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Subject: How's everyones cuttings coming along? Replies: 92
Posted By: chrisb9341 Views: 1,106
 
What did you do differently to get a better success rate?

Subject: When Do Figs Become Ever-Hardy in Zone 6 Replies: 56
Posted By: chrisb9341 Views: 785
 
I am also in zone 5a. I have 40 trees in my unheated attached  garage. They are stacked against the house side of the garage with 2 tarps over them. I will put a small electric heater under the tarp with them during very cold weather. This has worked fine for the last 3 yrs.

Subject: Snow is coming!!! Replies: 31
Posted By: chrisb9341 Views: 434
 
I am mostly on the lookout for low temps as far as when I bring mine in to the garage. I would rather have 32 F with snow than 22 F and clear.

Subject: wintering figs zone 5 Replies: 14
Posted By: chrisb9341 Views: 302
 
I store my 25 trees in my unheated attached garage. I stack the pots against the house side of the garage, cover with old sheets, blankets and a large tarp. During very cold periods 0 F or below I will put a small electric heater under the tarp to help. I have a thermometer with a remote sensor that I put with the trees to monitor the temp. Works very well. It doesnt get as cold in there as I thought it would.

Subject: Voles Replies: 4
Posted By: chrisb9341 Views: 78
 
Keep mousetraps set with peanut butter. They are very easy to trap.

Subject: Longue D'Aout 2016 Main Crop Replies: 19
Posted By: chrisb9341 Views: 308
 
Great! Mine is loaded but still probably 3-4 weeks out. Cant wait.

Subject: To water.... or not to water? Replies: 8
Posted By: chrisb9341 Views: 117
 
I have @50 trees. They all get soaked every AM unless it has rained or is going to be very overcast and cool. Some of the recently up potted ones may get a topping off instead of a soaking. It has been a real hot, dry summer and I cant imagine over watering would be a problem unless the pot is sitting in a saucer full of water for extended periods. Sometimes at the end of a hot breezy day, some of them may be wilted . They get water right away and again the following AM. I know my watering schedule goes against some of the recommendations but my plants are all thriving and full of fruit.The only time that i have had problems with over watering has been in the early stages when dealing with newly rooted cuttings.

Subject: Too late in the season to transplant to a SWC? Replies: 7
Posted By: chrisb9341 Views: 142
 
I just up potted my 20 first year trees from 3 gal to 7 gal pots. they were all pretty root bound and some were drying out very quickly.

Subject: Nonnies Green breba Replies: 3
Posted By: chrisb9341 Views: 68
 
Thanks for the observation Leon. If there turns out to be no edible main crop, then I bet you are right.

Subject: Nonnies Green breba Replies: 3
Posted By: chrisb9341 Views: 68
 
  This has been a great year so far. I have 20 trees that will bear this year, up from last years 4. I have tasted 3 brebas so far. A Petite Negra, a Golden Celeste and this Nonnies for the first time. This is by far the best. Perfectly juicy, great texture and moderately sweet. Cant wait for the main crops. With the warm summer and bright sunny days we are having, things should be a bit early this year. Just had to share.IMG_0627.JPG  IMG_0626.JPG 

Subject: When to stop fertilizing? Replies: 6
Posted By: chrisb9341 Views: 166
 
Great question Dave. Being in Zone 5 and having most of my figs ripening from mid/late Aug thru Sept., I want my plants to be well fed thru the final push and ripening time. I agree with Sept 1 as a last feed time with a water soluble food.  The trees will be well fed thru sept and still have time to go dormant with the cooler nights and shorter days of oct and nov. This timing worked for me last year. All trees came out of the garage in April in great shape.

Subject: Nurseries on eastern LI Replies: 2
Posted By: chrisb9341 Views: 79
 
Thanks Barry. If I don't make it there this visit, I will stop in August.

Subject: Nurseries on eastern LI Replies: 2
Posted By: chrisb9341 Views: 79
 
We are visiting relatives near Sag Harbor this weekend. Do any of the Long Island folks know of any nurseries out here that sell fig trees?  Might be fun to go look even though I already have too many.
Thanks

Subject: summer setup Replies: 11
Posted By: chrisb9341 Views: 251
 
only the top heavy trees are buried 1/2 way. I am going to try duct taping the hose in between pots to conserve water. I dont know if it will hold. Also if the hose is elevated between pots, the water tends to run back along the hose into the pot. I will only use this method when I am away like this weekend. I will use the cardboard/mulch method. Thanks!

Subject: summer setup Replies: 11
Posted By: chrisb9341 Views: 251
 
IMG_0576.JPG  IMG_0577.JPG  IMG_0578.JPG  Finally got my summer setup done. I am using soaker hoses with timer. Seems like it will work for times that I am away. Hopefully my early season shuffling in and out will reward me. The purple brebas are petite negra and the green are nonnies green. Does anyone know another name for that. I never see it listed. I will have 50 varieties when my new 5 arrive. I am going to have to build a shed this summer so I can clear space in my garage for winter storage.

Subject: Pictures of your inground fig trees now in zone 6 Replies: 38
Posted By: chrisb9341 Views: 1,020
 
They look great. Are these the ones with heat lamps on them this past winter during that cold spell?

Subject: Unk Pastiliere question Replies: 21
Posted By: chrisb9341 Views: 330
 
Is it true that the Pastiliere does not require a pollinater while the Unk Pastiliere does? I think that is what I have seen.

Thanks

Subject: Unk Pastiliere question Replies: 21
Posted By: chrisb9341 Views: 330
 
Thanks for all the input. This is part of what makes fig growing so much more fun and interesting than other fruits. IMHO.

Subject: Unk Pastiliere question Replies: 21
Posted By: chrisb9341 Views: 330
 
 During my winter ebay buying frenzy, I purchased a couple unk pastiliere cuttings that rooted and are doing great. I happened to see on an old thread that they  might require pollination.  Through searching, I havnt found a definitive answer. Living in zone 5, pollination would never happen. Does anyone have a definite yes or no  on this question?

Thanks

Subject: couple of stunted plants Replies: 1
Posted By: chrisb9341 Views: 102
 
I added over 20 varieties to my collection this winter from cuttings. I was given  several in early November that rooted and grew nicely under lights. These plants now seem stunted compared to many that were rooted in Jan and Feb that are thriving. there is no new growth showing. They have all received the same care and  all have been transitioned out to the sun in 8 in pots. Is it not good to start new cuttings from plants that have not been dormant for very long or maybe I could have left the cuttings in the fridge for a while before starting?

Thanks

Subject: Peat vs Perlite? Proper moisture? Replies: 5
Posted By: chrisb9341 Views: 200
 
I use a 50 50 mix of Promix BX and perlite. So it ends up being about 60 40 perlite to peat. Vito recommended this to me. Seems to work great. I wet it pretty well then maintain at 75 degrees and 80-85 percent humidity.

Subject: Great Figs For Zone 5 and Colder? Replies: 33
Posted By: chrisb9341 Views: 1,016
 
I came across this chart somewhere. It might give a few ideas. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ihfyIwZ8l5DyVMFvTOAthQf65jn-2bRRMPGR57AKSyw/edit?pref=2&pli=1#gid=1415597439

Subject: To pinch or not Replies: 12
Posted By: chrisb9341 Views: 418
 
Thanks for the ideas. All 7 of the cuttings that I got rooted nicely so I can afford to experiment.

Subject: To pinch or not Replies: 12
Posted By: chrisb9341 Views: 418
 
Thanks for the input. Huge help. I have seen many pictures on ebay, etc of tall spindly fig trees Starting the shaping early makes sense. There are many good graphics of fog pruning out there.

Subject: To pinch or not Replies: 12
Posted By: chrisb9341 Views: 418
 
This JH Adriatic has been rooting/growing since 12/22. This and others are growing very well under fluorescent lights on 16 hrs a day. Is it time to take a pinch on the longer stems or is it too soon. If so how far back? This is my first winter of growing cuttings and having great luck. just want to keep it that way. IMG_0461.JPG 

Thanks

Subject: Starting my preventative rust measures Replies: 27
Posted By: chrisb9341 Views: 557
 
I pulled a bottle off the shelf at the store where I work to look at it and the active ingredient is copper octanoate (copper soap} in case anyone wants to look into it further. Here is a fact sheet.

http://www3.epa.gov/pesticides/chem_search/reg_actions/registration/fs_PC-023306_01-Jul-97.pdf

Subject: Single Digit Temps in Mid Atlantic this Weekend Replies: 25
Posted By: chrisb9341 Views: 324
 
-14 F   here this morning. I have one inground Hardy Chicago near the south side of the house wrapped with multiple layers of straw, piled high with leaves, then wrapped with weed fabric and black poly. I have a remote thermometer sensor stuck in the middle of it that reads 10F this morning. The ground is heavily mulched with cedar mulch. I had hopes of the whole plant surviving  but now I am hoping for just growth from the ground up this spring. Next year I might put a 40w light bulb under an inverted metal coffee can near the base and run it during cold spells.  Good luck with the cold everyone!

Subject: ebay today Replies: 17
Posted By: chrisb9341 Views: 634
 
Is anyone else following the Ponte Tresa on ebay today?  Heading toward $1000

Subject: Where to buy Fig Cuttings? + Fruits which propagate and fruit easily from cuttings? Replies: 6
Posted By: chrisb9341 Views: 302
 
I have to put in a plug for drivewayfarmer on ebay. Always ships a generous amount of nice healthy cuttings . He has some RDB's listed now. 

Subject: Is lime required to plant fig tree in ground ? Replies: 41
Posted By: chrisb9341 Views: 615
 
Being that proper ph is very important for all plants in ground and in pots, a good digital ph meter would be a very good thing for any gardener to own. You can take soil readings as often as you want and adjust ph if you need to.

Chris

Subject: Desert King Replies: 30
Posted By: chrisb9341 Views: 827
 
Thanks Willei, the LSU purple sounds like it would be a nice addition. I will try to remember to remind you in April about those cuttings.

Chris

Subject: Desert King Replies: 30
Posted By: chrisb9341 Views: 827
 
Thanks for the input. I might just have to keep all 6.

Chris

Subject: Desert King Replies: 30
Posted By: chrisb9341 Views: 827
 
I will. Thank you very much.

Chris

Subject: Desert King Replies: 30
Posted By: chrisb9341 Views: 827
 
From what I have read, Desert King has a large self fruitful breba crop and a light main crop that needs pollinating. Do I have that right? I am presently rooting 6 cuttings of it. Are there any other varieties that come to mind that have an especially large breba crop? I have a short season here so would like to up my early season production.

Thanks
Chris

Subject: Fabric Pots Replies: 5
Posted By: chrisb9341 Views: 183
 
Thanks!  The molded pots look perfect.

Chris

Subject: Fabric Pots Replies: 5
Posted By: chrisb9341 Views: 183
 
  Does anyone use lg fabric pots. Some of my figs will need to step up to 20 gal pots in the spring and I am looking for a low cost pot.  Seems like they might be a bit awkward to use but I might try a couple.

https://www.1000bulbs.com/product/89769/GROW-725835.html?utm_source=SmartFeedGoogleBase&utm_medium=Shopping&utm_term=GROW-725835&utm_content=Fabric+Pots+-+Round&utm_campaign=SmartFeedGoogleBaseShopping&gclid=Cj0KEQiA4qSzBRCq1-iLhZ6Vsc0BEiQA1qt-zkCU6XGRnahOTXULiHKpyhFc2kx3_PtYwr64njDWDw8aAtGv8P8HAQ

Thanks

Chris

Subject: Protecting figs with hoophouse Replies: 9
Posted By: chrisb9341 Views: 274
 
I have thought about doing something like that as a season extender. I am in Zone 5a so if I could get my trees started in late march or early april instead of early May I should get a larger harvest especially on the trees that need a longer season. A hoophouse for me wouldnt provide adequate winter pretection.

Subject: Soil? Replies: 17
Posted By: chrisb9341 Views: 280
 
I use Espoma Organic Potting Mix. Not too heavy, not too light. Has earthworm castings and micotone. Works great as is.

Subject: Feeding for better fruit Replies: 8
Posted By: chrisb9341 Views: 388
 
Thanks for everyone's thoughts. Lets hope for a long warm fall.

Chris

Subject: Feeding for better fruit Replies: 8
Posted By: chrisb9341 Views: 388
 
Does anyone use a special feed for the final push of fig growing and ripening? I have a 3 yr old Chicago Hardy in a container that is loaded with figs. I use a top dressing of Plantone by Espoma and an occasional water soluble. A week and a half ago I gave the plant a shot of Beastie Bloomz 0-50-30 as an experiment when nothing was ripe. Probably a coincidence, but now the ripening fruits have gotten very large and plump and almost ready to pick. I am waiting til they are perfect. I am still new to this and really  having fun this year with my figs and trying to get the most out of them in my short growing season.

Thanks
Chris  Zone 5A
 

Subject: Couple of questions Replies: 3
Posted By: chrisb9341 Views: 256
 
Thanks for the advice. The only one not showing much growth is the Paradiso so I will take some fruit off.

Subject: Couple of questions Replies: 3
Posted By: chrisb9341 Views: 256
 
Hi all. This is Chris. I am in NY in zone 5A. I started with 5 varieties last year and added 10 more this year. These new ones were purchased  about 2 months ago in a 1 qt size pot. I put them in 2 gal pots. 6 of the 10 have started producing a fair amount of fruit for such  small plants. Are these considered Breba or main crop? Also, should  some of this fruit be removed to allow more energy to go to the new growth?
Thanks, I am still a novice.

Chris IMG_0344 - Copy.jpg

Subject: To pinch or not Replies: 2
Posted By: chrisb9341 Views: 269
 
Thanks for the reply. They are all 16-18 in tall. Sounds like I will wait til the dormant season for any pruning or pinching.

Chris

Subject: To pinch or not Replies: 2
Posted By: chrisb9341 Views: 269
 
I recently got 12 new fig plants in 1 qt pots. They are not branched at all. They have been repotted and are growing nicely with 3-4 inches of new growth. Would it be wise to take a pinch to promote branching out or just let them grow for a while?  Thanks   Chris