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greenfig

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Reply with quote  #1 
My seedling (caprifig), featured over here:

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/from-a-seed-to-a-fig-in-18-months-ripe-photos-added-7026492?&trail=50

is generous enough to provide a few airlayers. One has 3 figs, probably with few wasps, another has buds but no figs. I also setup an airlayer to shorten the main trunk, a 1 gal pot on a stand.

I am surprised on how think the visible roots are. About 3 matches! They should grow very nicely.
The airpayers were setup on Oct.20, now is Dec.8. Not bad for a relatively cold weather.

air5.JPG

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jpeg air4.JPG (223.19 KB, 77 views)
jpeg air1.JPG (251.39 KB, 73 views)
jpeg air2.JPG (274.10 KB, 78 views)
jpeg air3.JPG (266.41 KB, 69 views)
jpeg air6.JPG (207.04 KB, 66 views)


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donpaid

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Reply with quote  #2 
Very cool greenfig! Are you going to keep the caprifig around to help pollinate your other fig trees?
greenfig

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Reply with quote  #3 
I am keeping the top of the tree in 1 gal pot and the side branches are going to the East coast.

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rcantor

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Reply with quote  #4 
Congratulations!  If another fig forms would you cover it with an organza bag when it first forms to see if it's persistent?
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greenfig

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Reply with quote  #5 
Sure, how small the fig is supposed to be?
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rcantor

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Reply with quote  #6 
As soon as it forms a neck.  Lampo would know better than I would.  From what he's said before the figs are smaller than I thought they'd be when the wasps enter them.  They're safe until about 3/8" or so from what I remember.  I'll page him  :)
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greenfig

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Reply with quote  #7 
3/8"! That's tiny.
I will keep an eye.

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donpaid

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Reply with quote  #8 
If the fig is too small for a bag to fit over it, it might be easier to put a piece of tape over the eye, or maybe to even seal it with some type of adhesive/glue. I really hope it turns out to be a persistent caprifig.
greenfig

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Reply with quote  #9 
A good suggestion, donpaid!
I guess, I will have to be creative with this and keep a diary :)

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Speedmaster

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Reply with quote  #10 
What is the difference between a persistant and not?
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donpaid

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Reply with quote  #11 
Speedmaster,

A persistent caprifig will produce "ripe" figs even if it is not pollinated by the fig wasp (think of it as a common caprifig: persistent = common).

A non-persistent caprifig will produce NO "ripe" figs, UNLESS it's pollinated by the fig wasp (think of it as a smyrna caprifig: non-persistent = smyrna).

It's important to find out if it is persistent or non-persistent because the persistence gene is only carried by the caprifig, NOT THE FEMALE FIG. Therefore, a non-persistent caprifig will have no persistent (common) offspring. Persistence (common fig) is important for every fig cultivator (the fig wasp is not around all the time to pollinate figs), but especially for those in areas without the fig wasp, who will need to grow common varieties in order to produce a crop. 


Persistent Caprifig + Persistent Fig = 1/2 persistent offspring + 1/2 non-persistent offspring

Persistent Caprifig + Non-Persistent Fig = 1/2 persistent offspring + 1/2 non-persistent offspring

Non-Persistent Caprifig + Non-Persistent Fig OR Persistent Fig = 1/1 non-persistent offspring


Here is a very good online resource that explains all of this in great detail: http://waynesword.palomar.edu/arbimg10.htm#persistent

In a way, I'm happy I was never required to learn about "Ficus Culture" in high school biology. Saying it's complicated is an understatement. But I hope I helped to answer your question. 

greenfig

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Reply with quote  #12 
A nice one, donpaid!

I would add that the persistency is important to people who want to do some fig breeding/selection and grow the offsprings outside the wasp belt areas.
Even manually:
http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/fig-breeding-steps-5200745

If you need a caprifig only for pollination, you do not care what it is.

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waynea

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Reply with quote  #13 
Good info to post, I read waynesword a year or so ago but thought it must have been posted on F4F, guess not. Anyways, very informative, well scripted and colorful photos, diagrams and charts. Everyone should visit the thread even if you are like me....no wasps....no breeding... but the info is so interesting. Thanks for posting donspaid.
donpaid

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Reply with quote  #14 
Quote:
Originally Posted by greenfig
If you need a caprifig only for pollination, you do not care what it is.


greenfig, that is a very good point you made!

waynea, it sure is interesting stuff!

Phew...I'm so glad I'm not the only fig nerd :)
rcantor

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Reply with quote  #15 
Lampo PMd me and confirmed that a wasp will enter a 1/2" fig.  The problem with tape or glue is that it will either deform the fig as it grows which may cause it to drop off or it will crack/come off partially, letting wasps in.

Persistent caprifigs wont fall off the tree even if no wasps enter.  That's how you can tell you have a chance of getting common fig seedlings.

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greenfig

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Reply with quote  #16 
Bob,

Thanks for the note! So it seems the best way to protect the figlets would be the organza bags?
I have many of those. As soon as the new figs appear, I will cover them.
Although so far, they have appeared in a very tight cluster :(

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Frankallen

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Reply with quote  #17 
Greenfig...Congrats!! Looks like it going to be a beautiful Air layer! Good Job... Next year, I have enough Fig Trees I am going to try Air Layering! Thanks for the posting this! :)
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jdsfrance

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Reply with quote  #18 
Hi Greenfig,
I've got a much efficient protection : send one tree to a no wasp-zone ... like a location in Zone7 .

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greenfig

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Reply with quote  #19 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jdsfrance
Hi Greenfig,
I've got a much efficient protection : send one tree to a no wasp-zone ... like a location in Zone7 .


That was what I was going to do!
As I mentioned, the layers are to be shipped to the East coast soon.

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greenfig

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Reply with quote  #20 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Frankallen
Greenfig...Congrats!! Looks like it going to be a beautiful Air layer! Good Job... Next year, I have enough Fig Trees I am going to try Air Layering! Thanks for the posting this! :)


Frank,
Go for it! Much-much easier than rooting and babying the cuttings!
Air layering is basically set it and forget it!

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rcantor

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Reply with quote  #21 
You only need to do 1 or 2.  Let the rest get some wasps who want to travel and see the Eastern US.
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Speedmaster

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Reply with quote  #22 
Thanks Don,
So for me to manually pollinate some figs I need persistant so they can produce pollen without the wasp. Wow, I didnt know that caprifigs need the wasp to produce pollen. Thanks!

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donpaid

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Reply with quote  #23 
Speedmaster,

You're correct. If you don't have the wasp in your area and you want to manually pollinate your figs, you need persistent caprifigs.

And you're very welcome! You aught to thank rcantor and greenfig too :) also, there are many other posts with great information on this subject by lampo and a few other forum users.

best of luck!
rcantor

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Reply with quote  #24 
Caprifigs don't require wasps to produce pollen unless they fall off the tree too early without wasps.  I'm not 100% sure you can't get pollen without wasps from a caducous (non-persistent) plant.  Here's a primary source with links to other articles.  You could send that in as a question.

http://waynesword.palomar.edu/pljun99b.htm

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greenfig

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Reply with quote  #25 
I separated that airlayer with figs 9 days ago and it is still kicking! :)  The figs are still on and they are firm. I hope they will ripen.

I went tonight to check on the mother tree and got a surprise. One of the figs is getting ripe and looked super blue in the light of my headlight.
The photo taken was without any flash. Very cool! It is not even soft yet, might need another week or more.

blueDec2014.JPG 

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jpeg airFigs.JPG (139.62 KB, 21 views)


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greenfig

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Reply with quote  #26 
That's funny. I keep seeing on the main page that the last post was done by Calvin but inside the thread I see none, for 15 hours.
Is this a software bug?...

Screen Shot 2014-12-30 at 12.43.43 AM.png 


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Charlie

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Reply with quote  #27 
I noticed a delay in some things yesterday.  Nice fig! :)
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rcantor

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Reply with quote  #28 
It is a beautiful fig!  Some of that blueness is, if I'm not mistaken, because you're using an LED light.  The ones used the most tend to have a bluish cast which can cause a small amount of fluorescence from some of the antioxidants in the skin.

Maybe next year you can do a big a/l for me and send it when its dormant but full of figs (a few) so I can haz wasp.  I'll gladly pay postage plus.  Even if it's not persistent I can use it as a source.   Thanks for thinking about it!

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greenfig

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Reply with quote  #29 
Quote:
Originally Posted by rcantor
It is a beautiful fig!  Some of that blueness is, if I'm not mistaken, because you're using an LED light.  The ones used the most tend to have a bluish cast which can cause a small amount of fluorescence from some of the antioxidants in the skin.

Maybe next year you can do a big a/l for me and send it when its dormant but full of figs (a few) so I can haz wasp.  I'll gladly pay postage plus.  Even if it's not persistent I can use it as a source.   Thanks for thinking about it!


Bob,
I will keep in mind the a/l. The one pictured in 1 gal is already claimed and flying East when the weather gets warmer.

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greenfig

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Reply with quote  #30 
The fig dropped the leaves finally and now it looks kind of funny :)
On the other hand, almost every node has a tiny figlet.
I wish my regular figs were so productive.

012015.JPG

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jpeg layer1.JPG (261.55 KB, 19 views)
jpeg layer2.JPG (152.71 KB, 17 views)


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Aaron4USA

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Reply with quote  #31 
Beautiful Mamme Capri figs Igor, they will pass the Wasp colonies into Profichi, which you see bellow (tiny ones) in early Spring. Profichi is the type of Capri that will pollinate your eatable female figs. I hope you didn't Air-Layer the top of the tree, that will end the life of the Wasp colony, LOL
donpaid

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Reply with quote  #32 
Beautiful color indeed!
greenfig

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Reply with quote  #33 
Aaron,

Yes, the top 3 feet is being airlayered too, please see the photos at the top of the thread. It is too tall otherwise.
It is amazing that 2 years ago this tree was a seed!

I do not think it will do anything to the fig production though.
On the contrary, after the AL was setup, the plants started growing better!


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Aaron4USA

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Reply with quote  #34 
ok, i see it... the Profichi are safe... along with Mamme on top of them.
I'll take the AL thank you !
greenfig

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Reply with quote  #35 
No, the AL is mine :)
It is special to me, my first baby fig and it is reliably producing!

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rcantor

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Reply with quote  #36 
Aaron, get in line  :)

Congratulations, Igor!

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Reply with quote  #37 
OL, I don't blame you Igor.
I feel that way with my 7year old tree which is from a seed that finally fruited this year...i'm AL-ing it and no one will get it.
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