Large fig trees for sale at garden centers trained to grow improperly

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figgi11

Registered:1429720342
Posts: 153

Posted 1462400667 · Edited	Reply with quote #1

Correct me if I'm wrong. It makes my stomach turn when I see larger sized fig trees, 15 gallon pots or more, in shape of a traditional tree. There's one main branch (about three feet high) that has the same width as the handful of upper branches (canopy) and it just doesn't look right. Although above 6 feet in height, they aren't lush and haven't many figs on them. These trees are being trained incorrectly! Rather than encourage bushy, lateral growth, they are being grown as tall and lankly - nonetheless at a high price tag. They look like neglected trees that should have been air layered and weren't. Anyone else come across this as well as warmer varieties like Kadota and Black Mission being sold in cooler zones instead of Celeste, Chicago Hardy, and other "appropriate" varieties? __________________ NNJ

m_delgo

Registered:1461165600
Posts: 15

Posted 1462402879	Reply with quote #2

Fig trees can definitely get very lanky if not trained properly but I suppose those who are producing trees solely to turn a profit don't really care But I wouldn't say warm varieties or cool because it all depends on whether you have the means to take care of them properly, it really doesn't make a difference to those of us who have to overwinter the plants cause they'll all die without it anyway.

johnnyq627

Registered:1366344367
Posts: 710

Posted 1462403272	Reply with quote #3

I actually prefer a tall thin tree. It fits in the greenhouse and garage easier :) __________________ Nick- Youtube: PA Figs \| eBay: tdepoala Zone 6B/7A - Douglassville, PA Wish list - Galicia Negra, Paritjal Rimada, Black Ischia UCD

figpig_66

Registered:1416870358
Posts: 2,678

Posted 1462406833	Reply with quote #4

Johnny's got a point lol. Fig shuffle can be,hard work. Glad i only have to move around 20 or 30 trees ! Some have it worse. Mine are only in 5 gallon __________________ RICHIE BONI HICKORY LOUISIANA ZONE 8B WARM HUMID WINRERS ARE VERY MILD LOW 20'S BUT WARMS RIGHT UP DURING THE DAY. SUMMER IS EXTREMELY HOT & HUMID 100 degrees 100% humidity fig tree grow like crazy but some split from rain & humidity Wish list. Col de dame blanc Col de rimada Lsu numbered figs

figgi11

Registered:1429720342
Posts: 153

Posted 1462415120	Reply with quote #5

Unacceptable. __________________ NNJ

fignutty

Registered:1374034473
Posts: 580

Posted 1462416369	Reply with quote #6

Any pictures? And what do these trees cost? __________________ Steve in Alpine TX 7b/8a Wish list: Sangue Dolce, Siblawi, Victoria, Emalyn's Purple, Colonel Littman's Black Cross

COGardener

Registered:1357441505
Posts: 814

Posted 1462449010	Reply with quote #7

Some people like a bush form, others prefer a tree form.... Neither is right nor wrong.

chucklikestofish

Registered:1391263141
Posts: 1,316

Posted 1462450891	Reply with quote #8

Quote: Originally Posted by figgi11 Correct me if I'm wrong. It makes my stomach turn when I see larger sized fig trees, 15 gallon pots or more, in shape of a traditional tree. There's one main branch (about three feet high) that has the same width as the handful of upper branches (canopy) and it just doesn't look right. Although above 6 feet in height, they aren't lush and haven't many figs on them. These trees are being trained incorrectly! Rather than encourage bushy, lateral growth, they are being grown as tall and lankly - nonetheless at a high price tag. They look like neglected trees that should have been air layered and weren't. Anyone else come across this as well as warmer varieties like Kadota and Black Mission being sold in cooler zones instead of Celeste, Chicago Hardy, and other "appropriate" varieties? ~yes i agree i think you are correct,i would cut the top right out of that tree and it would bush out,i laugh when i hear people act like it's incorrect or unhealthy to wack these fig trees up,i really cut mine back and airlayer what ever i can ,and they just grow faster and bushier ,i think they love being prunned back~ __________________

drew51

Registered:1431808677
Posts: 283

Posted 1462455509	Reply with quote #9

Quote: Originally Posted by johnnyq627 I actually prefer a tall thin tree. It fits in the greenhouse and garage easier :) I do too, I would much rather grow this way. __________________ Drew Zone 5b/6a Sterling Heights MI

rcantor

Registered:1309799312
Posts: 5,724

Posted 1462458321	Reply with quote #10

I see it as 2 plants for the price of 1. I got a panache like that and air layered the top off. The lower stem sprouted along its length and the upper part was an instant bush. __________________ 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.

figgi11

Registered:1429720342
Posts: 153

Posted 1462461638	Reply with quote #11

Quote: Originally Posted by rcantor I see it as 2 plants for the price of 1. I got a panache like that and air layered the top off. The lower stem sprouted along its length and the upper part was an instant bush. I guess you can. I need to go back and take a picture. They just look so upright and narrow unlike the way they do properly trained. What good is a tall narrow tree that has minimal fruit? The 15 gal pots were like $160. I wouldn't pay $20 for them. They need a ton of work. __________________ NNJ

figgi11

Registered:1429720342
Posts: 153

Posted 1462462523 · Edited	Reply with quote #12

Here are a couple of pictures: Attached Images image.jpeg (172.49 KB, 691 views) image.jpeg (148.04 KB, 150 views) __________________ NNJ

cdeguida4

Registered:1432151798
Posts: 77

Posted 1462464143	Reply with quote #13

I don't see much of a problem with that, if pruned properly wouldn't that turn into this over time potentially? that's how I see UD Davis, and other large orchards doing them. guess it's more of a preference thing. __________________ Chris NE Philadelphia Wish list: figoin, Fico Preto, any CDD

binbin9

Registered:1387923330
Posts: 220

Posted 1462464900 · Edited	Reply with quote #14

I'm not sure I see a problem with the nursery trees pictured. When they are producing hundreds of thousands of trees of all sorts of varieties, we really can't hold them to the same standard as a backyard grower. Judging by the size of that nursery it looks huge and would require a ton of man hrs to shape each tree, which means a higher cost of operation and lower ROI. I'd rather have them keep their prices down then to charge more for time spent pruning. I usually look for the healthiest trunk in a nursery and then prune them when they get home to the way I like them. Where is that BTW? __________________ Renton, WA My Seattle Garden Blog \| Fig Addiction WISH LIST: Genovese Nero Rafeds \| UCR 187-25 \| Black Tuscan \| Black Triana \| Jack Lilly \| Barbillone \| St Rita \| Tauro \| Jin Ao Fen \| Lampeira Preto \| Any fig over 100grams =)

Dave

Registered:1312388324
Posts: 1,482

Posted 1462469903 · Edited	Reply with quote #15

This is how I like my trees shaped 2 ft or less trunk height and branch out from there I have been following this pruning technique and have been very happy with it __________________ Connecticut - Zone 6B Wish List - Bordissot negra rimada

Charlie

Registered:1404043833
Posts: 1,214

Posted 1462490520	Reply with quote #16

You could bury that horizontally and have all the bush you want in just a little while. :) __________________ Zone 7A ~ Fort Smith area Arkansas

VeryNew2Figs

Registered:1441488407
Posts: 241

Posted 1462497675	Reply with quote #17

I'm a fan of the fig "tree" looking like a tree. On the other hand, a fig bush, as I understand from reading because my oldest fig plant is only a year old and hasn't produced a fig yet, bush form will produce more figs. I love the picture posted by cdeguida4. If I had ground space I'd definitely copy that. Since my ground space is non-existent, I'll be doing a version of what Dave is doing. 100% containers for me. I feel so blessed to have had all the no-name cuttings I was able to get last fall so I can play with different forms. No right, no wrong, just personal preference. __________________ Cheryl Chicago, Zone 6a (That's what they say, but it still feels like 5) Growing: Hardy Chicago, Black Mission, Brunswick, Kadota, Ischia Green, Desert King, Osborne Prolific (slow but steady), Malta Black, Violette de Bordeaux, Texas Everbearing, Beall, White Adriatic, Nolo Pink Eyed Lady. Rooting: Ronde de Bordeaux, Celeste, Nero 600 m, Violetta Bayernfeing, Marseilles Black VS, Celeste.

figgi11

Registered:1429720342
Posts: 153

Posted 1462498534 · Edited	Reply with quote #18

Great pictures cdequida4! These look great! The ones that concern me are the ones with 4+ ft. skinny bare trunks sold in 15 gallon pots that have been poorly trained. Trunks are fine if the tree has a large overhead canopy. Here are a few beauties: __________________ NNJ

chucklikestofish

Registered:1391263141
Posts: 1,316

Posted 1462533846	Reply with quote #19

Quote: Originally Posted by Dave This is how I like my trees shaped 2 ft or less trunk height and branch out from there I have been following this pruning technique and have been very happy with it ~very nice dave ~ __________________

drew51

Registered:1431808677
Posts: 283

Posted 1462539064	Reply with quote #20

I think the nursery trees look great. I just don't like the bush form, and to say they are improperly trained, well not for me. I would much prefer that form. Looking at the bushes posted in this thread, confirms I would want a tree, not a bush if at all possible. I don't need a ton of figs. Dave your figs look fantastic! That would be easy to do with those nursery trees. __________________ Drew Zone 5b/6a Sterling Heights MI

fignutty

Registered:1374034473
Posts: 580

Posted 1462544378 · Edited	Reply with quote #21

If a tall skinny 15 gal fig costs $160. Then a tall tree with a big bushy top would cost much more to produce. The nursery has to charge based on the space and effort needed to produce the tree. If they can grow one bushy tree in the same area as 4 skinny trees the bushy tree will cost 4 times as much. That's why both big and small figs from large nurseries are tall and skinny. Some effort and a yr or two and one can convert the skinny tree to your desired form. If the nursery has to do that for you expect to pay up. __________________ Steve in Alpine TX 7b/8a Wish list: Sangue Dolce, Siblawi, Victoria, Emalyn's Purple, Colonel Littman's Black Cross

lolita1234

Registered:1443208094
Posts: 199

Posted 1462550957 · Edited

Reply with quote #22

Quote:

Originally Posted by fignutty
If a tall skinny 15 gal fig costs $160. .......

This picture is from figgi11

http://files.websitetoolbox.com/30989/2909506

Recently, Home Depot, Walmart and several other nurseries in Dallas Texas have been selling this size of fig trees (Texas Everbearing , Alma, Brown Turkey, Celeste, Black Italian, LSU Gold) for only $22.50 each

I bought several of them for rootstocks .

I like bushy fig trees instead of tall ones . Bushy trees are like bonsai if you trim them down at dormant time . They will produce reachable figs that you can enjoy . Oh yes, I do not need a lot of fruits, just 20 figs for each tree so I can eat fresh and make fig jam for my winter time .
Imagine how many figs you will have if you multiply 20 by 200 trees ----> 4,000 figs a year to eat !!!!
A bonsai tree does not occupy a lot of space in your greenhouse

Unless you have 20 acres of land, no problem for tall and large trees .
Yesterday I visited a lady friend who has 4 tall big trees in her backyard ----> 1 fig tree, 1 Asian persimmon, 1 loquat, 1 jujube . All of them are loaded with fruits .
She complained that she never had a chance to eat those fruits in the past because the squirrels ate them all !!! Since the trees are so tall and so large, it is impossible for her to cover them with net . So her trees are just for shade ...
__________________

figgi11

Registered:1429720342
Posts: 153

Posted 1462570523	Reply with quote #23

Quote: Originally Posted by lolita1234 This picture is from figgi11 Recently, Home Depot, Walmart and several other nurseries in Dallas Texas have been selling this size of fig trees (Texas Everbearing , Alma, Brown Turkey, Celeste, Black Italian, LSU Gold) for only $22.50 each I bought several of them for rootstocks . I like bushy fig trees instead of tall ones . Bushy trees are like bonsai if you trim them down at dormant time . They will produce reachable figs that you can enjoy . Oh yes, I do not need a lot of fruits, just 20 figs for each tree so I can eat fresh and make fig jam for my winter time . Imagine how many figs you will have if you multiply 20 by 200 trees ----> 4,000 figs a year to eat !!!! A bonsai tree does not occupy a lot of space in your greenhouse Unless you have 20 acres of land, no problem for tall and large trees . Yesterday I visited a lady friend who has 4 tall big trees in her backyard ----> 1 fig tree, 1 Asian persimmon, 1 loquat, 1 jujube . All of them are loaded with fruits . She complained that she never had a chance to eat those fruits in the past because the squirrels ate them all !!! Since the trees are so tall and so large, it is impossible for her to cover them with net . So her trees are just for shade ... Wow. That's what I mean. The pricing up here is based on pot size. Why not throw a 1 foot tree in a 15 gal pot and sell it for $150? ;) __________________ NNJ

Charlie

Registered:1404043833
Posts: 1,214

Posted 1462571375	Reply with quote #24

You have people who like me, will gladly shop at the hardware store or discount outlet. Others wouldn't be caught in one and will pay, the more the better in their thinking. It's a mixed up world. No doubt, the nursery hopes to cater to the ones who won't go to wal mart and they must or they wouldn't remain in business long enough for a tree to reach the sizes they have. __________________ Zone 7A ~ Fort Smith area Arkansas

Sas

Registered:1350079929
Posts: 1,363

Posted 1462575692	Reply with quote #25

I pinched a lot of my in pot trees this year and they all turned into shrubs. I prefer a shrub in a container. I'm hoping to get more figs this way. As for in ground, I'm noticing that certain varieties prefer a single trunk and then spread naturally on their own without any interference, while some others prefer a shrub type growth. Here's an example of a tree that I never touched. In my mind, it is my best looking tree in the yard so far. I also regretted pinching the Violette de Sollies, that went into ground. It just stopped doing anything and might take several seasons to recover and start spreading out the way I like. Attached Images image.jpeg (962.37 KB, 75 views) __________________ Sas from North Austin TX Zone 8B Wish list: Becane

evladi7654

Registered:1251236390
Posts: 48

Posted 1462637741	Reply with quote #26

This is a good example of the people who think they are the last instance and the ruler of the ''Truth''. Everything has its followers and lovers.... Let the diversity prevail !! You should also understand that the Growers can not fit your only taste ... You buy essentials and then you can shape whaterver shape you like . Be patient and respectful to the Peoples' labor !

COGardener

Registered:1357441505
Posts: 814

Posted 1462662990	Reply with quote #27

Quote: Originally Posted by evladi7654 This is a good example of the people who think they are the last instance and the ruler of the ''Truth''. Everything has its followers and lovers.... Let the diversity prevail !! You should also understand that the Growers can not fit your only taste ... You buy essentials and then you can shape whaterver shape you like . Be patient and respectful to the Peoples' labor ! Well said!

ricky

Registered:1444161045
Posts: 214

Posted 1462664046	Reply with quote #28

Those nursery trees are trained for some reason, I think that it is easy/cheaper for transportation and storage. Also it is faster to bear fig in its pot, I bought 5 fig trees like this before leave out, I planted them too earlier in ground, It beared one fig but dropped = none , I checked back to same nursery, all their figs trees are bearing with 5 to 15 breba figs each, Anyway, I am hoping that I can get some main crop fig. __________________ - BC, Canada, PNW Zone 8 with windy ( Zone7 - branches damage at winter) - Wish list - Granthams Royal, RdB, any heavy breba varieties or early one crop varieties.

sdpops

Registered:1421044703
Posts: 42

Posted 1462905966 · Edited	Reply with quote #29

I agree with dcantor, I see tall,leggy trees like these as multiple trees for the price of one. Two falls ago I bought a panache at home depot that was easily 5 feet tall with 4 limbs at the top for about 25 dollars. I cut each limb back 6 inches and refrigerated them for a month. Within 2 weeks multiple buds sprouted on both the limbs and the main truck. I put it in the ground in November and in February I cut an additional 6 inches off each limb. 7 of the eight cuttings rooted and were out in 1 gallon pots by the end of March. I gave some of these away to friends and planted some at our neighborhood center. As far as I know they all had fruit last fall. Very little work involved, but because we really don't have a dormant season here in Yuma, Arizona moving pots etc really isn't an issue. We can root any time of year and go from rooting pots directly to the ground. So bottom line, in this case, 8 bushes for the price of one! Sdpops, yuma, az,zone 10, ibt,Verde green, panache, kadota, peters honey, canadria

Centurion

Registered:1293429646
Posts: 810

Posted 1462976526 · Edited	Reply with quote #30

One of the things I love about fig trees is that, once established, they are so trainable and hardy. You can shape em any way you want em. New shoots on an established tree grow fast, are easy to direct into just about any direction you like and, if they have a healthy root system, can put on six or seven feet of growth in a single season. (I have trees with over a foot of new growth on them already this year). Heck, you can cut your tree to the ground if you don't like the way it looks and start over with a brand new shape of your choice. I have been at this for only a little over six years now, but I'm amazed at what my older established trees are capable of with regard to shaping, production, and their ability to propagate new trees with just a little intervention on my part. __________________ Dave Verde Valley, AZ Zone 8

gpag0nze

Registered:1449164266
Posts: 20

Posted 1463269281	Reply with quote #31

Bought a Brown Turkey that was 3' and bushy and a Chicago that was 4' with two distinct stems. I"ll just cut it back this fall and root the cutting. I also picked up an LSU Purple that was really too bushy but I am going to wait awhile to see how it does. I do have a green Kadota that is 3 years old and producing in North Carolina, but I am on the coast and so we have a more temperate climate.

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