End of the year do's and don't list

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DaydreamFigs

Registered:1352294300
Posts: 148

Posted 1480350606	Reply with quote #1

Just wanted to post a topic in which we can all chime in and share the do's and don'ts of fig growing that we've each experienced this year. Here's many of mine: Dont waste time ordering from online nurseries that sell super "cheap" trees, or if the business in general have a horrible reputation. I've just wasted 2 years investing time, love and labor into a tree I thought was a Desert King just to find out this fall it was a celeste. Don't leave out fig trees that are loaded with fruits you are waiting for ripening if you are having lots of guest over. I waited so long to taste my battaglia off a straggly tree of mine and someone helped themself out :( * Don't let your unriped figs go to waste. Pick them and pickle them! * Do save your cuttings if you choose to prune your trees. I'm talking about those people who have large trees who heavy prune and throw away cuttings to avoid hassle of shipping or selling. I save most of my brown turkey cuttings and root about 50-60 in cups just to give away in the spring to neighbors, family, coworkers and strangers. Its a wonderful and frugal way to make people feel special. __________________ Grow damn it .....GROW!

AndyInNYC

Registered:1338686467
Posts: 195

Posted 1480367352	Reply with quote #2

After learning the hard way: Don't: Leave your year old 1 gallon figs out until the snows come - they become dead sticks in a 1 gallon container. Don't: Keep your fast growing cuttings in 1 gallon containers because 'they'll be much easier to store for winter'. If the fig needs a bigger pot, give it a bigger pot. Andrew

greenman62

Registered:1442342031
Posts: 45

Posted 1480373134	Reply with quote #3

aomeone had cut down a large fig tree (with some fruit on it!) near my house, so i took a large branch with several smaller branches coming off of it. the largest bit must have been close to 2 inches across. i got about 10 cuttings. about 3 of them are rally large. also, i have to trim back my Black Mission, Celeste, and another with no ID but very productive. i am sure i will have close to 30 cuttings when its said and done. once they root i will use them to trade or just give away to neighbors and friends. __________________ New Orleans La. zone 9 growing subtropical food-forest figs = Black Mission, Celeste, 2 un-named, and 4 cuttings started guava, papaya, mango, fig, mulberry, jujube......., white, black, and mamey sapote...., Cherimoya, lychee, longan, several psidium/guava relatives, Jaboticaba, citrus, Jamun, natal plum, and about 100 more...

BoyerHoldingsLLC

Registered:1463604948
Posts: 37

Posted 1480479977	Reply with quote #4

1. I would pinch back the trees in June/ July to encourage fruit production. 2. Do more ground layering with low lying branches for starter trees throughout the season. 3. I would consider using a greenhouse in the spring to get an earlier start. 4. And lastly, I would take better notes and documents along with pictures. __________________ Craig A. Boyer

arachyd

Registered:1345772821
Posts: 116

Posted 1480509755	Reply with quote #5

1. As the love of figs has taken hold of me I'm learning that research is really important. There are huge differences in flavor, growing difficulty and cost. Read all you can and weigh the information so you really understand what you want before you fill up your available space with trees you may soon want to replace with different ones. 2. Look at the reviews about and comments by different sellers, not on their sites but on forums like this one. It will save you time, money and aggravation. I don't want to realize 3 years later that I've been scammed with dud cuttings by someone everyone knows to be dishonest. 3. Don't let a bad experience sour you. The people who love figs are basically generous people willing to teach anyone about anything and share their love for the hobby/habit/addiction. __________________ Wish list: Dalmatie, LSU Gold, Ponte Tresa, 豐產黃 (Bountiful Harvest) Zone 7b

elin

Registered:1360863025
Posts: 1,272

Posted 1480533802	Reply with quote #6

My do's for my pot culture: 1.Sticking to a watering and feeding plan. 2.Same pot size for the established collection. 3.Water them so that the whole medium receives some moisture at the end or use an SIP. 4.Know your land- hot zones vs cold zones and plant accordingly with shade if needed. 5.start a wasp colony. 6.the closer pots are the less they are prone to heat up and lose moisture. __________________ 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

bgli

Registered:1424131946
Posts: 70

Posted 1480553703	Reply with quote #7

Keep a well organized fig journal which documents fig variety growth, fig characteristics like size and sweetness etc. I just started one this year and so useful to document what varieties are productive and worth keeping. Otherwise every spring they all look promising but some never put on fruit. Only issue is when wife found my notebook labeled "fig log" and I got that look....we all know that look. __________________ Barry

eboone

Registered:1378418906
Posts: 1,101

Posted 1480557486 · Edited	Reply with quote #8

Don't: start cuttings of/trade for/collect extras of 30+ new varieties per year x 3 years...too many plants! __________________ Ed Zone 6A - Southwest PA --------------------------- Short wish list: CDDG, LSU Red, Dark Greek (Navid), Col Littman's Black Cross. And any cold hardy early fig.

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