Suckers as cuttings

Author

Comment

cjccmc

Registered:1469609201
Posts: 66

Posted 1479271513	Reply with quote #1

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. __________________ Conrad, SoCal zone 10

Garlic_Mike

Registered:1442372397
Posts: 251

Posted 1479274614	Reply with quote #2

They can root. When you cut them and put the cut ends directly in water. Change the water daily and keep there 4-5 days. Try to have the cuttings over 6". Parafilm the tops and plant with rooting compound. I had a couple stupid thin from pizzaman, they wilted in 24 hours and I got them to grow this way. p.s. don't buy green cuttings from pizzaman. Mike

TorontoJoe

Registered:1445889447
Posts: 257

Posted 1479276468	Reply with quote #3

I have several like this that were at best 2/3 the diameter of a pencil and as little as 4" long. The success rate is lower but if it's a fig you want to grow it's worth while trying. I started this one 1st week in September. Also, I found success rate about equal with or without rooting hormone. Also, the narrower cuttings are further along then the thicker ones. I was worried they were burning themselves out so I gave them a very diluted dose of liquid fertilizer as soon as I saw roots. Curious - Who's Pizzaman? __________________ Zone 6 Guildwood Village - Toronto, Canada Seeking: Panache, Really great unknowns

ADelmanto

Registered:1359774201
Posts: 911

Posted 1479293208	Reply with quote #4

Conrad's question was two fold. First "will they root?" Yes - treat like any other cutting. "Will it be of the same quality?" I've wondered this myself. I have not done a side by side comparison but I would imagine that since they are from the same source that eventually they would be similar trees. I would think branch cuttings may produce fruit in it's first or second year while the suckers would be delayed a little longer, fruiting in 3-4 years. It's only a guess on my part but I don't think I'm far off. I don't think there would be any noticable difference in eventual tree shape. __________________ https://www.facebook.com/From-The-Ground-Up-403313193085649/

jdsfrance

Registered:1376988473
Posts: 2,591

Posted 1479294537	Reply with quote #5

Hi, They can root ; it all depends on what you're calling a root-sucker ( one week popped out root-sucker ? one full season old ?). This is what I would do: Keep the suckers and remove them with roots come next May or June and give them by then. I would do this especially if the root-suckers popped out this season as they are green wood and that's a misery to keep those alive. You could be lucky too and root them all ... It is a matter of odds. I would edge my odds and act in May , except if you're urged to give the cuttings and people won't come back to you asking for more, because the first ones died ... Depending on the strain root-suckers may take longer to fruit. But on a non grafted tree, they will be a copy of the mother and fruit like herself ... Except for some possible small mutations . I've got a weeping one for instance... She's the only one with weeping branches ... out of 50+ . __________________ ------------------------ Climate from -25°C to + 35°C Only cold hardy figtrees can make it here

TorontoJoe

Registered:1445889447
Posts: 257

Posted 1479307445	Reply with quote #6

True. There are different stages of root sucker. I always just assumed a sucker behaved no different than a cutting. If you had one with roots from below ground I'd imagine it would have a better chance of taking. In the end I generally can't bear to throw out anything I clip from a fig tree so will take a shot at rooting anything I can. Nothing really to lose and every attempt is gained experience. And if it works out there's always someone to take a surplus tree off your hands. __________________ Zone 6 Guildwood Village - Toronto, Canada Seeking: Panache, Really great unknowns

cjccmc

Registered:1469609201
Posts: 66

Posted 1479313990	Reply with quote #7

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 ;-) __________________ Conrad, SoCal zone 10

TorontoJoe

Registered:1445889447
Posts: 257

Posted 1479314575	Reply with quote #8

LOL! I think your assessment is spot-on.... My guess is that they'll grow fine but if first year growth it might be a few years until you see fruit.... But what do I know.... Different trees in different environments.... __________________ Zone 6 Guildwood Village - Toronto, Canada Seeking: Panache, Really great unknowns

APORTO

Registered:1443104360
Posts: 101

Posted 1479330590	Reply with quote #9

Another related question: Instead of using suckers as cuttings, can you air-layer the suckers now and produce rooted saplings by spring? Or will dormant trees not produce roots at all? __________________ 6B-7A - Woodbridge, CT

TorontoJoe

Registered:1445889447
Posts: 257

Posted 1479347422	Reply with quote #10

I've seen suckers bent back in the soil to air layer but only during the growing season. As far as I know, once the plant goes dormant it's the whole plant - roots and all..... I'd assume if it's potted indoors and not allowed to go dormant this would work. However haven't seen that done. __________________ Zone 6 Guildwood Village - Toronto, Canada Seeking: Panache, Really great unknowns

Previous Topic | Next Topic