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stevin

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Posted Reply with quote  #1 

hello, complete newbie to growing figs. yet, i'm a pro at eating them.
i've been lurking here for awhile now reading as much as i can while at work but it gets a lil tricky when i have to keep minimizing the screen everytime someone comes by....

this summer i have received and bought some fig trees.
Brown Turkey
Magnolia
Ischia
San Pietro
Paradiso
Italian Honey
Desert King
White Triana

my questions are;
when can i start trying to get some cutting to root?
is it too early/late to start now? and if i can start no,  what do i do with the cuttings this time of the year once they have rooted in the middle of the winter?

i have read that people store their cutting in the crisper drawer in the fridge. is there any steps that i need to take in order to do this?



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go4broek

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Posted Reply with quote  #2 

Welcome to the forum, Stevin!

You can root year-round if you have the facilities (a warm place with adequate natural or artificial lighting) to keep them growing. If you don't, then wait until Spring. Cuttings are normally taken just before breaking dormancy to minimize indoor growing time. You can start your cuttings around the time you would start your melon seeds indoors. 4-6 weeks should be good. If you have to take cuttings sooner, you can store them in the crisper after adding a barely damp paper towel and store  them in a freezer bag. No other treatment is needed, but some folks think fungicides or bleach help them. Good luck!
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Ruben
Cibolo, TX/Zone 8b
Wish List: Dalmatie, Italian 258, Martin's Unknown (not the Italian), CdD-N, NdC, Signora, Latarolla, Stella!
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Gina

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Posted Reply with quote  #3 
Hi, welcome to the forum.

Here is a thread from yesterday that might interest you. I know you have different questions than are answered there, but it will help get you started. :)

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/How-do-you-root-your-cuttings.-6049293
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rcantor

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Posted Reply with quote  #4 
Dormant cuttings are treated differently than green cuttings.  You're from Massachusetts?  If so wait till the trees are dormant.  How big are they?  For green cuttings search for givens.  Ray Givens  (Givans?) has a you tube video that walks you through how to do green cuttings but since your plants are probably sleepy right now I'm not sure this is a good time to start.  Then look for Jon's baggie method.  He has a tutorial in the education section of this site.  Good luck!
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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.
stevin

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Posted Reply with quote  #5 
Thank you, i love this forum and have learned so much. yet there is so much to learn.

i am in Massachusetts.
the cutting are coming from a unknown fig variety. a friend of mine wants to prune his tree back before winterizing it, it's grown inground.  so i believe that would be dormant cuttings?
His tree is roughly 8' tall and probably just as wide.
my trees are still very tiny, still on their 1st year except for the brown turkey which is on it's 2nd year. so there isn't much to take from those.

as far as a place with adequate sunlight, not so much....
all my south facing windows are shaded by the pine trees due to the low setting sun. so it sounds like my best bet would be to start the cutting in March. would i be able to store the cutting in the fridge till then? would i have to periodically open the bag to allow fresh air in?

I did watch Jon's videos on Youtube regarding the bagie method. awesome tutorial!!!!
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DesertDance

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Posted Reply with quote  #6 
I'll add my welcome, and wish you luck!!

Suzi
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Figfinatic

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Posted Reply with quote  #7 
Hi, watch out. Sounds like you are going to be a fig fanatic in no time.   My only advice is don't keep your cuttings too moist.  That was my big problem.
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stevin

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Posted Reply with quote  #8 
Figfinatic,
when you say "too moist" are you refering to when the cuttings are being stored in the fridge or when actually trying to get them rooted?

by the way, i'm alreay a fig fanatic!!!! have been for a long time.
but now that i have my own house and yard i want my own trees.
and hopefully next year i can introduce my son to fresh figs.
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Grasa

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Posted Reply with quote  #9 
best and more certain way to propagate. pick a branch you believe you will not need and will prune. That is the branch you wish to do an airlayer...the branch roots in place while being fed by the momma tree. after roots are present you cut the branch and plant it in a pot, if you are gentle, not shaking, the leaves will not fall, Figs are funny if you mess too much with them, the drop the leaves, but of course grow them again.   I had a lot of fun with the airlayers.  Also, make sure if you wish that branch to 'regrow' on the momma tree, that you make your airlayer at least 2 'eyes' up on the branch.   Good luck there and you have a nice starting.
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Grasa
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Posted Reply with quote  #10 
when cuttings are too moist, they rot. Mine did also when I did not know better. Now I check often and keep them in a sealed container, so there is less drying. I open for air and close quickly.
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Grasa
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bullet08

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Posted Reply with quote  #11 
i have more problem growing indoor than outdoor. so i usually root them in spring. around late march works best for me. by the time night temp goes above 50, most of my cuttings are in cup with roots and ready to stay out till night temp drops below 40. for whatever reason, if my cuttings stay indoor too long, they either dry up like a bone, or die due to mold. i move them outdoor as soon as i think they will survive the temp outside. the fresh air and circulation of the air outside seems to help my figs a lot.

some members like to get their cuttings in fall and store them. i never stored the cuttings before since i just root them right away. i might have to store them this year since i'm getting some interesting cuttings coming in.
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Pete
Durham, NC
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"don't talk to me about naval tradition. It's nothing but rum, sodomy and the lash." - sir winston churchill
"the problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." - the baroness thatcher

***** all my figs have FMV/FMD, in case you're wondering. *****
***** and... i don't sell things. what little i have will be posted here in winter for first come first serve base to be shared. no, i'm not a socialist...*****
stevin

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Posted Reply with quote  #12 
what would be the proper technique to store cuttings in the fridge till march?
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