting) but am now successfully using the sphagnum moss in a bag method. Now I'm afraid to transfer to a cup. What type of potting medium do you use?

Subject: Hi from Austin Replies: 24
Posted By: Llamalady Views: 570
 
Hi-
I'm just east of Austin.
I have my young potted figs under heavy floating row cover with a strand of Christmas lights. So far, so good.

I would think that your freshwater aquarium water would be great for the garden or compost pile when cleaning the tanks. That's what I used to do when refreshing my ducks' kiddy pool.

If you have an acre to plant, maybe we can help with some other varieties later.
-Sherry
(I'm basically a newbie)

Subject: 12/30/14-Last fig of the season-Col de Dame Noir Replies: 21
Posted By: Llamalady Views: 773
 
I heard a guest from Maine interviewed on our local radio station (KLBJ) gardening show who somehow used her chickens to provide heat for her greenhouse. It's been a few years ago, so the details are foggy, but it was interesting to me.

Subject: Growing cutting upside down Replies: 4
Posted By: Llamalady Views: 431
 
Oh no - yet another way to go wrong ;-)
I have some cuttings lying sideways in a plastic bag with sphagnum moss, because I can't tell which way is up.

Subject: OT Bing Cherry Replies: 31
Posted By: Llamalady Views: 802
 
I thought cherries didn't grow well in such a hot zone, so I have never tried one in central Texas (zone 8b?). Good luck - I hope you are successful!

Subject: Violette De Bordeaux/Negronne Source? Replies: 19
Posted By: Llamalady Views: 1,105
 
I bought several varieties from Wellspring early this year. They were tiny, but they were also inexpensive and are growing and appear healthy. I still wonder if they will be true to their varietal name. Anyone know? Or have they been around long enough to really tell?
-Sherry

Subject: I went rogue!! Replies: 13
Posted By: Llamalady Views: 640
 
DesertDance-
I would love to have a VDB, and I could send you cuttings from a Souvenir de la Malmaison climbing antique rose if you are interested.
-Sherry