Cuttings: Planning for this winter already.

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FiggyFrank

Registered:1347560723
Posts: 2,713

Posted 1399900460	Reply with quote #1

I'm still fairly new to growing figs, but this past winter has taught me to prune for cuttings by December if you want the best quality. This year, I took cuttings in January and February and the tips were damaged by the cold. This may be standard practice by most of you, but it's something to think about for the newer growers. It may save a good strain! __________________ Frank zone 7a - VA

bullet08

Registered:1284496248
Posts: 6,920

Posted 1399900705	Reply with quote #2

last few yrs, i took cutting whenever i felt like. even during the summer. older wood doesn't seem to show much of an issue. but the new growth will leak latex for awhile. once it dries up, the pith will shrink and sunk into the bottom leaving a hole in the cut site. i agree it would be best to cut them when they are dormant. i'll have to clean up some of those holes in coming winter. __________________ Pete Durham, NC Zone 7b "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...***

ascpete

Registered:1336096379
Posts: 1,942

Posted 1399903904	Reply with quote #3

Frank, I've come to the same conclusion to prune once the trees have gone dormant in late fall. I was able to get a few fall cuttings from 6 large in ground trees, but was only able to schedule Spring pruning for another 6 trees. I've pruned 4 of the six large trees already this spring and they all have had major die back with very little viable cuttings. Most have 4 inch and larger trunks and have been pruned back to 2' - 3' from soil line. Pete, Sealing the cut ends with pruning sealer after pruning in the fall will keep the pith from drying out completely and allow the bud time to grow out from the nearest full node in the spring. .

Joe_Athens1945

Registered:1396815560
Posts: 365

Posted 1399923180	Reply with quote #4

Quote: Originally Posted by ascpete Frank, I've come to the same conclusion to prune once the trees have gone dormant in late fall. I was able to get a few fall cuttings from 6 large in ground trees, but was only able to schedule Spring pruning for another 6 trees. I've pruned 4 of the six large trees already this spring and they all have had major die back with very little viable cuttings. Most have 4 inch and larger trunks and have been pruned back to 2' - 3' from soil line. Pete, Sealing the cut ends with pruning sealer after pruning in the fall will keep the pith from drying out completely and allow the bud time to grow out from the nearest full node in the spring. . Figs are a blessing all the way around. I find that even in the winter, if you burn the cut wood that has died back in your fireplace, it produces a wonderful scented wood odor, rather like mulberry or crepe myrtle wood. (hey! why wouldn't they all smell the same? - they are all in the same family!) __________________ Athens, GA USA Zone 7b My young trees in the ground and in pots: Brown Turkey, White Triana JM, Magnolia, Strawberry Verte, Violette de Bordeaux, Panache, UK Brooklyn Dark JP, Ronde de Bordeaux. Wish list: St Rita

coop951

Registered:1217167527
Posts: 596

Posted 1399923999	Reply with quote #5

My mistake was starting too early (January) with the rootings. The fig fever overtook my good timing senses. Was hard to keep the babies going indoors and then making the transition to the outside. And the rain.... and then more rain.... __________________ Coop Northern NJ Zone 7a

FiggyFrank

Registered:1347560723
Posts: 2,713

Posted 1399927938	Reply with quote #6

If you can store them after pruning in December, I find it best to start cuttings in April to prevent so much indoor support. I did so this year and it's been a lot less trouble than last year when I began rooting in January. __________________ Frank zone 7a - VA

DesertDance

Registered:1247674606
Posts: 4,518

Posted 1399928729	Reply with quote #7

I have learned the hard way to start cuttings in ground when the weather warms up. They seem to grow, and fungus gnats stay away. I have a ton of cuttings to plant tomorrow from UC Davis, and they will be in partial shade, horizontal in a trench in ground. I walk a way. The sprinkler goes on every other day. Once they show leaves, the gopher wire will come into play. I'm done with cups and perlite! Suzi __________________ 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!

Aaron4USA

Registered:1375832059
Posts: 2,969

Posted 1399930514	Reply with quote #8

Suzy, I started to stick 'em directly into the see-through containers that have been drilled on the side bottoms (only 4 holes) and cover them with another see-through one to give the green house effect. You should see the size of those roots, I put them in a sunny corner but shelter them with portable palm tree s in pots. They love heat and bright light. You see the roots hitting the walls of the containers in less then 2 weeks. I'm still in shock. I can share some pics if you guys want to see...

jenn42

Registered:1389575153
Posts: 256

Posted 1399940014	Reply with quote #9

A picture is worth a thousand words :) __________________ Jenn Austin, TX Zone 8b Wish List: CDD, Bryant-Dark Unknown, Red Lebanese, ORoarke, Calvert Will hopefully have cuttings to trade next year as my yearlings mature

patriota

Registered:1318792004
Posts: 79

Posted 1399940041	Reply with quote #10

Aaron we need to see pics, a lot of my cuttings failed and I am here in San Diego __________________ PVG

drphil69

Registered:1390113240
Posts: 803

Posted 1399945012	Reply with quote #11

Quote: Originally Posted by Aaron4USA Suzy, I started to stick 'em directly into the see-through containers that have been drilled on the side bottoms (only 4 holes) and cover them with another see-through one to give the green house effect. You should see the size of those roots, I put them in a sunny corner but shelter them with portable palm tree s in pots. They love heat and bright light. You see the roots hitting the walls of the containers in less then 2 weeks. I'm still in shock. I can share some pics of you guys want to see... Without pics, it didn't happen, lol. __________________ Phil - Zone 7A - Newark, DE Newbie fig lover just trying to learn.

Hershell

Registered:1396922438
Posts: 650

Posted 1399945688	Reply with quote #12

4 hours already. Suspense. __________________ Hershell Zone 8. Ray City, Ga.

GeneDaniels

Registered:1384021772
Posts: 1,014

Posted 1399947249	Reply with quote #13

Quote: Originally Posted by DesertDance I have learned the hard way to start cuttings in ground when the weather warms up. They seem to grow, and fungus gnats stay away. I have a ton of cuttings to plant tomorrow from UC Davis, and they will be in partial shade, horizontal in a trench in ground. I walk a way. The sprinkler goes on every other day. Once they show leaves, the gopher wire will come into play. I'm done with cups and perlite! Suzi I completely agree with you Suzi. I put 15 cuttings in the ground a month ago, and over half of them are sending up shoots now. __________________ Zone 7b (Central Arkansas) Seven trees in the ground: Hardy Chicago, Celeste(?), LSU gold, Italian Black, Southern Brown Turkey(?), Strawberry Verte, and Unk yellow. Trees in pots: VdB, CdD, and Sicilian?

mgginva

Registered:1320266925
Posts: 1,857

Posted 1399950731	Reply with quote #14

I seem to be one of the few folks that likes green cuttings from this time of the year. If I'm not terribly concerned about loosing fruit from taking branches -- or cutting suckers and branches lower then I want on the plant, I end up with a bunch of very viable cuttings. I usually stick them in water for a few weeks and then put them in a 1 gallon trade pot with fafard #52. I put a stick next to the cutting so the 1 or 2 gallon zip lock bag I put the whole thing into does not touch the cutting. When I take the cutting I cut back all but a fraction of one leaf (cuttings without leaves do no do as well). I put these mini greenhouses out in the dappled sunshine and they do as well or better then dormant cuttings taken in the fall. I try and take these before they are bigger then just one cutting (6 inches or so with at least 3 or 4 growth nodes) so there aren't cuttings without leaves left over. If I want to do without soaking in water first I make sure there is a lot of moisture and there is plenty of condensation on the zip lock bag (sticks are very important here). Usually if the partial leaf dies so will the cutting, but if the "machinery" is uninterrupted the cutting will root quickly. I have been doing this for several years and find it's very easy. But oddly there are certain varieties that don't seem to thrive using this method. Kathleen's Black is one example of a variety that takes a very long time before you can tell if it's going to root successfully. I root cuttings just about every way I can think of and this is one of my favorites. If sending these green cuttings they are very susceptible to drying out and do not do well if they aren't kept very moist. When taking hardwood cuttings I don't find the sap leaking to be a problem and do not seal -- and definitely don't use any kind of sealants. If storing I either wash and wax the ends or wrap in clear wrap. __________________ Michael in Virginia (zone 7a) Wish list: Perretta,

Aaron4USA

Registered:1375832059
Posts: 2,969

Posted 1399960657	Reply with quote #15

@jenn42 @patriota @drphil69 @hershell OK, I just came home from a long boring day of lecture in Beverly Hills. Bluh... Just took pictures of the babies, they were asleep with their covers on, woke only 3 of them but it will give you an idea... this rooting and growth happened within... ok, I planted the cuttings on 04-27-2014. Do your math, LOL

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