Hello all , I was thinking to store my fig cuttings using a Vacuum food sealer !
has anyone of you used it before ?
please advice me . 
Thank You  

Hello Baghdad
I've never done it but I don't think it's a good idea since it takes all the air out.
Vito

I do.

Dennis did you noticed any difference ? 

Sounds like a great Idea! I have a Foodsaver so I may try it! Thanks..:)

yes, the cuttings are 10x fresher and can last longer than 1 year.  I made a comment about this in one of my post weeks ago.  Just don't go cheap and get that Zip lock Hand pump.  That thing does work but temporarily!!!!  Bite the bullet and get the Zip Lock Vacuum Seal System.  I paid 40 bucks for mine at walmart.  Even cuttings wrapped in plastic wrap doesn't last long.  Air and mold will hit that cutting wrapped in plastic but not if its vacuum sealed.

Amazing, I would have thought that the vacuum negative pressure would cause the cuttings to lose some moisture and over time kill them. Who knew!

This is how I do it. 

This post is a little off topic.

Foodsaver makes an accessory that allows you to vacuum-seal canning jars.  I store cutting that way.  The jars are superior to plastic bags in many ways.  Glass is impermeable and will maintain a vacuum seal for many years.  Plastic is permeable and easily damaged by sharp or pointed edges on the objects (like sticks) that you seal in bags.  Glass jars can be reused almost indefinitely. The down side is that they are bulky.  You have to make sure to get the right attachment.  Canning jars come in wide-mouth and narrow-mouth versions (and at least 10 different shapes and volumes).  Wide-mouth jars are more versatile and require the wide-mouth attachment.

Because of the amount of material required to  seal the plastic bags, the bag gets smaller and smaller each time you use it...and then you throw it away...if it hasn't already been punctured.  However, there is a hack that allows you to use ordinary ziplock bags and heat-seal them.  They are a lot cheaper than the Foodsaver bag material and the freezer bags will maintain a seal fairly well.

I have been using the attachment for about 15 years for leftover seeds.  It is great for extending the refrigerated life of things like dairy products (like that half-used container of sour cream in the back of the refrigerator) salad greens and herbs.  I grind my own grains, so I buy in bulk and store the whole grain in half-gallon jars.  When vacuum-sealed in jars, things like WHOLE grains, dried beans, pasta, even chocolate will remain fresh for several years without refrigeration, if that is your goal. Powdery substances like flour or finely ground spices are NOT a good candidate for sealing in jars.  Because of the way the unit operates, particles are drawn out between the jar and the lid, leaving a fine residue on the rim of the jar.  As a result, the seal fails in a fairly short time.

Don't be sucked in by the plastic storage containers offered by the manufacturer.  They eventually develop cracks and won't hold a seal...and they are expensive for what they are.

If you don't yet have a vacuum-sealing unit and want to purchase one, I strongly recommend that you buy a unit that has an accessory hose, without it, you can't use the jar attachment and are losing a valuable storage alternative.  It is also important that you purchase replacement seals and hose at the same time.  They will be unavailable once the unit is discontinued and Foodsaver won't offer tech support.  Planned obsolescence.  Foodsaver is now owned by Jarden which also owns Ball, Kerr and Bernarden canning jars.
 
The good news is that although the sealing element usually fails in 1-2 years, the vacuuming function usually works for a long time.  I've tried several brands of sealers.  All of them fail.  From my experience, Foodsaver is less bad than the others.

If you don't want to invest in a Foodsaver and only want to seal a few things, there is a very recent product that I have been testing for 3 months. It is called ThriftyVac. 
http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GX26U8K/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
It is nothing more than a canning jar lid with a valve in it.  Interestingly enough, it works with some commercial food jars and a couple of styles of Weck (German) canning jars.  So far, it has maintained a seal for 3 months.

There are dozens, maybe hundreds of hacks for vacuuming-sealing available, some better than others.  You can turn a bicycle pump or brake bleeder into a vacuum pump and use the jar sealer attachment.  With a little adaptation, you can reuse pickle and other types of food jars as long as they have a "soft-seal" lid.

End of commercial.

C.J.

wow thats so amazing !! I'm buying one today for sure and storing all my cuttings.
Thank you All 

I have used " Glad cling wrap " to store for 2 week no refrigeration, they staid very fresh. Could this work for fridge??

I can vouch for the FoodSaver brand, I have had mine for around a decade and it works like day one despite my constant abuse of it. 

Dennis,  Do you treat or prepare you cutting for vacuum storage other than washing and drying them?

C.J.

Mario-1
I have used Glad cling wrap for cuttings (tightly wrapped) from my own fig plants and then placed in bubble bag for storing in the fridge for 10 months and found them viable for successful rooting.

I found this post to be very interesting. I just want to hear from others on any hacks they may know about using regular plastic bags to use with a FoodSaver.

Ive had my FoodSaver for 25 years...yup, same original one! It has always worked well for me for everything from pickling jalapeños, lemons, olives to storing spaghetti for camping and more! It has always, always worked great! But, i have never stored fig cuttings or any cuttings, for that matter, so I would really like to give it a try.

Here is what im thinking about... i may not be able to buy the same type of plastic for my current machine (does it still exist?) or, it may be too expensive so i want to see what other options I may have to again use my FoodSaver instead having to buy another one.

Thanks for your opinion/ideas about using other bags for FoodSaver.

I have thought about doing this before but I thought those units were a couple hundred bucks then bags.

If there is airspace in a bag of cuttings when you put them in the fridge a layer of condensation forms on the inside of the bag and then collects in pools and dropets. Then the air inside the bag is dry and absorbs moisture from the cuttings, if the temperature changes it will condense again...

So getting rid of the airspace is the best way to keep cuttings fresh and rot free.

This is how I do it.  http://www.mnn.com/food/healthy-eating/blogs/an-easy-free-way-to-get-more-air-out-of-a-ziploc

Found one on ebay, a black and decker for 40 bucks.

Sounds like a good idea.....

Sorry I didn't get to take pictures but I did get to Vacuum seal mine. It's incredible how good it worked.

[QUOTE=garden_whisperer]Found one on ebay, a black and decker for 40 bucks.[/QUOTE]

Im sure it will do a great job. And, you're likely to find bags for it much easier!

[QUOTE=sal]Sorry I didn't get to take pictures but I did get to Vacuum seal mine. It's incredible how good it worked.[/QUOTE]

I didnt get to vacummn seal my cuttings today. I had to clean out my worm bin to separate all the castings & put new bedding for winter. This took a while. I also had to transplant some kiwis (and other plants)...will be putting up a kiwi trellis soon!

I hope to remember to take pics when i seal my cuttings. Will post if i do.

Can anyone update this thread on how well this works? Success rate?

Do you still refrigerate after sealing?

And by "refrigerate", they are kept above freezing?

I recall someone (maybe Richie-Figpig) tried it. I also recall reading that the vacum only lasts a while possibly because figs let out a gas that sort of inflates the package. This is what I recall reading. Maybe someone who has tried it will respond.

[QUOTE=Smyfigs]I found this post to be very interesting. I just want to hear from others on any hacks they may know about using regular plastic bags to use with a FoodSaver. Ive had my FoodSaver for 25 years...yup, same original one! It has always worked well for me for everything from pickling jalapeños, lemons, olives to storing spaghetti for camping and more! It has always, always worked great! But, i have never stored fig cuttings or any cuttings, for that matter, so I would really like to give it a try. Here is what im thinking about... i may not be able to buy the same type of plastic for my current machine (does it still exist?) or, it may be too expensive so i want to see what other options I may have to again use my FoodSaver instead having to buy another one. Thanks for your opinion/ideas about using other bags for FoodSaver.[/QUOTE]~I USE ZIPLOCK  VAC BAGS IN MY FOOD SAVER WORKS GREAT ,GET THEM AT WALMART~

[QUOTE=Smyfigs]I recall someone (maybe Richie-Figpig) tried it. I also recall reading that the vacum only lasts a while possibly because figs let out a gas that sort of inflates the package. This is what I recall reading. Maybe someone who has tried it will respond. [/QUOTE]~yes i remember this post,but maybe keeping them cold in frig crisper doesn't  allow them to gas up ,i don't know for sure ,but i think warm or hot would cause them to gas up ??~

Chuck, I also have had my original for about 25-26 years! Its been great and Ive also pickled everything from Jalapeno peppers to lemons to you name it. I love the hacks! Good idea on the zip lock bags!!

[QUOTE=chucklikestofish]~yes i remember this post,but maybe keeping them cold in frig crisper doesn't  allow them to gas up ,i don't know for sure ,but i think warm or hot would cause them to gas up ??~[/QUOTE]

A thought on this.

The cuttings should not be wet or damp before sealing.

They should be at room temperature before sealing.

The package should be at room temperature before unsealing.

The cuttings should probably be sealed a couple days after being cut, so moisture is not drawn out of cut ends.

The gas may be more to do with sap than water.

The unsealing from refrigeration may seen insignificant, but if you have beans in frozen storage and do not do this, the seeds may/will become unviable.

The different things mentioned reduce the immediate draw of atmospheric moisture into the cuttings, and allowing the ends to seal a bit. 

Thanks for the Ziploc tip

[QUOTE=Garlic_Mike]A thought on this.

The cuttings should not be wet or damp before sealing.

They should be at room temperature before sealing.

The package should be at room temperature before unsealing.

The cuttings should probably be sealed a couple days after being cut, so moisture is not drawn out of cut ends.

The gas may be more to do with sap than water.

The unsealing from refrigeration may seen insignificant, but if you have beans in frozen storage and do not do this, the seeds may/will become unviable.

The different things mentioned reduce the immediate draw of atmospheric moisture into the cuttings, and allowing the ends to seal a bit. 

Thanks for the Ziploc tip[/QUOTE]~how about wax sealing /dipping the ends into hot wax  and then vac seal ,would this help or hurt ?? ,just wondered ~

My first full year with figs, so I have not tried to vacuum seal.

I have one, and will try it.

The cuttings I started from December to February, did the best.

The wax sounds like a good idea. The wax is basically inert.

I would trim the planting end a touch when you try to root them for water absorption.

Mike

Don't do it Mike, cuttings are alive and need gas exchange. The plastic in those bags does not allow them to get air, they use oxygen and give off CO2 just like us during respiration. It is at such a slow rate that enough gas can pass through a regular ziploc or plastic wrap but the vac sealers will kill your cuttings.

[QUOTE=hoosierbanana]Don't do it Mike, cuttings are alive and need gas exchange. The plastic in those bags does not allow them to get air, they use oxygen and give off CO2 just like us during respiration. It is at such a slow rate that enough gas can pass through a regular ziploc or plastic wrap but the vac sealers will kill your cuttings.[/QUOTE]

Agreed - my only cuttings last year that rotted in the fridge were ones i recieved in vacuum seeler/press n seal bags. Dont do it :)

I'm not an expert, what I did last winter I put them in a regular grossery plastic bag ,tied it and put in lower part of refrigerator, I started them April 15 and had 75-80 percent survival

[QUOTE=Mario_1]I'm not an expert, what I did last winter I put them in a regular grossery plastic bag ,tied it and put in lower part of refrigerator, I started them April 15 and had 75-80 percent survival [/QUOTE]~~~~~~how do you start them in april <>? ,  what system do you use<>?,  do you go straight into ground >??  thanks, thats a good S-R ~~~~~~~~

Chuck, I'm in zone 6a I start some in greenhouse during winter but my new favorite way is ; I wrap the top part of the cuttings with parafilm I make sure some of the wrapped part is in soil and I stretch the parafilm over the buds to make it easier for the bud to come through, I then stick them in pots ,water and keep in indirect sun , I did this April 15 and by middle of May must of them where budded. As they leaved out I mooved them in sun. This works for me very simple , no bag, no cups ,no moisture dome ,I didn't even water them until they where leafing. I may still do a few in greenhouse just to make winter less boaring and experiments .

[QUOTE=Mario_1]Chuck, I'm in zone 6a I start some in greenhouse during winter but my new favorite way is ; I wrap the top part of the cuttings with parafilm I make sure some of the wrapped part is in soil and I stretch the parafilm over the buds to make it easier for the bud to come through, I then stick them in pots ,water and keep in indirect sun , I did this April 15 and by middle of May must of them where budded. As they leaved out I mooved them in sun. This works for me very simple , no bag, no cups ,no moisture dome ,I didn't even water them until they where leafing. I may still do a few in greenhouse just to make winter less boaring and experiments .[/QUOTE]~gee thanks,i will be trying this. i have wrapped in parafilm and used rooting bins it worked great but your way is a very good way i will try it thanks~

Thanks for the heads-up Matt

I saw Harvey mentioned the parafilm method on his fb page. Glad to know someone else likes it too.

I vaccuum sealed a lot of cuttings last year. The gas exchange did cause them to puff up, but I never had a problem with mold or rot. They lasted pretty long, but not as long as simple saran wrap.