DesertDance
Registered:1247674606 Posts: 4,518
Posted 1424805978
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#1
Just got an email from a good friend who has a fig orchard. It appears the best time is just prior to spring, and here is his comment:By the way, they are in the best moment for rooting, February cuttings are the best, They are accumulating hormones to explode in the approaching spring. February is a different temp in different climates, but just prior to spring would probably be the best. So what do you think? 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!
rafaelissimmo
Registered:1335639347 Posts: 1,473
Posted 1424806703
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#2
Our friend Axier agrees, as does Pierre Baud. It does put a crimp on Christmas rooting though! I have had success with cuttings taken in November just as leaves are falling, nonetheless.
__________________ Zone 7b, Queens, New York
ako1974
Registered:1393356294 Posts: 299
Posted 1424806990
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#3
Good point and great question. I was kind of wondering about this. I took a bunch of cuttings from my trees last November so they were easier to move. They're rooting, but it's taken longer than many of the cuttings I've bought since January from other people. It could certainly be varietal-specific, but I wonder how many of my new cuttings were clipped just prior to mailing or had had some time in the fridge... Last year, I took my cuttings in February, right when I wanted to begin rooting (from a Sicilian and a Lattarulla) and time until rooting is about the same as the cuttings from the same trees taken in November this year.
__________________ Arne Zone 6a - NJ
FiggyFrank
Registered:1347560723 Posts: 2,712
Posted 1424807980
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#4
I've heard the same thing, Suzi.
__________________ Frank zone 7a - VA
DatesNFigs
Registered:1355761080 Posts: 43
Posted 1424809031
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#5
I'd believe it, I've always had better luck with cuttings taken in the late winter/early spring. I'm currently trying to root some Hardy Chicago cuttings that were taken back in the fall and so far they have done nothing but sit there and not budge since December.
__________________ Drew Zone 7b - Queens NYC
figgary
Registered:1387147322 Posts: 833
Posted 1424809583
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#6
I just took a cutting of my Black Madeira, and it was just starting to push leaves. I have an air layer lower on the branch, and I didn't want too much growth before the layer can root. I'll update when and if it roots. I do believe that freasher cuttings root faster.
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ADelmanto
Registered:1359774201 Posts: 911
Posted 1424816256
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#7
Taking cuttings in late winter is great as long as you don't have any winter die back. If you are in the parts of the country where this is a probability (like me) I'd be taking cuttings in the fall. Optimal or not.
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rafaelissimmo
Registered:1335639347 Posts: 1,473
Posted 1424823681
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#8
Good point Aaron
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paully22
Registered:1195324538 Posts: 2,719
Posted 1424835477
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#9
Suzi, I learn this from FIGNUT and my success rate soared with cuttings given to me taken around this time. By the way, Fignut owns a commercial nursery. I have mentioned this on a number of occasions but never started a thread on it. Glad you did it for all.
figpig_66
Registered:1416870358 Posts: 2,678
Posted 1424840125
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#10
Makes sense since dormant means stored energy. We just,wake a tired cutting up with heat and,such. But we all know,we,will take,cuttings anytime of the year. Right or wrong. Lol.
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WINRERS ARE VERY MILD LOW 20'S BUT WARMS RIGHT UP DURING THE DAY. SUMMER IS EXTREMELY HOT & HUMID 100 degrees 100% humidity fig tree grow like crazy but some split from rain & humidity
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cis4elk
Registered:1347840383 Posts: 1,718
Posted 1424843517
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#11
I totally agree, cuttings taken in later in the winter like late Jan through February can't wait to get growing. But as mentioned above, it is a big risk if they are outdoors in a region that could experience killing temperatures. The last two years that has been a pretty big area.
__________________ Calvin Littleton,CO z5/6 Wants List: For everyone to clean-up after themselves and co-exist peacefully. Let's think more about the future of our planet and less about ourselves. :)
DonCentralTexas
Registered:1390420422 Posts: 475
Posted 1424874845
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#12
I know that when I took "green" (but each had brown wood, they were tip cuttings) cuttings in August of a local tree I had a very high success rate. I trimmed leaves to just a few and cut the leaves smaller but left them on. I lost maybe 2 (and these were after pot up) out of 40ish. Humidity bin, in mostly shade, slowly leaving open longer and longer did the trick for me.
__________________ Don (Near Austin, TX zone 8b) If you have these for sale/trade PM me: Zingarella, Grantham's Royal, Calderona, Genovese Nero, Noir de Barbentane
Gina
Registered:1330452963 Posts: 2,260
Posted 1424882903
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#13
I think cuttings taken fresh are the best, and especially at this time of year. In a Mediterranean climate where most figs are from, things are beginning to break dormancy. So rooting now when growth is naturally being pushed makes the greatest sense.
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Rob
Registered:1320245426 Posts: 550
Posted 1424903293
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#14
THe answer to the question is that it's best to take them right before you are going to root them. If you want to root in spring, then take in spring. If you live in a nasty winter cold climate like us on the east coast and you want to root figs during the winter so you don't get stir crazy waiting for spring, then best time to take cuttings is in late fall/early winter. Once the tree is one year old, it won't make a difference one way or the other, and it is possible to have a near 100% success rate with cuttings taken at either time.
__________________ Rob Maryland Zone 7 http://rbfigs.webs.com/