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Encanto Farms Nursery > Topics > Fig Emporium 2012 Cutting Success
 
 


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Pasquale1962

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Posted Reply with quote  #1 
This is the first year, after much research and reading on these forum pages, that I decided to expand my fig collection. In my introductory post, earlier in the spring, I shared that I had one unknown inground White Fig along with a containerized Brown Turkey. I grew up with figs in my Dad's garden, and the gardens of all of my uncles...who each year, would bury their tree, in order for it to survive the vicious Chicago winters...Most of the trees grown by my family were of the dark variety...

Thought I would share some photos of cuttings started this year, rooted and planted using SWC (Self Watering Container) Global Bucket System as inspired by a few members on this forum....
My older son dubbed my Fig Container Garden, the Fig Emporium, hence the name.  All the cuttings, other than 3, were purchased/won on Ebay in January and February. I used the new bag method to root them, kept them under grow lights as they developed leaves, then got them acclimated outdoors as we experienced one of the mildest winters/spring in recent Chicago area history....They are growing beautifully, thanks to everyone on this forum in helping me get up and running with this wonderful hobby. I gave away 2 trees grown as cuttings, to a new found fellow enthusiast I met at a Church gathering, further spreading the Joy and Fun of growing figs.

The trees shown are, in order:
Salem Honey purchased on EBAY treesofjoy
Raspberry Latte purchased on EBAY fatnsassytexan
Brooklyn Dark (3) 308 purchased from Encanto Farms as a cutting
Unidentified Dark Fig from my Dad's garden rooted directly in the SWC
Hardy Chicago EBAY easyplantingII (already rooted when purchased)
EL Violet deBordeaux EBAY dieseler6z92
Italian Honey EBAY fruitnut
Brooklyn Italian White EBAY nature-park
LSU Gold Celeste Cutting from JD (Thanks!!!)
Brown Turkey breba (Container tree planted 2009)

Unfortunately, I have not been able to successfully root the following:
Sals Corleone
LSU Purple

Overall, however, I am pleased with my first year results!!!

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PHD

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Posted Reply with quote  #2 
Great job Pasquale, hopefully in a few years you will be enjoying tasty figs. Let us know how you make out with the self watering containers.
 take care
  Pete
rcantor

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Posted Reply with quote  #3 
Beautiful!
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Zone 6, MO

Wish list:
Galicia Negra, De La Reina - Pons, Genovese Nero - Rafed's, Sbayi, Souadi, Acciano, Any Rimada, Sodus Sicilian, any Bass, Pons or Axier fig, any great tasting fig.
rafed

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Posted Reply with quote  #4 
Congrats on your rooting success.
Keep us posted please.
Dieseler

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Posted Reply with quote  #5 
Ditto i enjoy pictures.
Gina

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Posted Reply with quote  #6 

Thank you for sharing. Nice plants. :)
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WillsC's new fig forum:   http://www.Ourfigs.com  (and blueberries)
Pasquale1962

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Posted Reply with quote  #7 
Thanks everyone!!! It's wonderful watching the progress on almost a day to day basis....
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DesertDance

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Posted Reply with quote  #8 
So Martin is in Chicago like you.  I could be a matchmaker!  :-)

You have a lot of amazing figs!  I wish you well, and hope you enjoy the fig shuffle.  This is a dance that occurs with those on the North/East areas of our land.  Happens prior to the first frost, and again when Spring appears.  Never heard the tune, but this forum does that dance annually! 

Thanks for sharing your history and photos!

Suzi
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Zone 9b, Southern California. "First year they sleep, Second year they creep, Third year they leap!"  Wish List:  I wish all of you happy fig collecting!  My wishes have been fulfilled!
Pasquale1962

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Posted Reply with quote  #9 
Thanks Suzi! My wife has already asked, what am I going to do with ALL those fig trees in the winter? Little does she know my garage winter/spring plans... Let the shuffle begin next year, but for now, enjoying the heat and watching these little fig trees grow!

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BronxFigs

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Posted Reply with quote  #10 
Pasquale....

What a great beginning to a treasured collection!

Figs are one of the few fruit trees that you could watch grow from day to day.  Very dynamic changes occur in a very short time.  It's a tree that actually "does something".

I'm sure you will be able to taste your own figs in a few short seasons.  Maybe if you're lucky, your older son will take an interest in your "Fig Emporium".  At least he gave it a classy name.

Good luck...you're on your way.

Frank
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TucsonKen

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Posted Reply with quote  #11 
Very impressive launch--thanks for the update!
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Ken
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nypd5229

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Posted Reply with quote  #12 
I love the SWC. They do a great job in getting the plants large and mature quickly. But I learned the hard way. Don't bring them in for the winter too early. If the tips are not hardened off, they will die off. No worry. It's like pinching the tips. New Branches will just come out.

I planted most of the trees in ground to just trial them over winter, with expectations that they will die. I'm in MA.

I took 3 out and planted them in 20 in pots yesterday with a great amount of roots and most at 3 ft+- Brooklyn White, Black Bethlehem and Fiorone di Ruvo.  If I want any fruit from FdR, I'll have to make sure it hardens off well enough.

Good Luck. You'll have great success.

I've started my second round ( second season ) with my rare collection that I do not expect to move out of  them. I'll just root prune every couple of years.
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Dominick
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Pasquale1962

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Posted Reply with quote  #13 
Thanks Ken and Frank!!!

Thanks Dominick!!! I followed your recipe for making the potting mix, and your progress last year... Between your updates and Drivewayfarmer's, I drew inspiration and decided that this would be the method I would employ this year to get my newly rooted cuttings to a successful first year of life. So far, it is everything that you chronicled last season, fairly rapid and healthy growth...they seem very happy. I will follow your advice, and make sure that I let them harden off and go completely dormant before I take them into the garage for the winter. Thanks again for all the sound advice and chronicle/photos last season. This is what I love about this forum, everyone sharing what their doing, successes and failures, so that we can gather this knowledge-base in and try these ideas for ourselves!!!
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nypd5229

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Posted Reply with quote  #14 
My problem was the Halloween Blizzard of last year. I normally would have put them in about 3 weeks later.
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Dominick
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