My one and only Original.

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Aaron4USA

Registered:1375832059
Posts: 2,969

Posted 1413856930	Reply with quote #1

By now you all probably have seen the picture of my "One and Only" in ground tree that's 7 years old. I had seen so many things on it from Different leave patterns to only few branches that carry FMV. I Conducted experiments on the poor thing like... Pinching the tips, bending the branches...you name it I have do it to her. And this year, finally, she gave me 2 figs. TWO! my first TWO figs. The tree was from a seed most probably, that I pulled from Glendale courthouse Ivy bed in summer of 2007. Here's some pictorial history on her... Excuse the size of the pictures , since that has become a standard for my pictures. The taste was very complex, to my surprise, very strong figgie fragrance and well sweetened pul had a very syrupy , not juicy texture. The skin was also very sweet. Was not caprified (to my surprise...) Overall, something tells me it was worth waiting 7 years... I think every Fig deserves all the time they need to prove their worthiness :)

americanfiglover

Registered:1236649731
Posts: 643

Posted 1413857222	Reply with quote #2

Hopefully she produce more figs for you in the coming years. __________________ Jarrett Spokane, WA ZONE 6A Proudly Serving in the United States Armed Forces, 2009-Present Everyone should have a green thumb Figs: Nero600m

Charlie

Registered:1404043833
Posts: 1,214

Posted 1413857918	Reply with quote #3

You should send me cuttings to test cold hardiness. :) __________________ Zone 7A ~ Fort Smith area Arkansas

Aaron4USA

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Posts: 2,969

Posted 1413858415	Reply with quote #4

I don't see why not Charlie... no problem sharing.

Charlie

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Posts: 1,214

Posted 1413858704	Reply with quote #5

Cool! Thanks :) __________________ Zone 7A ~ Fort Smith area Arkansas

armando93223

Registered:1318984112
Posts: 1,164

Posted 1413865667	Reply with quote #6

Very Nice, I don't know if I can wait that long. Congratulations my Friend, Looks like a winner. __________________ Armando in the Heart of California

Aaron4USA

Registered:1375832059
Posts: 2,969

Posted 1413869494	Reply with quote #7

Thanks Armando, that thang had become a permanent fixture in the garden... sometimes I would forget it's even a tree. LOL Time goes by anyway. **So, if cuttings taken from it or air layered it would be as if it was a regular fig cutting or one would have to wait again several years to see fruit?

greenfig

Registered:1359790036
Posts: 3,182

Posted 1413870779	Reply with quote #8

Quote: Originally Posted by Aaron4USA Thanks Armando, that thang had become a permanent fixture in the garden... sometimes I would forget it's even a tree. LOL Time goes by anyway. So, if cuttings taken from it or air layered it would be as if it was a regular fig cutting or one would have to wait again several years to see fruit? No, you’ve done the waiting, we will eat the fruit :) __________________ wish list: Violeta, Calderona. USDA z 10a, SoCal

Vladis

Registered:1390659900
Posts: 352

Posted 1413874584 · Edited	Reply with quote #9

Аарон, привет. В НБС (Никитский Ботанический Сад), Ялта учёные в прошлом веке активно проводили различные научные эксперименты с инжирами. Коллекция инжиров в НБС тогда составляла более 370 сортов со всего мира. Эти учёные, в результате научных экспериментов установили, что максимальной урожайности инжиры достигают в 7-8 летнем возрасте. Я делаю вывод, что ваш сеянец очень неудачный, раз дал к 7 годам только 2 фиги. У меня есть несколько 5 -летних сеянцев, начали плодоношение с 3-4 лет, урожайность низкая. Я теперь использую эти мощные, сильные сеянцы для прививания сортовыми инжирами. __________________ Зона 8Б ,Туапсе, Россия.

Aaron4USA

Registered:1375832059
Posts: 2,969

Posted 1413876027	Reply with quote #10

Vladik, Я понимаю , что вы говорите , и понимаю, что это даже неагрессивный растет разнообразие, но это был эксперимент . Надеюсь , что это улучшит временем и производить больше инжир в следующем году .

FiggyFrank

Registered:1347560723
Posts: 2,713

Posted 1413894499	Reply with quote #11

Is that tree getting enough sunlight? It looks somewhat shielded with those tall trees next to it. You may get lots more figs otherwise. __________________ Frank zone 7a - VA

Aaron4USA

Registered:1375832059
Posts: 2,969

Posted 1413904901	Reply with quote #12

Hi Frank, this tree gets about 8hrs of sun everyday, when I took the picture it was early morning. The sun goes from Left to Right of the tree.

armando93223

Registered:1318984112
Posts: 1,164

Posted 1413905345	Reply with quote #13

Aaron, I was wondering to, if you were to graft it onto another tree, would it take a lot of years...??? I grafted the Preto Cutting onto a Mission in January and got 2 figs in late August. Maybe someone could chime in on this. __________________ Armando in the Heart of California

GregMartin

Registered:1370378358
Posts: 550

Posted 1413907078	Reply with quote #14

Aaron, did those figs form up high on the shrub? It may be that all the nodes below the nodes that produced figs are immature wood. If you take cuttings for rooting or grafting they should probably be from above the nodes that the figs were formed at to insure that the propagation wood is mature. This would help to avoid long waits again with the new trees. That would be my take on that Armando...only propagate from known mature portions of the plant. __________________ zone 5 Maine Seeking: Saint Martin, Naples White, Black Tuscan, Bécane, French Alps, Abruzzi, Tenica, Wild Mountain Figs from the coldest corners (Iranian, Turkish or other...would love seeds too)

Aaron4USA

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Posts: 2,969

Posted 1413916221	Reply with quote #15

Yes Greg, the figs were at the top branches in the middle high part in the pic...

Moonlight

Registered:1332008556
Posts: 34

Posted 1413917874	Reply with quote #16

Congratulations Aron, Yes I too wonder about that tree is it a pine tree ? Not many plants like to grow around pine trees.

Sas

Registered:1350079929
Posts: 1,363

Posted 1413918179	Reply with quote #17

Aaron, Perhaps your tree is struggling for being planted next to a huge tree and having a tough time spreading its roots. __________________ Sas from North Austin TX Zone 8B Wish list: Becane

Aaron4USA

Registered:1375832059
Posts: 2,969

Posted 1413920982	Reply with quote #18

@Moonlight and Sas The fig is planted under Palm trees and they are surrounded with California Oaks (which are protected species ) and further there are very old Pine trees. Figs are known to grow at tightest crevices and they have no problem surviving. The reason it took to long to fruit is (this is my assumption) because it was from a seed not from a cutting.

lampo

Registered:1329071797
Posts: 2,062

Posted 1413921159	Reply with quote #19

Aaron, This is a nice fig. Congrats! I do share what is being said about the proximity of bigger trees. All those root systems are competing for the available water and nutrients... the smaller ones will always loose. Sorry but if you wish to see a stronger and more productive fig, one option shall be to relocate it to a sunny/free area and the timing for that is approaching... If you do it and compensate the little tree with a special fertigation diet, I am confident that it will be very happy and give you in return a good deal of figs this coming season. Francisco Portugal

americanfiglover

Registered:1236649731
Posts: 643

Posted 1413921675	Reply with quote #20

Quote: Originally Posted by lampo Aaron, This is a nice fig. Congrats! I do share what is being said about the proximity of bigger trees. All those root systems are competing for the available water and nutrients... the smaller ones will always loose. Sorry but if you wish to see a stronger and more productive fig, one option shall be to relocate it to a sunny/free area and the timing for that is approaching... If you do it and compensate the little tree with a special fertigation diet, I am confident that it will be very happy and give you in return a good deal of figs this coming season. Francisco Portugal Relocation might not be a bad ideal. If he does juice it up with some nutrients wouldn't the larger trees just rob the fig? __________________ Jarrett Spokane, WA ZONE 6A Proudly Serving in the United States Armed Forces, 2009-Present Everyone should have a green thumb Figs: Nero600m

Aaron4USA

Registered:1375832059
Posts: 2,969

Posted 1413921720 · Edited	Reply with quote #21

Something to have in mind Francisco. I was also thinking to Air Layer the top nice part with triple branching and have a nice starter which I know was fruiting and leave the rest to Nature to take it's course. I am planning to keep all my trees bellow human hight in a bush style, for convenience. Edit: Maybe I should do both Relocate and Air-Layer. I'm asking my friend Rafael to see when he can plan relocating it for me, (I am too lazy, LOL)

GregMartin

Registered:1370378358
Posts: 550

Posted 1413924933	Reply with quote #22

Aaron, I agree with your plan of air layering the top mature wood and then relocating that air layer. Personally I'd leave the mother in place unless you need that space for something else....I'm lazy too! __________________ zone 5 Maine Seeking: Saint Martin, Naples White, Black Tuscan, Bécane, French Alps, Abruzzi, Tenica, Wild Mountain Figs from the coldest corners (Iranian, Turkish or other...would love seeds too)

Sas

Registered:1350079929
Posts: 1,363

Posted 1413926425	Reply with quote #23

I would get that air layer going as insurance before relocating that tree. Congratulations on a unique tree. I recently relocated a tree from pot to in ground and cut out a shoot growing out of the root ball. The root system on the shoot was not that great. The tree with the largest root ball just kept going but the shoot died instantly. So I'm treating it like a cutting now and trying to root it again. You can see the shoot that died instantly in the picture. If the tree was dormant perhaps that shoot might have made it. __________________ Sas from North Austin TX Zone 8B Wish list: Becane

Aaron4USA

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Posts: 2,969

Posted 1413928867	Reply with quote #24

so, they say..., one doesn't need to remove a ring of Cambium at the air-layer area in order for the branch to root, is it a fact or assumption? Should I or shouldn't I remove the ring of Cambium at the Air-Layer area?

Sas

Registered:1350079929
Posts: 1,363

Posted 1413934755	Reply with quote #25

If I were you, I would take a couple of cuttings in the spring and try to root them the old fashion way. You're an expert at doing that now. __________________ Sas from North Austin TX Zone 8B Wish list: Becane

cyberfarmer

Registered:1293483474
Posts: 544

Posted 1413936607	Reply with quote #26

Quote: Originally Posted by Aaron4USA so, they say..., one doesn't need to remove a ring of Cambium at the air-layer area in order for the branch to root, is it a fact or assumption? Should I or shouldn't I remove the ring of Cambium at the Air-Layer area? Aaron, I've done about a dozen air layers on figs and half a dozen on mulberry. Sometimes I girdle the branch, sometimes I don't. It seems to work either way. I noticed that on my mulberry, the 2 that I did not girdle (out of 6 total) took a little longer to root, but they did root. Also, I have tried with and without Clonex Rooting Gel. Again, seems to make no difference. Only time I lost an air layer was when I made the medium too wet and the branch rotted. I think you could literally grab a handful of dirt from the ground and wrap it around a branch with an old plastic bag and it would work most of the time. Just do it. __________________ Paul the Fig Tree Destroyer in Fallbrook, CA (Zone 10A )

Charlie

Registered:1404043833
Posts: 1,214

Posted 1413936770	Reply with quote #27

I didn't ring the last air layers done on 9/7 and they all have roots. __________________ Zone 7A ~ Fort Smith area Arkansas

Aaron4USA

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Posts: 2,969

Posted 1413943801	Reply with quote #28

Paul, thanks, I think I'll do like that...just rap the medium around the branch with no cutting or scraping.

drphil69

Registered:1390113240
Posts: 803

Posted 1413943826	Reply with quote #29

Quote: Originally Posted by Aaron4USA so, they say..., one doesn't need to remove a ring of Cambium at the air-layer area in order for the branch to root, is it a fact or assumption? Should I or shouldn't I remove the ring of Cambium at the Air-Layer area? Apparently not necessary for figs, but removing the ring forces all the sugars flowing down the cambium to go into root production, since they cannot travel further down the branch. In theory you should get better roots. __________________ Phil - Zone 7A - Newark, DE Newbie fig lover just trying to learn.

jdsfrance

Registered:1376988473
Posts: 2,591

Posted 1413981934	Reply with quote #30

Hi Aaron4usa, I would airlayer a fruiting branch to be sure that the airlayer keeps on fruiting. Airlayering a non fruiting branch may lead you to a non fruiting tree in the first years of life of the new tree. I airlayer between May and July here in Zone 7. I never girdle and airlayers do root - just leave them the time to do - but each one as his own way of doing . So the choice is yours. __________________ ------------------------ Climate from -25°C to + 35°C Only cold hardy figtrees can make it here

Ampersand

Registered:1389979527
Posts: 728

Posted 1413985948	Reply with quote #31

That's a sad looking plant for being 7 years old. Pretty everything about it's placement is wrong considering my 10 month old plants are nearly that large (in ground in PA and in pots) and others on the forum have grown from seed and gotten fruit in under 2 years.

Aaron4USA

Registered:1375832059
Posts: 2,969

Posted 1413989265	Reply with quote #32

Yea I don't like it either, but it's an 8 footer and this year it surprised me. So, I am doing something about it.

elin

Registered:1360863025
Posts: 1,271

Posted 1414132380	Reply with quote #33

WHO TAKES A FIG TREE FROM A COURTHOUSE? __________________ Eli ,Israel ,Zone 10? Too humid and hot, yada yada yada https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1298814119 Growing: Sbayi, Hmadi, Black Portugal, Black Brazil,Excell, Flanders, Hmari , RDB, Niagra Black,Natalina, CDDN,Maya, Preto Torres, Preto Arge

Aaron4USA

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Posts: 2,969

Posted 1414136870	Reply with quote #34

Guilty!! But It was worth it.

Aaron4USA

Registered:1375832059
Posts: 2,969

Posted 1414631312	Reply with quote #35

ok, so... this is what I did.. just sliced the honey jar from top to bottom and made a hole under it so the branch can be comfy both on top opening and bottom one. filled it with potting soil and slide the branch in the jar and taped it, almost but not completely air tight. Tapped it a bit to make the soil settle. That's it. Didn't water it. The soil was moist but not wet. Should I compact the soil? I don't know what I'm doing. I didn't scrape the branch nor girdled it. Didn't want to take any chance spoiling the branch. What you guys think?

FiggyFrank

Registered:1347560723
Posts: 2,713

Posted 1414633461 · Edited	Reply with quote #36

I'll bet it roots just fine, even without girdling the wood. I would add foil around the cup so the sun doesn't burn the roots up. I would also ensure the top doesn't allow for too much rainwater to enter. I moisten the mix beforehand and never add water thereafter. I don't compact the mix, but I tap it pretty good just to make it snug. Monitor the dampness of the soil though, as your climate is different than mine. Also, you will need 4-8 weeks of active growing to achieve roots. Then, after removing the air layer, a couple weeks of acclimation to the pot will make it more stable before it goes dormant. __________________ Frank zone 7a - VA

Charlie

Registered:1404043833
Posts: 1,214

Posted 1414634551	Reply with quote #37

Looks good to me and what Frank said. __________________ Zone 7A ~ Fort Smith area Arkansas

jdsfrance

Registered:1376988473
Posts: 2,591

Posted 1414686602	Reply with quote #38

Hi, I water twice a week my ground layers ... Just check that water can escape at the bottom as this is not an house for a fish . The idea is that the tree will make roots to take the water at that place. __________________ ------------------------ Climate from -25°C to + 35°C Only cold hardy figtrees can make it here

Aaron4USA

Registered:1375832059
Posts: 2,969

Posted 1414729308	Reply with quote #39

Thanks guys.

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