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pacifica

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Posted Reply with quote  #1 
I stopped by one local nursery with a friend of mine in last Sept and found over 10 fig trees there (Desert King & Celeste) about 5 - 6 ft height at $25.9.99 each. We did not buy because my friend said he would have some cuttings from eBay. He started his cuttings project in Dec by spending over $29.99 for a few cuttings from eBay, then over $25.00 for Pro-Mix HP plus effort, timing and so on. If he is lucky, he might get healthy cuttings this Spring then take at least over18 months to reach 5 ft height with figs to eat. I questioned him why not buy the existing 5 - 6 ft fig tree from the nursery at $29.99 last Sept when we were there. He said he wanted to do something to kill time. If you were him, what would you do ?

 
Figgysid1

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Posted Reply with quote  #2 
I rarely see fig trees here at local nurseries. It looks like it's mostly overstocked ones from other nurseries in the main land, that are over grown and root bound. Size Ranges between 6 inches and 5-6feet tall for $12 each plus tax.

If I see any I don't have I get them, as you skip the worst part (rooting a cutting). I got lucky a few times and got, Desert king, Italian honey, Black mission, Excel, Flanders, Conadria, Peters honey, Kadota, Brown turkey, Texas blue giant, Purple Magnolia, Violet De Bordeaux, Genoa, Petite negra and Panachee. Mostly from Walmart, but sometimes they only get one shipment a year.

I don't think I could get them cheaper than that even cuttings plus shipping will usually be over $12.
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FigSG

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Posted Reply with quote  #3 
I prefer established big plants than cuttings. Instant gratification.
ricky

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Posted Reply with quote  #4 
I live in Surrey BC, My family member have couple fig trees, none of them have sweet figs, I know that how tough to get sweet figs in NPW due to weaker sun.

Last year, August,  I tried my 1st "Desert king" fig and it was so delicious, In September, I bought 7 "Desert king" 2FT to 6 FT tall, from 2 sellers, and I planted 4 in ground, because I want to make sure that I can get sweet figs in 2016 without waiting for another year.

I tried my low cost fig cuttings in September, Cuttings from couple free fig trees nearBy, I had about 15+ bady fig  trees, but only 2 are still alive now, Anyway, I know my mistakes of too much water.

I am planning to buy 5 to 7 fig trees this year and project cost is about $200, I am hoping that I can get some inexpensive cuttings as well, Project cost is about $100. Fig project in Canada is a lots more expensive than in USA.






desert king bady 1.jpg
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jdsfrance

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Posted Reply with quote  #5 
Hi pacifica,
You did not say what shape had the trees? One trunk ? Several trunks ? One trunk and some rootshoots ? Long story short, could you make several trees out of one pot ?
Well, 26 bucks for a 5' tree ... If I had some place left, and I did not already own those strains, I wouldn't even think twice, and would buy one of each strain.
Sometimes you need to pull the gun quick as you might not have a second chance... Bottom line: The choice is yours !
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Mario_1

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Posted Reply with quote  #6 
No question about it, mutch better to buy tree as long it is a varietal that you want and don't already have, especially at my age 71, every year counts. Of course i enjoy starting cuttings, but there are plenty varietals where you have no choice because plants are just not available. And then there is always those cuttings that you just happen to find like Ponte Tresa or one from your great-great grandfather's house in Italy.
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pacifica

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Posted Reply with quote  #7 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jdsfrance
Hi pacifica,
You did not say what shape had the trees? One trunk ? Several trunks ? One trunk and some rootshoots ? Long story short, could you make several trees out of one pot ?
Well, 26 bucks for a 5' tree ... If I had some place left, and I did not already own those strains, I wouldn't even think twice, and would buy one of each strain.
Sometimes you need to pull the gun quick as you might not have a second chance... Bottom line: The choice is yours !


Hi jgsfrance : If I remember correctly, those fig trees there were one trunk with 4 to 5 branches at least. I was thinking to buy Desert King for myself, but my friend said he would give me one in Spring. He told me he ordered some cuttings from eBay but the bad news was none of them are still alive due to over watered and rod. If I have choice, I would 100% buy the existing Desert King as there were a few there that I could pick the better one I like. Anyway, he agreed with me.
Garlic_Mike

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Posted Reply with quote  #8 
I would have done both, lol.

Fig trees should be available at Lowe's in Ct stores when the fruit trees arrive, late winter/early spring.

3 or four types last year. Common types last I saw. The local store said they would have them again. Home Depot will not. I talked to the supplier.

I have heard Paradise Nursery in Hamden Ct has trees. I don't know if they are in the ground. I haven't been there.
Figgysid1

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Posted Reply with quote  #9 
Quote:
Originally Posted by pacifica
He told me he ordered some cuttings from eBay but the bad news was none of them are still alive due to over watered and rod.


Who is this rod? And why did he kill your friends cuttings?
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aaa

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Posted Reply with quote  #10 
wasnt rod  but it was rot.
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Figgysid1

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Posted Reply with quote  #11 
Oh ok.. Thanks. Was going to say, he sounds like a Nimrod, but did not want to be mean.
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aaa

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Posted Reply with quote  #12 
lol
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snaglpus

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Posted Reply with quote  #13 
I would buy the darn tree and spend time educating myself on figs all together.  There are different sports of DK out there.  I have several from different sources.  The one I have from UCD is beet red inside.  Others I've seen posted here and a few others I have --are pink inside.  Both are sweet, both are hardy as heck but what a learning experience for me!  I don't mind spending the extra dollar buying a fig.  Rooting UCD DK was a pain for me and took years to produce.  Rooting cuttings take time, patience and can be a major headache and wasted time.  You can eliminate that with a few bucks IMHO.
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Dennis
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elin

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Posted Reply with quote  #14 
Hi ,
Like your friend - If id buy all my trees from a nursery I would be bored.
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Figgysid1

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Posted Reply with quote  #15 
For me it's not the difficulty of rooting cuttings, but I just get bored waiting for them to sprout and root. It's like watching water dry, or paint boil.
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(Zone 12a) Big Island, Hawaii, 2,400 ft elevation, Fern Forest. Avg. July High 77,Avg.Jan.Low 56 Precipitation days 290, annual rainfall 201.80 inches.
pacifica

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Posted Reply with quote  #16 
Thanks to all for the comments. Different people different thought. That's quite normal and no big deal !
TahomaGuy2

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Posted Reply with quote  #17 
Propagating fig trees is a "lazy man's hobby" for me. I'll cut 6" branches off my 3-mature trees in mid-March,
dip the ends in rootone and stick them 4" - 5" in moist soil.  Works most of the time. 
OH! I was very surprised to see a 3'+ Olympian for sale in Sept. for $11.59
at a hardware store. Couldn't take my eyes off it...bought it! Olympian is a very rare find.
I didn't want to wait (waste) a couple years trying to develop an Olympian.
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pacifica

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Posted Reply with quote  #18 
Quote:
Originally Posted by TahomaGuy2
Propagating fig trees is a "lazy man's hobby" for me. I'll cut 6" branches off my 3-mature trees in mid-March,
dip the ends in rootone and stick them 4" - 5" in moist soil.  Works most of the time. 
OH! I was very surprised to see a 3'+ Olympian for sale in Sept. for $11.59
at a hardware store. Couldn't take my eyes off it...bought it! Olympian is a very rare find.
I didn't want to wait (waste) a couple years trying to develop an Olympian.



I would do the same as well.
Last year my friend did well for his cuttings but up to now, all new cuttings he said disaster !!! even he said he did follow the same method as before. I told him different varieties could be very different. 
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