Figs(Febuary, Greenhouse, Hawaii)

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Figgysid1

Registered:1413859653
Posts: 388

Posted 1454978082 · Edited	Reply with quote #1

Here are a few pictures of figs I have in my greenhouse. These were started in July from cuttings. They are in 10 gal pots. The background is a 4ft tall PVC panel, for scale. In order: Figo Preto, Sultane, Valley Black, Wuhan, LSU Purple, LSU Black, Hollier, MBVS, LSU Gold, Stawberry Verte and Raspberry Latte attached at the bottom. Fastest to produce figs, most productive, is Figo preto, tallest fig is LSU Gold, most bushy, Valley black, most beautiful leaves, Raspberry latte. Attached Images 2016-02-08_10.53.31.jpg (702.92 KB, 10 views) __________________ (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.

figgary

Registered:1387147322
Posts: 834

Posted 1454979742	Reply with quote #2

Beautiful, healthy trees, Sid! Congrats, you're doing it well. __________________ Gary in CA 9A Seeking: Bebera Branca*, Colonel Littman's Cross

COGardener

Registered:1357441505
Posts: 814

Posted 1454979755	Reply with quote #3

They look great Sid!! I wish my climate allowed for figs to grow that fast.

Figgysid1

Registered:1413859653
Posts: 388

Posted 1454991545 · Edited	Reply with quote #4

Thanks. Sorry everyone, I don't have a revolutionary new rooting method. I found I have the highest success just sticking cuttings into potting mix with a rooting hormone. No humidity bins or covers, I'm trying to see how they do in different pot sizes. Here are a few pics of cuttings rooting in 4 inch pots, 5 gal pots, 10 gal pots, 15 gal pots and 20 gal pots. And 12 Figo preto plants in 10 and 15 gal pots rooted and growing. :) Soil mix is pro mix bx, perlite, coco coir, and coco chips. 1/1/1/1 mix. Only rooting 600 cuttings currently(not all pictured). I will root more when I get to taste some of my new figs and they earn it. :) __________________ (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.

MStanleyross

Registered:1451670149
Posts: 108

Posted 1454993524	Reply with quote #5

Nice, wish I had your green thumb. They are beautiful. You've done a great job. Thanks for sharing. __________________ Wish List: Sodus Scilian, Dall' Osso, Kathleen Black, I-258, Malta Black, Ischia Black, Persian White, Native de Argentile, Lampeira Preta, Sofeno Petro and any LSU or any duplicates you may have. Zone 7 East Tn.

brianm

Registered:1389664758
Posts: 971

Posted 1454995037	Reply with quote #6

I noticed the saucers there are sitting on. Can you tell me more about that? __________________ Wish list: Galicia Negra,UC Davis Black Ischia, Maltese Raven

Figgysid1

Registered:1413859653
Posts: 388

Posted 1454996024 · Edited	Reply with quote #7

I have water catchment only, so having the saucers saves every last drop for the figs, none is wasted. I did an experiment in 2014 and found figs grow up to 3x faster with a saucer, vs no saucer. The reason is the roots reach for the water at the bottom of the pot, vs circling at the top inch or two of the pot. I used much less water than if I just let it drain into the ground. I let the water sit in the tray for no more than 3 days, to make sure I don't get any mosquitos. Another reason is leaf rust. When I watered from the top and got the leaves wet, rust got everywhere on everything. Some figs are much more affected than others, celeste, normal and improved have the most rust, hollier is also very badly affected. Alma has been the best at avoiding rust and peter's honey is very close to being rust free. I am noticing a link between rust and fuzzy fig leaves, I think the hairs on celeste and hollier grab the rust spores and that's why they get it worse. Alma and peter's honey are hard leaves with almost no hairs so the rust can't attach to the leaves as easily. Just my observations. __________________ (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.

cis4elk

Registered:1347840383
Posts: 1,718

Posted 1454996131	Reply with quote #8

They look great. Heck when you live on an island, who needs to add humidity! Thanks for sharing your pictures and results. __________________ 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. :)

Smyfigs

Registered:1443660141
Posts: 1,658

Posted 1455003218	Reply with quote #9

Hi Figgysid, your fig trees look great!! One thing about growing figs in HI is that there is some really amazing weather!! Everything grows REALLY BIG there! What island are you on? I lived on Maui for a few years. Congrats on your nice inventory. I wish I could be there enjoying it all:-) __________________ Meg-Hardiness Zone 10a Looking for... Socorro Blk Wuhan Jolly Tiger Lamperia Preta Herschtetten St. Jean Black Ischia "The best way to show my gratitude is to accept everything, even my problems, with joy." ~ Mother Teresa "Do not pass by a man in need for you may be the hand of God to him." ~Proverbs 3:27~ "He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted." ~Job 5:4

Figgysid1

Registered:1413859653
Posts: 388

Posted 1455004076 · Edited	Reply with quote #10

I have lived on Big Island 11 years, I was born on Maui, lived on Maui 10 years, Oahu for 9 years as well. I'm going to mark the figs that I posted in these pics. I will predict in 12 months from now, the figs I posted pictures of will be between 8ft, at the smallest and 20ft tall at the biggest. I think valley black could grow 20ft a year, it's a monster. :) When you guys talk about cold, I can only imagine what that means. The closest I have been to living in zone 5, was when I was in a walk in freezer at Costco. :) __________________ (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.

fignutty

Registered:1374034473
Posts: 580

Posted 1455029249	Reply with quote #11

Sid: Those do look very nice. You obviously know what you're doing. Any idea of the humidity level that allows you to start cuttings like that? I'm trying similar but wrapping cuttings with parafilm due to very low humidity indoors in winter. __________________ Steve in Alpine TX 7b/8a Wish list: Sangue Dolce, Siblawi, Victoria, Emalyn's Purple, Colonel Littman's Black Cross

Figgysid1

Registered:1413859653
Posts: 388

Posted 1455039007 · Edited	Reply with quote #12

I see online it says that the average humidity year round here is 79%. Here is a link with lots of data about where I live. 201.80 inches of rain... take that figs. :) If you want to know what figs do best in rainy conditions, I will find out. http://www.usa.com/fern-forest-hi-weather.htm __________________ (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.

johnnyq627

Registered:1366344367
Posts: 710

Posted 1455042258	Reply with quote #13

Did you need to take a drive up Mauna Kea to see what our winters feel like! I am on Kauai right now and I am always surprised I do not see more fig trees around. __________________ Nick- Youtube: PA Figs \| eBay: tdepoala Zone 6B/7A - Douglassville, PA Wish list - Galicia Negra, Paritjal Rimada, Black Ischia UCD

Figgysid1

Registered:1413859653
Posts: 388

Posted 1455049880	Reply with quote #14

I tried to get up to the top one time and my car broke down. I think I will be fine looking up at it from down here. Here is a picture I took of Mauna Kea at sunset from just outside my greenhouse a while back. __________________ (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.

Smyfigs

Registered:1443660141
Posts: 1,658

Posted 1455051576	Reply with quote #15

Awww, those amazing sunsets! When I lived on Maui (Lahaina), I used to sit on my chair and look out my back door to watch canoes go by with a beautiful sunset backdrop. Amazing! I am feeling nostalgic, I must admit. __________________ Meg-Hardiness Zone 10a Looking for... Socorro Blk Wuhan Jolly Tiger Lamperia Preta Herschtetten St. Jean Black Ischia "The best way to show my gratitude is to accept everything, even my problems, with joy." ~ Mother Teresa "Do not pass by a man in need for you may be the hand of God to him." ~Proverbs 3:27~ "He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted." ~Job 5:4

Figgysid1

Registered:1413859653
Posts: 388

Posted 1455056001 · Edited	Reply with quote #16

I forgot to mention what cuttings I'm propagating in the 4 inch pots. 250 Alma figs, 87 Peter's honey figs 61 Panache. I like Alma and peter's honey because they both have resistance to leaf rust, they are both very drought tolerant (very important when you only get 200 inches of rain a year.) They are last to lose their leaves in the winter and they fruit continously year round. Panache is pretty, that is all I know so far. Attached Images 20151113_115505-1-1-1-1-1.jpg (678.14 KB, 8 views) __________________ (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.

rayrose

Registered:1453996431
Posts: 76

Posted 1455058025 · Edited	Reply with quote #17

If you don't mind me asking, what are you going to do with all of those plants? __________________ Ray zone 8 Columbia, SC

Figgysid1

Registered:1413859653
Posts: 388

Posted 1455061460 · Edited	Reply with quote #18

I have a 3 phase plan I am working on. Phase 1 is collect figs, phase 2 is ?, phase 3 is profit. Currently stuck at phase 1, trying to figure out what phase 2 is, hoping someday to reach phase 3. A power point presentation picture of the 3 phases is attached. Attached Images 2016-02-09_13.38.09.jpg (29.45 KB, 25 views) __________________ (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.

hoosierbanana

Registered:1287901146
Posts: 2,186

Posted 1455062505	Reply with quote #19

Saw this a little while back, looks like you are in the right place at the right time. http://westhawaiitoday.com/news/local-news/survey-helps-gauge-interest-fruit-varieties __________________ 7a, DE

Smyfigs

Registered:1443660141
Posts: 1,658

Posted 1455074258	Reply with quote #20

Sid: Its good to have a plan! When I started on this forum back in September, my plan was... Phase 1) find great fig trees to grow, Phase 2) become successful at rooting cuttings, Phase 3) grow the trees and eat the figs!! Now my plan has changed.... Phase 1) collect every type of fig cutting that sounds delicious (help!), Phase 2) Maximize my space to grow all of my cuttings and then add more, Phase 3) Find a way to finance this hobby because it gets very expensive! __________________ Meg-Hardiness Zone 10a Looking for... Socorro Blk Wuhan Jolly Tiger Lamperia Preta Herschtetten St. Jean Black Ischia "The best way to show my gratitude is to accept everything, even my problems, with joy." ~ Mother Teresa "Do not pass by a man in need for you may be the hand of God to him." ~Proverbs 3:27~ "He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted." ~Job 5:4

Figgysid1

Registered:1413859653
Posts: 388

Posted 1455078665	Reply with quote #21

Quote: Originally Posted by hoosierbanana Saw this a little while back, looks like you are in the right place at the right time. http://westhawaiitoday.com/news/local-news/survey-helps-gauge-interest-fruit-varieties Thanks for the link. Yes there is a lot of interest in figs right now. Many people I talk to are migrants, tired of the drought in California. They want to live somewhere with plenty of rainfall for a change. But they still want to grow the same fruit trees they did in California. I had over 200 fruiting type trees, bushes and vines but most of the requests were for 3 plants I did not have growing, Black Mission fig, Moringa tree and White guava for some reason. __________________ (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.

Jodi

Registered:1443230258
Posts: 343

Posted 1455079351	Reply with quote #22

Beautiful operation there Sid. Funny you mention moringa, I just brought some seeds home from Cabo. They are all the rage at the farmers markets and health food stores. Supposed to grow like weeds. Have you tried them? A very strange, super sweet taste that stays with you. Thanks for sharing all the fabulous fig propagation. Very exciting to see. __________________ In the book the "The Meaning of Trees" it is said the fig regulates the heart and that the true essence of Figs is...food for the soul. Daisy's IBT cuttings will be available in January/February along with a few Lampeira Parda. Wishes for Martinenca Rimada, Black Ischia, I258, CddRoja, Jolly Tiger, Your favorite Figgy! Zone 8a Camp Verde AZ

Figgysid1

Registered:1413859653
Posts: 388

Posted 1455083799 · Edited	Reply with quote #23

Yes I like plans, Step 1 of plan 1 is to select the best 2-3 of each flavor type. These are a few I am currently growing. Green skin honey types: Peter's honey, Alma, Italian honey, Hollier and Excel. Green skin strawberry types: Strawberry verte, JH adriatic, Panache and maybe Ponte Tresa whenever the dust settles. Brown skin sugar types: Flanders and English brown turkey Mt Etna berry types: Hardy chicago, MBVS. Bordeaux Berry types: VDB, RDB and Petite negra. Black Mission types: Dark exotic berry types: Figo preto Celeste types: Celeste, improved Celeste and lsu golden celeste. Purple skin types: lsu purple, Wuhan Yellow figs: LSU gold, LSU Scott's Yellow. New seedling types: Raspberry Latte, Valley Black and thousands of my own I'm growing up, maybe more than best 2-3 out of this category, maybe pick top 100. I'm hoping to find a market for the figs and use the profits to fund a Fig breeding program specifically for Hawaii. My goal is to breed a fig that can convert H20 into fructose, so the harder it rains the sweeter they get... Maybe not.. __________________ (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.

DonCentralTexas

Registered:1390420422
Posts: 475

Posted 1455113764	Reply with quote #24

Sid, You have a great sense of humor, I'm sure very useful when becoming a farmer. I'm currently stuck in phase 1.5 as well. I hope you get to fig breeding we could all use some new varieties... __________________ 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

elin

Registered:1360863025
Posts: 1,272

Posted 1455137766	Reply with quote #25

Is Alma that good? __________________ 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

PDFilippi

Registered:1434913745
Posts: 2

Posted 1456461254	Reply with quote #26

Quote: Originally Posted by Figgysid1 Yes I like plans, Step 1 of plan 1 is to select the best 2-3 of each flavor type. These are a few I am currently growing. Green skin honey types: Peter's honey, Alma, Italian honey, Hollier and Excel. Green skin strawberry types: Strawberry verte, JH adriatic, Panache and maybe Ponte Tresa whenever the dust settles. Brown skin sugar types: Flanders and English brown turkey Mt Etna berry types: Hardy chicago, MBVS. Bordeaux Berry types: VDB, RDB and Petite negra. Black Mission types: Dark exotic berry types: Figo preto Celeste types: Celeste, improved Celeste and lsu golden celeste. Purple skin types: lsu purple, Wuhan Yellow figs: LSU gold, LSU Scott's Yellow. New seedling types: Raspberry Latte, Valley Negra and thousands of my own I'm growing up, maybe more than best 2-3 out of this category, maybe pick top 100. I'm hoping to find a market for the figs and use the profits to fund a Fig breeding program specifically for Hawaii. My goal is to breed a fig that can convert H20 into fructose, so the harder it rains the sweeter they get... Maybe not.. Sid, Do you have any updates on how your different varieties are producing on the Big Island? I am over on Maui, and I wonder if I could apply any of your success over here. Right now I have planted Brown Turkey, Viollete de Bordeaux, Kadota, Mission, Magnolia. As well as some Osborne Prolific, Fico Nero and Desert King cuttings rooting. I am excited to see how each variety fairs in Hawaii and specifically in my drier (<20 inches a year) leeward microclimate at about 1500 ft elevation. I have heard great things about some of the figs that you are growing, I hope they turned out well for you. Paul Lower Kula

Figgysid1

Registered:1413859653
Posts: 388

Posted 1456465832 · Edited	Reply with quote #27

Hi, Paul. I used to live above you in upper ulupalakua 3,000 ft at the top of Kanaio. It was pretty dry up there as well if I recall. Kula is a very beautiful area. Varieties that are fruiting right now and I will post reviews on, in the next 2-3 months, as they ripen are. MBVS Sultane LSU gold LSU purple LSU golden Celeste LSU Scott's black Wuhan Valley Black Strawberry verte VDB Italian black(becnel) Raspberry latte Grise D Olivette Italian honey Celeste Figo preto Hollier Panache Desert King Varieties that I have have growing but are not fruiting yet. JH Adriatic Baud's sucrette Ronde de Bordeaux LSU Scott's yellow LSU improved Celeste LSU everbearing English brown turkey Napolitana negra GM 25 GM 125-c GM 175(Milena) Varieties that I have tasted thus far. Brown turkey Texas blue giant Magnolia Kadota Excel Genoa Alma Peter's honey Conadria Flanders Hardy Chicago For flavor I like Hardy Chicago best so far, nice rich berry jam flavor, but figs are small. For production, Flanders had over 100 large sweet figs, 1st year from a cutting. For a simple sweet jelly honey fig Peter's Honey is very good. So far everything is doing ok, I think I'm on track to get ripe figs off all of them in the 1st year. That is important, because I need to know what I should be propagating more of and what is not worth keeping. I'm sure I forgot a bunch, and I did not count all the unknowns I have and got from, (EBay!) (Walmart!). Post some pics and reviews as well when you get yours ripening. __________________ (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.

HarveyC

Registered:1212433117
Posts: 3,294

Posted 1456466157	Reply with quote #28

Looks great, Sid. Great to hear of your trials with saucers, etc. __________________ Harvey - Correia Farms Isleton, CA (Sacramento County) USDA zone 9b, Sunset zone 14 http://www.figaholics.com https://www.facebook.com/Figaholics

snaglpus

Registered:1244258188
Posts: 4,072

Posted 1456521837	Reply with quote #29

Nice job. I like Alma and Peter's Honey a lot! __________________ Dennis Charlotte, North Carolina/Zone 8a

brianm

Registered:1389664758
Posts: 971

Posted 1456543523	Reply with quote #30

I'm going with the saucers this year. Just need to find a deal. __________________ Wish list: Galicia Negra,UC Davis Black Ischia, Maltese Raven

PDFilippi

Registered:1434913745
Posts: 2

Posted 1456786585	Reply with quote #31

Thanks a lot for the info Sid! You've save me years of trial and error. Up until now I've based my planting a off of Ken Love's fig research projects for what works in Hawaii from a while back. There are still more that I will try but you've been a big help. I'm excited to try them. Right now my oldest trees are only 2 feet out of the ground at 6 months from when I rooted them, so it may be a bit until I see fruit. I'm doing a field of tissue culture starts as well to see how they compare, I assume the growth will be slower, but the bulk convenience and price is too tempting. I'll be sure to post pictures when I do get them fruiting! Great to here that the Flanders did so well for you, sadly the cuttings I recieved over eBay were subpar and I ended up having to trash them. I'm hopeful the next ones I get will do as well as yours! By the way, I always enjoy going up around Ulupalakua. The temperature takes a nice plunge compared to where I am. I'm a lot closer to the Kahului heat. I can't complain though because my plants love it.

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