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Subject: When do you fertilize? Replies: 42
Posted By: cjccmc Views: 590
 
For in ground trees and plants, Never!

After occasionally adding some ferts to under performing plants and never seeing a positive response I had my soil tested in 2004 and it came back saying I had above optimum levels of all (P,K,Ca,Mg) except fleeting N. So to that soil I will sometimes use a bit of high N lawn fertilizer if a plant seems sluggish but seldom makes a noticeable improvement.

Potted plants are a different matter.

Subject: Buying perlite in bulk???? Replies: 23
Posted By: cjccmc Views: 378
 
I got mine from HD, but a seller on Craigs List in my area offers it for about half what I paid.

Subject: This is so strange. Roots on the wrong end Replies: 23
Posted By: cjccmc Views: 392
 
I've had it happen also. So far cuttings with a trimmed fork at the top like yours were very prone to it. Maybe the fork areas have a higher potential for root making.

Subject: question on cuttings Replies: 16
Posted By: cjccmc Views: 390
 
The fridge I have for cuttings in the garage is over 20 yrs old and I'm not so sure about the "crisper" drawer in it, as my past experience is that it dried some of my cuttings to a crisp. This year I need to keep some cuttings Oct to March so after wrapping I put them all in another sealed bag and in that one I put a wad of damp newspaper. So the damp paper does not contact my cuttings but hopefully satisfies the thirsty cold air. I check every so often to make sure no mold is forming.

Subject: How to increase heating mat coverage Replies: 7
Posted By: cjccmc Views: 239
 
KK, what temperature for the rooting medium do you end up with?  What is considered optimum?

Subject: Suckers as cuttings Replies: 9
Posted By: cjccmc Views: 205
 
Thanks for all the inputs and ideas.

My suckers in this case are really shoots coming from the trunk/crown right at or below ground level. All are less than 6 months old but the wood is not soft green, it's more woody looking, still growing with fresh small leaves. These do not have their own roots attached as far as I can tell.

Since I need to send these out in about 2 weeks to beginner fig growers, I wanted find out 1) if they would root and 2) produce a tree that would bear fruit almost as quickly as a tree that started from a fruiting branch. I think the answers are 1) Yes and 2) Maybe ;-)

Subject: Suckers as cuttings Replies: 9
Posted By: cjccmc Views: 205
 
Do pencil thick suckers root as easily as fruiting branches of the same size? Will the tree be of same quality? I have a lot of suckers but running out of branches for friends who requested cuttings. This is on a non grafted tree so roots are same variety.

Subject: Fig cuttings to root - will this work Replies: 16
Posted By: cjccmc Views: 373
 
Sounds like you are headed down a successful path. I'm somewhat new at this but from what I know you may want to consider keeping it out of direct sun and as mentioned above, don't overwater. At this time of year I have my cuttings inside to try and provide a 70-80 deg F temperature.

Here's a link that discusses use of a clear dome by a guy who knows a thing or two about figs...

Subject: Best figs at your location Replies: 266
Posted By: cjccmc Views: 72,869
 
Hi Dennis,

Is that a list of all your figs with your favorites at the top? 

Subject: Are Roots Left Behind After Potting Good for Anything? Replies: 11
Posted By: cjccmc Views: 256
 
Hi Craig,

That was probably a 5 year old in ground tree. I needed to relocate it and only managed to dig out about a 2 gallon root mass near the "crown". The left behind large piece of root that I planted in a second spot was done as a backup in case the main relocated tree did not thrive. So I got shoots from the root but dug it out after the main tree did well so can't comment about the quality of tree it would have eventually produced.

Subject: Are Roots Left Behind After Potting Good for Anything? Replies: 11
Posted By: cjccmc Views: 256
 
In the past I planted large pieces of root, about 1.5 inch diameter IIRC, early summer and they made shoots. But I recently tried with thin root pieces (about 1/8 inch diameter) from an up pot root trim and those did nothing.

Subject: $2.50/cutting Replies: 19
Posted By: cjccmc Views: 930
 
Nice looking list of varieties Doug.  About when do you expect your trees to go dormant? 

Subject: 12 days, rooted cuttings Replies: 4
Posted By: cjccmc Views: 246
 
Eager to be a tree, nice work!

Do you find that the greener cuttings are easier to root?  What medium is it in?

Subject: Chicago Hardy - one outstanding fig Replies: 23
Posted By: cjccmc Views: 926
 
I'm rooting some cuttings of a HC bought on ebay.  With the various reviews I see about HC I wonder if there are several varieties of it or maybe considerable effects of mislabeling.

Subject: Grafting Replies: 34
Posted By: cjccmc Views: 623
 
Thanks to Francisco and others for your inputs on this subject. Grafting is something I'm very interested in and have been unable to find a reason why all my previous attempts have failed since my scion fits seemed as good as those I've seen in teaching videos.

Knowing that just a small amount of cambium contact is needed for a successful graft I will angle the scions just enough to see that it is out of contact at both ends so somewhere in the middle there has to be crossing. It's fun to have something new to try!

Subject: Grafting Replies: 34
Posted By: cjccmc Views: 623
 
Thanks for the links Francisco.

I'm surprised that most grafting guides (sketches, etc.) I've seen do not say to deliberately orient the cambium lines at small crossing angles so that intersection is guaranteed. If that's all it takes then making sure the surfaces are flat and making contact at the area where they appear to cross would be easier than trying to make flat contact everywhere.

When rootstock is same diameter as scion, I find making and fitting the tongue the most problematic for whip/tongue graft. I may just try a splice without tongue on my next ones and see if I can get those to work.

Subject: Grafting Replies: 34
Posted By: cjccmc Views: 623
 
It would simplify grafting a lot (for me) if all I had to do was get some tiny amount of cambium contact. I spend considerable effort to try and get perfect matches along most of the cambiums in my whip/tongue grafts. It's easier to just angle the scion so that contact is made at some point. It's hard to believe that a tiny amount of intersecting contact is as good as a lot of contact but maybe it works out the same. Anybody ever experiment with crossing contact in figs?

Subject: Negronne - 7 months from graft to figs Replies: 11
Posted By: cjccmc Views: 266
 
Nice results Jaime! The graft in post #6, how is it made? Do you remove some wood in the Z shaped notches or do you just split the wood?

Subject: Look Up, Top of this page. Replies: 2
Posted By: cjccmc Views: 119
 
Still more proof that great minds think alike :-)


http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/what-is-that-figgy-in-the-window-8256550?pid=1293520542

Subject: My espalier project... Replies: 30
Posted By: cjccmc Views: 1,262
 
Simon, 

Are you going to create a second row of laterals?  I've seen some done with 4 rows, that could be a lot of trimming to keep it shaped. I'm considering an espalier to make use of my limited growing space.

Nice looking tree you have.

Subject: winter cutting project Replies: 14
Posted By: cjccmc Views: 388
 
I had gnats in a premium seed starting mix I used to root cuttings last winter. I know they came in the bag. Since I only work small quantities I microwave my potting soil to about 180 F before using to root cuttings.

Subject: Grafting Replies: 34
Posted By: cjccmc Views: 623
 
HarveyC has some nice videos:

https://www.youtube.com/Figaholics

Subject: figs Replies: 20
Posted By: cjccmc Views: 422
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by VeryNew2Figs
I guess with everybody posting their (God, I can't wait until I can pick my own) ripening figs lately it's taken up a lot of space.


yep, I tried a couple days ago and could not post a pic no matter how small I made it.

Subject: Figo Preto Replies: 70
Posted By: cjccmc Views: 2,318
 
Beautiful tree and fruit Paul. How do you keep the birds away?

Subject: Strawberry Verte - totally awesome Replies: 35
Posted By: cjccmc Views: 1,094
 
SuperMario, is that a second main crop for you? I think they ripen late July here.

Subject: root initials or mold? Replies: 10
Posted By: cjccmc Views: 229
 
Yes I heard from another trusted source that those were "lenticels" (new word for me :-).

Makes sense that they are not initials as they were only cut from the tree 3 days b4 pic taken.

JDS: I did not know they would be so green, got them for about $3 each so not a big investment. I need some practice in rooting as my previous attempts failed so that's part of why I'm starting them now. Plus it's more fun and much cheaper than golf ;-)

I'm trying half in water like this X

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=6861031

Other half in soil.

Not sure what odds Vegas would give on these making it out alive :-)

Subject: root initials or mold? Replies: 10
Posted By: cjccmc Views: 229
 
Thanks all for the inputs. I think I'm going to try half in water and half in moist potting soil with parafilm wrap on exposed tops.

I expect the greatest hazard will be me "helping" them too much :-)

Subject: root initials or mold? Replies: 10
Posted By: cjccmc Views: 229
 
I received these ebay cuttings today, spent 3 days in mail, wrapped in a sealed baggie. What are the white bumps, good stuff or bad? I would have washed with dilute clorox, wrapped tops in parafilm and put in moist potting soil to root. But if these are initials will cleaning remove the one and only shot of roots forming at the bump locations?  What would you suggest I do for best chances of getting these to root? 101_3809 (800x600).jpg

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Subject: Air Layer Update Replies: 3
Posted By: cjccmc Views: 83
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bluemalibu

The lack of root development on your Black Madeira is in keeping with the widespread belief that active leaf formation is needed to realize a like development of roots, no?


So if a new tree is desired from one that is not actively producing leaves, is taking a cutting and rooting it faster than waiting on the air layer?

Subject: What is that figgy in the window? Replies: 3
Posted By: cjccmc Views: 126
 
Thanks Jon. Probably not the same, mine has very uniform colors on all figs.

How does Encanto Honey rate in it's flavor category?

Subject: What is that figgy in the window? Replies: 3
Posted By: cjccmc Views: 126
 
The ones in the F4F forum header?  I'm trying to ID a fig in the neighborhood and it looks a lot like the one on the left and middle fig. It has bright pink/red coloring around an open eye, about 1.3" diameter fruit. Tree is a vigorous grower, lots of semi ripe fruit at this time.

ff.JPG

Subject: My Fig Season is done Replies: 9
Posted By: cjccmc Views: 260
 
167 figs from a 3 yr tree seems pretty good to me. And if you got to enjoy most the critters have been very kind.

Both my in ground trees were done by end of Aug. Between souring, insect attacks and feeding all things larger than a grape I maybe get 1 out of 4 at the ripeness I like them.

I did score some perfectly ripe Mission figs at a farmers market recently, very rare to find correctly ripened figs for sale.

Subject: Celeste vs. Improved Celeste Replies: 22
Posted By: cjccmc Views: 581
 
I have had my Celeste here in SoCal for 16 years and it never drops a significant amount of figs. My tree is from the typical "fig" tree grown in Louisiana (shown in my profile pic).

Subject: Zone 9 & 10 Sept-Oct ripenings Replies: 11
Posted By: cjccmc Views: 274
 
Thanks all for the inputs.

Sounds like you are entering prime season for fig heaven Mara. Nice to have those outstanding varieties making figs.

JDS, those are good points about pruning to delay fruiting that I didn't think about. We get no rain here from April thru Nov, so I water about the same during that time, whether fruiting or not. The figs I have now do not make significant additional fruit after their single main crop, no matter how much water and feed. I need to consider adding some varieties that ripen this time of year. It's killing me not to have any figs for 11 months out of the year :-)

Subject: Zone 9 & 10 Sept-Oct ripenings Replies: 11
Posted By: cjccmc Views: 274
 
For these warm zones what favorite varieties have the bulk of the crop ripen at this time of the year? Do these figs just take longer from figlet formation to fully ripe? If so protection from pests for the extra time would seem to decrease the final yield to us two legged critters.

There is a tree in my neighborhood making green/yellow figs that look two weeks away from harvest. Very vigorous grower, not sure the variety but I'm interested in figs that ripen heavily after mid Sept as my current trees are done by end of Aug.

Subject: Will adding soil to potted trees injure them? . Replies: 7
Posted By: cjccmc Views: 147
 
I'm surprised to hear that adding soil above the "crown" of a growing tree does no harm. I was recently reading that in general tree crowns have a type of tissue that is different from both roots and trunk and should not be buried. Leave it to figs to be the exception :-)

Subject: My 2016 season figs Replies: 56
Posted By: cjccmc Views: 1,971
 
I'm suffering from acute fig envy here!  Beautiful fruit Sid.

That Grise Olivette fig has the colors of my alma mater.  Geaux tigers!

lsu.JPG 

Subject: --- A real Palmata? (PIX) Replies: 12
Posted By: cjccmc Views: 691
 
Interesting find Igor. Those whole figs in your hand look nearly identical to some of the runt figs on my Celeste.

Just how far can a wasp fly anyway? I doubt there are a significant number of wild figs in my neighborhood, just about every square inch of growing space is controlled by a home gardener or a landscape maintenance company.

Subject: Propagation Confusion Replies: 52
Posted By: cjccmc Views: 671
 
Hi Joe,

I'm sitting here in Rome airport waiting for our flight back to CAlif. Spent 12 days and 1800 miles on the tour bus passing by hundreds of big fig trees. In Venice there was a large outdoor market and lots of fichi for sale. Most with the same issue as US, picked too green. Then I Spot one vendor with exceptional quality produce, his figs look perfect and I'm near delirious with anticipation, about 3 dozen available. I want them all! But he doesn't take credit cards or US$ and all Ihave is 1€ in my pocket, enough for two figs. I get one dark and one green, there're both excellent. Would have been another high point of the trip if I could have enjoyed more but wasn't meant to be.

Hope you get lots of "deliziosi fiche" from your future trees!

Subject: Finding maggots in figs Replies: 18
Posted By: cjccmc Views: 418
 
I put some of the infested figs in a jar on Aug 11 to see what would hatch. The maggots went into something like a cocoon stage and now several have hatched. Newly hatched flies are about 1/8" long, have red eyes, a greenish tan body, grayish wings and darkish coloring at tail end. When I look up all the infamous flies in SoCal none match, but lots of pics on internet that just call them "fruit flies" do match. So it's not the SWD fly but something else. Anybody know?

fig fly zoom.jpg 

Subject: Dried fruit beetle Replies: 5
Posted By: cjccmc Views: 92
 
I've had problems with them in the past on my tree, a Celeste, with closed/small eyes. No problems this year with the DFB. As you probably know one standard recommendation is sanitation, but that does nothing for the immediate problem.

Subject: Summer figs Replies: 98
Posted By: cjccmc Views: 1,451
 
Amazing how all those figs look perfectly ripened throughout. Fig heaven!

How do you get the birds and other hungry critters to leave all those gorgeous figs for you?

Subject: Roots not pruned by the air Replies: 6
Posted By: cjccmc Views: 150
 
Interesting pic JD.

Do you expect that the pot will limit the size of the tree or at least slow the growth? (I understand that it doesn't have a bottom.)

Subject: 2 best varieties for SoCal Replies: 4
Posted By: cjccmc Views: 166
 
Hello Nick:  You are growing quite a few varieties! So your recommendation for #1 Dark Portuguese (Bass), #2 Brooklyn White (Bass) and #2 (tie) Lebanese Red (Bass) is very good information to have. I actually never heard of these before your reply. Encanto has the biggest list of available figs that I know of but I could not find any of these three on it. What sources are there to get trees of these varieties?

Hanbury: I'm glad Strawberry Verte has worked out so well for you, thanks for sharing that information. Others in SoCal also say it is a very good fig. I like that it has comparatively good availability compared to many of the lesser know varieties. I do want to grow one.

Subject: 2 best varieties for SoCal Replies: 4
Posted By: cjccmc Views: 166
 
Since I only have room for two medium sized trees, I'd like to get suggestions on what varieties would be best choices. Factors for me are:

flavor
productivity
heartiness/consistency
closed eye / non splitting (ants and fruit flies)
two trees that ripen at different times so the fun lasts longer
brebas not required unless good and plentiful
prefer dark but one dark, one green also works

I think I have the wasp here so trees needing pollination are possible. I'm looking to acquire at least 2yr old or 3-5 gallon size trees. Please feel free to suggest way more than two since I don't know how available they will be.

Thanks in advance.

Subject: Summer figs Replies: 98
Posted By: cjccmc Views: 1,451
 
Bêbera Branca sliced open looks fabulous, perfectly ripened.  Anybody growing these in USA?

Subject: 30ft + tall heirloom Celeste Replies: 17
Posted By: cjccmc Views: 462
 
That's the image of a fig tree that I grew up with in Louisiana. Most 20 to 30 ft dome shaped and you could pick two buckets of figs from them every other day.

Subject: Removing Ischia Black, Black Madeira and Negronne Air Layers Replies: 1
Posted By: cjccmc Views: 79
 
Nice video, thanks for providing this.

I'm about to do same for my first a/l on Celeste tree. So no need to unwind, trim or otherwise bother the roots to stimulate growth?

Subject: Finding maggots in figs Replies: 18
Posted By: cjccmc Views: 418
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by figeater
EEW!  That's not the kind of surprise we all hope for!


Amen to that!  My daughter was standing right next to me when I sliced open the infested fig. The upshot for me is that I don't have to share any more of the good ones with her this year, she's done with figs (for now).

Subject: Finding maggots in figs Replies: 18
Posted By: cjccmc Views: 418
 
I've had bad infestations of the little "dried fruit" beetles before but haven't seen any adults this year. Those do not cause maggots in hanging fruit from what I've read. Also had years where all my figs soured on the tree before ripening. All years I've seen some smallish flies on soured figs but this year is first year that I'm finding maggots inside.