strudeldog
1278124225
Posted 1356026058
Reply with quote #1
I think sometimes we make things a lot more difficult then it needs to be. This will be the first time I try to start cuttings this early. I know not everybody is sitting in the same climate zone, but when we are trying to start cuttings 5-6 months prior to when they can be moved outside seems like we are fighting Mother Nature. 2 years ago I tried to wait until March to obtain cuttings, but really had no luck as most the cuttings exchanges had already happened. Last year I tried to obtain cuttings earlier and store them through and start in spring, but my results were not that great in that manner either. I know cuttings do store and many do well storing them, but I don’t think a lot of the greener cuttings store that well. I might be trying to rationalize my poor rooting skills however, but I just think the best place to store cuttings is on the tree. I understanding that a outside tree cutting might be dead wood come spring and that’s explains much, but I have to think part of it is our impatience that we have to come up with all the space, lighting, dormancy, etc… issues. Next year I might go back to my original logic and time starting my cuttings to be ready for potting up on Mother Natures schedule. I guess when my wife gets feed up with this irrational behavior and throws me out I won’t have to worry about who gets the figs, they will be getting good light laying right there is the street beside me in the gutter.
ForeverFigs
1351425467
Posted 1356026568
Reply with quote #2
That was a good post strudledog, got a lot of laughs out of that one. I think your observation is correct, that we make it too difficult sometimes. My Dad always told me to remember the old addage: KISS, which he jokingly explained to me meant "Keep It Simple Stupid".....LOL.... :)
BLB
1214341548
Posted 1356027089
Reply with quote #3
Funny post. Seriously though I don't like storing cuttings either and have experienced better results when I get them started as soon as I receive them
FiggyFrank
1347560723
Posted 1356028659
Reply with quote #4
I ask myself the same questions. Why not just wait until spring? Easy answer for me...I'm impatient, plus, I love a challenge. This is my first time caring for plants in the winter and it's a lot of fun so far. I'm still unsure what the outcome will be 3 months from now, but whatever the outcome, I've learned a lot, and it's enjoyable.
strudeldog
1278124225
Posted 1356030783
Reply with quote #5
Vince,
I saw your video, hope you didn’t plan on Holiday dinner at your place.
Barry,
My wife would call you an enabler, offering up nice cuttings.
Frank,
Impatient is a big part, but right now after being humbled a couple years forget the challenge I just want to succeed.
DesertDance
1247674606
Posted 1356031062
Reply with quote #6
I'm with BLB and FiggyFrank! BUT, because of my early starting, my guest bathroom has way too many guests! They are all so green and pretty, though. It has now become necessary to take many of them out of their cups, and pot them up into 1-3 gal containers. The little cups are cute, but big containers take up so much room! YIKES!
garden_whisperer
1353347580
Posted 1356031579
Reply with quote #7
draw back to the fig fever i guess. i have always started my cuttings and growing in winter. around this time. so i have some lights and spots for the little guys planed ahead of time. if i were doing it just for me i would probly wait until spring, but i do sell alot of plants so i have to be busy busy busy over winter gettingthings ready for that first day and everyday after until frost.
AaronT
1332859238
Posted 1356031676
Reply with quote #8
Personally, I do it because I have to trim the tree in the fall anyway to get it covered! So rather than throw the wood out I amuse / frustrate myself over the long winter months trying to get it rooted .
ascpete
1336096379
Posted 1356037110
Reply with quote #9
strudeldog,
bullet08
1284496248
Posted 1356038997
Reply with quote #10
Only reason why I'm rooting now is 'cause I have the cuttings I wanted. I don't want to store cuttings either. For my area, late March would be the best time to start. I'm not taking any chances with the cuttings I have. Waited too long for these :)
DesertDance
1247674606
Posted 1356046248
Reply with quote #11
Pete, me too! Today JD and I potted up ten, root-bound and fully leafed cuttings from their double cups and into gallon grow bags. I'm like you, in that I waited a long time for these cuttings I wanted, and in some cases ALL the cuttings sent to me have rooted and are growing. I need to make a big list those to whom I've promised cuttings and bonuses, and ask them first which of my extras they wish to have.
ForeverFigs
1351425467
Posted 1356046538
Reply with quote #12
Strudeldog,
cookie_dr
1309976821
Posted 1356049063
Reply with quote #13
As far as me sending cuttings....I must this time of year because all that wood would be dead come spring. As far as starting cuttings this time of year.....gives me something to worry about, mess with and an excuse to play in the dirt. It's not the smart thing to do but it's fun. I hope I can get some roots on these sticks.....so far, no luck.
CTFIGS
1345496570
Posted 1356050753
Reply with quote #14
I think it helps people get through the winter... summer and the growing season can seem so far away and depressing with the shorter days of winter. playing with plants helps a ton.
omotm
1349913471
Posted 1356052810
Reply with quote #15
CTFIGS,
shah8
1339623766
Posted 1356054898
Reply with quote #16
I don't take things very seriously. I already have productive fig trees that give top of the line figs, so that's not quite fair. However, figs are like those tulips once upon a time, and even when you can't get 'em now, you'll eventually be able to afford them later, when you have far more information about your chances than you do now. For my purposes, I already know what figs to get, and how to get them, should I have money to buy them and permission to plant them. So it's a matter of simply waiting, reading, and admiring other's successful efforts!
FiggyFrank
1347560723
Posted 1356058145
Reply with quote #17
Quote:
Originally Posted by CTFIGS
BLB
1214341548
Posted 1356061009
Reply with quote #18
Oh heck yeah gardening is an all year round thing for me and most true gardeners. I have many indoor plants anyway, so plants in the house, on tables windowsills and under lights is no biggy, just normal everyday stuff around here. Working with fig cuttings makes for a great winter project. I do get a little worried though as the winter progresses and I get more and more into pots with less and less places to put them.
bullet08
1284496248
Posted 1356111262
Reply with quote #19
before picking up figs, i didn't care too much for "gardening". still don't think i'm gardening. i always enjoyed japanese maple, roses and plumeria, but they were all taken cared by my wife. i just love the idea of rooting a stick that magically grows into a tree that magically gives me wonderful figs. it's just amazing to me. watching cuttings rooting, growing and putting out figs is just wonderful.
pitangadiego
1188871011
Posted 1356114766
Reply with quote #20
No we don't. We use the freshest cuttings we can get, and work with them when they are fresh. Or we store them till we have time to actually do something with them. Often Spring is a busy time with planting and pruning and other chores. Summer is busy with watering, eating, preserving, etc. Often fall and winter are less busy time (especially if you have snow on the ground), so if you have the facilities, fall and winter rooting makes perfect sense. I had hundreds of cuttings from last January still in the frig, and I finally had time in October and November to get them started. They are in the greenhouse and I pot-up a couple dozen every week. Before long, I will to figure out some more space for the newly potted cuttings, but they will have a good head start when it is time to put them outdoor in the spring.
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http://figs4fun.com
http://webebananas.com
strudeldog
1278124225
Posted 1356115185
Reply with quote #21
Some great reasoning here, keeping your hand in the soil probably is good therapy for the winter blues. I might be a little different as winter is really pretty busy in the garden for me. Particularly this year in the middle of a move. Give me 40 F. and a shovel and I’m happy, and this year I better keep digging. Between fruit tree orders coming in and relocating some I have planted within the last couple years I will be planting probably 70 fruiting trees, that’s not even counting figs, berries. And you mention Japanese Maples I will finally have a good place to plant my potted collection of about 120 maples many in 10/15 gal, and few in 30 gal. Add probably another 200 + other potted plants I have been growing up in my nursery area, and the shovel hours add up. Last week I estimate I dug up and re-planted 6000 narcissus /daffodils. Surprising how a single bulb planted years ago is now an over-crowded clump of 30 that needed divided badly. The numbers add up quickly. I was only able to get them back in the ground in vegetable garden style in rows of worked ground. In coming years I will get them worked back into the landscape. But there is only so much light this time of year. I think most of my cutting care will take place in bowels of night
