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Subject: FIG NEWBIE Replies: 14
Posted By: rcantor Views: 555
 
Welcome!  We have several members in your area.  Hopefully some of them will chime in.  There are also 2 fig get togethers not all that far from you.

Subject: Grafting Replies: 6
Posted By: rcantor Views: 355
 
Or you can protect them over the winter.  http://www.treesofjoy.com/content/wrapping-fig-tree-winter

There are many other ways of doing it.  Search on winter protection.

Subject: Budding heirarchy on old wood Replies: 5
Posted By: rcantor Views: 343
 
I had initial shoots from the base then other shoots higher up.  I'm leaving everything as is, fertilizing enough to maintain good growth and I'll a/l the branches that should come off when I figure out what those are.  

Subject: Your Top 5 pick for cool climate pot/container Fig Cultivators ? Replies: 47
Posted By: rcantor Views: 2,223
 
In addition to the above, Salem Dark, Desert King.  HC & SD are particularly good because they'll still ripen good figs with highs in the mid 60s.  DK is good because it'll ripen in July or Aug when your temps are the hottest.

Subject: My forest of young Dominick's trees Replies: 13
Posted By: rcantor Views: 611
 
Looks great!

Subject: i didn't mean to ignore everyone.. Replies: 41
Posted By: rcantor Views: 1,041
 
Hi, Pete!  Hope you're back in your prime and comfortable soon.  Figs will always be around if you want them.

Subject: First Fruit - White & White Madeira Replies: 14
Posted By: rcantor Views: 631
 
Austin, you'd get more answers if you started your own thread.  :)

Subject: Cuttings - Newbie how to transition question Replies: 4
Posted By: rcantor Views: 240
 
It's fine to start them in the dark but as soon as there's a hint of green you want to give them as much light as possible.  This helps the leaves produce food for the plant, which can help it put out roots.  Since there may be no roots you want to keep the heat down (mid 70s).  If your leaves have developed in the dark they will quickly fry if exposed to sunlight.  T5 or T8 fluorescent bulbs are the usual choices but HIDs and others can be made to work.  Watch the amount of heat so you're not evaporating more from the leaves than can be resupplied by the plant or environment.  A cheap T8 shoplight ($11 @ Walmart) with 2 5000K bulbs or 1 3500K and 1 6500K provides enough light for a young plant to keep the growth from being weak and lanky while not getting too hot.  You want them under that light ASAP.  Start with 10 hrs a day.  If some plants wilt it means they have no roots and they should be further away from the light source.  Be sure the soil isn't too wet.  Generally if you have a small leaf here and there there may not be roots but if you have an explosion of growth there are probably roots.

Subject: Cuttings to bring home, Malaysia Replies: 6
Posted By: rcantor Views: 433
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by baust55
What's the probability US customs will seize them?


None, since he'll be leaving the USA, not entering.  Malaysia has much less strict laws about importing plant material than we do.

Subject: New To Figs In St. Louis Replies: 4
Posted By: rcantor Views: 271
 

Welcome!  There is, or used to be a guy in St Louis growing figs in a greenhouse.  His name is Ivan Stoilov.

Ivan's Fig Farm LLC
8517 Dittmer Catawissa Road
Dittmer, MO 63023
Phone: (636) 285-0420

http://www.saucemagazine.com/a/1990

You can grow a Hardy Chicago in ground.  It will die back to the surface in winter but it will usually produce fruit any way.  If you can overwinter some fig trees in pots in an unheated or minimally heated garage you have many more options.

Call these people - they sometimes sell HC

http://www.gardenheights.com/home.html

 

Subject: Hello from Ohio Replies: 11
Posted By: rcantor Views: 349
 
Welcome!

Subject: OHIO - new member seeks advice. Replies: 12
Posted By: rcantor Views: 462
 
Welcome!  Hardy Chicago, Ronde de Bordeau and Desert King will be great for you.  We have some very experienced people in Ohio.  Search for posts by MNedelcu and look for his offerings on ebay.

Subject: Is my Cutting Upside-down ?? Replies: 15
Posted By: rcantor Views: 487
 
I would take the plastic off and check the bark.  If it comes off easily and there's no green then it's dead.  I would cut off the dead stuff so the infection doesn't spread.  That comes from too much water and not enough air getting to the cutting.

Subject: Outdoor cutting start Replies: 5
Posted By: rcantor Views: 338
 
The crucial condition is that both air and water are near the cutting.  Paper towels generally keep the cutting too wet and cut off air flow, resulting in mold.  If read this page, then go back to the top and click on the new, alternative method, you'll have a good idea of the process.

http://figs4fun.com/basics_Rooting.html

Different people use different materials but the goals are the same.  If you use horticultural perlitee you'll need to sift or rinse it to get rid of the perlite dust.  That dust clogs the air spaces and keeps the cutting too wet.

Subject: will these survive? Replies: 5
Posted By: rcantor Views: 293
 
If you want to use rooting hormone (I would) just scrape the surface bark until green is showing then put the rooting hormone on.

Subject: Is my Cutting Upside-down ?? Replies: 15
Posted By: rcantor Views: 487
 
Would you show us where the bark was scrapped off?  If it came off easily that's a sign the part of the cutting in the soil was starting to rot which would mean the soil is too wet.  You want to have a lot of air spaces in the rooting medium so the cutting doesn't rot.  That's why many people use mostly perlite or coco coir that's been squeezed out and re-fluffed.  You get plenty of moisture with good air circulation.

Subject: Idiot proof way of starting cuttings Replies: 12
Posted By: rcantor Views: 731
 
Strong work!

Subject: Join igive, sign up to support F4F and $5 goes to the foundation Replies: 1
Posted By: rcantor Views: 175
 

May $5 New Member Promotion 
Free Donations for Figs4Fun Foundation

Hi Robert,

Spring is finally here. To celebrate, we'll donate $5 per new member supportingFigs4Fun Foundation through May 31. No purchase necessary.  In other words, for free.  

All the new to iGive member needs to do is try the free and optional iGive Button through 7/15/15. 

http://www.iGive.com/welcome/warmwelcome.cfm?c=69522&m=1021500

Subject: any use for perlite dust? Replies: 22
Posted By: rcantor Views: 777
 
I use perlite to root cuttings.  Once they go in to pots they don't get any more perlite.

Subject: Where to place fans in Greenhouse? Replies: 9
Posted By: rcantor Views: 268
 
I doubt 2 fans is enough and I'm concerned that 70% will cause it to be too dark for optimum plant growth.  My assumption was that the greenhouse is not robust enough for fans near the peak.

Subject: Where to place fans in Greenhouse? Replies: 9
Posted By: rcantor Views: 268
 
I'm not Hershell and the link won't open for me.  In general you want to blow air from low and outside the greenhouse up to the top and then out from the top to a vent or a door.  A circular pattern with some air blowing out would be second best.

Subject: Greenhouse fig wasp Replies: 20
Posted By: rcantor Views: 837
 
[figwasp2] 

These are fig wasps from Wayne's word.

Subject: rooting inside or outside? Replies: 8
Posted By: rcantor Views: 364
 
I've done it both ways and had good success both ways. 

Subject: Expanded rooting setup Replies: 39
Posted By: rcantor Views: 1,931
 
Strong work!

Subject: Branching at every node at the same time. Replies: 23
Posted By: rcantor Views: 585
 
Several of mine are doing this but they all started growing the lowest node first then put out the higher buds until all live buds are growing.  Most of the plants lost the apical bud but not all of them.  I think it's the trace minerals.  Last year I started with Dyna-grow mid season. 

Subject: New to fig. Replies: 8
Posted By: rcantor Views: 269
 
Welcome!  Your local expert is https://www.facebook.com/figmalaysia?fref=ts.  He has lots of different types and sells them.  You can grow almost anything there in your tunnel.  Some figs will split just because of the humidity, like Panache.

Subject: A Big and Old fig tree Replies: 15
Posted By: rcantor Views: 527
 
Now THAT'S a fig tree  :)

Subject: Organic Fertilizer Replies: 13
Posted By: rcantor Views: 602
 
Of all the 'tones', I like the tomato for its extra calcium.  I also use worm castings and composted cow manure.

Subject: Need Help Selecting A Small Fig Tree With Specific Traits Replies: 14
Posted By: rcantor Views: 894
 
VdB is a great tasting fig and may have skin flavor that's better than any other.  The skin here is very thin but skins tend to get thicker in desert areas.  VdB skin tastes something like concord grape.  It's good to get some early croppers, some mid and some late.

Subject: My espalier project... Replies: 30
Posted By: rcantor Views: 1,260
 
Looks great, congratulations.

Subject: Need Help Selecting A Small Fig Tree With Specific Traits Replies: 14
Posted By: rcantor Views: 894
 
VdB and hardy chicago will work.  You'll need to prune the tree to the height you want it.  No fig tree will stay 6 or 8 feet forever.

Subject: Espalier vs potted Replies: 11
Posted By: rcantor Views: 693
 
If you have desert soil do you have nematodes?  Do you fertilize it more and add things like worm castings and compost or tomato (or other) tone?  Desert soil typically doesn't hold nutrients well.  Do you know your pH? 

Subject: Just dropping in to say hi from middle TN! Replies: 9
Posted By: rcantor Views: 305
 
Welcome!  We have several people in the SE who can give you great advice.  I'm sure you'll have 30 acres in figs before you know it. 

Subject: 1st one of 2015 Replies: 5
Posted By: rcantor Views: 252
 
Congratulations!  Where are you and why did you pick it so early?   :)   Figs don't have their full flavor until the white part of the inside is translucent.  Try letting it get softer and hang down more next time to see what you think.  You might have to protect it from critters  :)

Subject: Fig Cutting orientation vs success rate Replies: 14
Posted By: rcantor Views: 679
 
I would never cut off green growth from a cutting.  Leaves make food for the cutting.  You might have to water the bag more, or if things are wilting you might have to cut part of the leaf off.. You don't know if the cutting will have the energy to push new growth.

As for the bag method, it works fine if you follow the general principles.  If The cutting gets moldy either the cutting was dead or there's too much water.  If you buy coarse perlite there are a lot of fine particles that hold a lot of water.  You have to sift or rinse those out before using the perlite.  Similarly, if you add peat or potting soil add only a tiny amount.  I use Agricultural grade perlite #3.  It has a larger particle size and so larger airspaces as well.  You can get that through hydroponics stores.

Subject: Up potting advice Replies: 2
Posted By: rcantor Views: 235
 
I generally go 6 or so inches wider than their current container. That leaves 3" all around for the roots to spread.  If you go from 1 gal to even 3 gal there's hardly any room for more roots.  I also bury as many nodes as I can below the surface so if there's a freeze or rodent damage there are plenty of nodes left to sprout from below the surface.

Subject: cheap rooting .... in the air ! Replies: 7
Posted By: rcantor Views: 627
 
Nice!

Subject: Wood Chips on potting soil. Replies: 9
Posted By: rcantor Views: 454
 
Pine & Fir bark is usually used because they last a long time.  Wood chips are decomposed more quickly by bacteria and fungi and they use nitrogen to break down the cellulose and lignin in the wood.  That leaves less Nitrogen for the plant as has been mentioned.  Unless you test your soil often you'll probably alternate between too much and too little nitrogen.

Subject: Fig heaven, South Florida? Replies: 18
Posted By: rcantor Views: 1,061
 
Notice that Waynea has tons of mulch.  That discourages nematodes.  There are a lot of people in FL growing figs.  Some of them don't post much here.

Subject: Whoever sent me these, please identify yourself :) Replies: 0
Posted By: rcantor Views: 293
 
Some kind person set me a BUNCH of cuttings.  Unfortunately they got separated from their donor info.  Fortunately, they were labeled very distinctively.  If you're the person please contact me here or by PM so I can keep my records straight and thank you appropriately.

[image] 

[20150424_165321]

Subject: root initials 3 days Replies: 8
Posted By: rcantor Views: 477
 
The picture is too blurry to tell but the white spots are far more likely to be lenticels than roots.  Lenticels improve oxegen uptake in a low O2 environment.

Subject: Food for thought Replies: 2
Posted By: rcantor Views: 313
 
If there's a Fresh Market near you they make a ham, gruyere and fig preserve sandwich that's really good.  They will substitute any other meat, too.

Subject: Let's start some air layers! Replies: 28
Posted By: rcantor Views: 812
 
I find air layers root the fastest if they're on the tree when it starts waking up from dormancy.  Nice looking air layers, Frank & Paul!

Subject: Fig Cuttings Replies: 6
Posted By: rcantor Views: 708
 
Welcome to the forum!  It really would be good to get a bigger plant and get fruit this summer.  Cuttings may not bear for years.  If you email encantofarms at cox.net Jon should have some fig plants you can buy at good prices.

Subject: introduction first post Replies: 7
Posted By: rcantor Views: 495
 
Welcome to the forum!  There are a lot of you in FL and S GA always making the rest of us jealous with your fruit   :)

Subject: My Healthy Desert King trees Replies: 27
Posted By: rcantor Views: 1,064
 
I have to laugh because I know you've got at least 10x that many trees elsewhere.  Show us photos of the whole bunch!

Subject: Weak, lanky growth on garage over-wintered fig trees Replies: 5
Posted By: rcantor Views: 409
 
For next year try to keep the garage below 45 and above 35.  Lights will warm it up so they're not a good idea.  As soon as a fig's buds swell it should go into sunlight.  This year mine are budding very early.  I've put them outside in the hopes of no frost.   If it does frost They'll get covered in Christmas lights, a blanket then plastic.  The lights won't need to go on unless the temps get under 30.

Your growth isn't as bad as some.  I'd try to air layer off the lanky stuff and let your big plant regrow from lower nodes.  The lanky stuff will be fine as the rooted portion of a bigger plant.

Subject: 187-25 Replies: 8
Posted By: rcantor Views: 505
 
Welcome!  I'll look to see if mine is still dormant.  I think you're going to like your Panache better.  There are many of the more expensive figs I haven't tried but if I were you I'd look for a St Rita and some of the Col de Dames.

Subject: Cutting request and potting soil question Replies: 7
Posted By: rcantor Views: 360
 
Such a beautiful area!  RKN can be killed - search for threads here.  Try a Florea and a Voiture - it has a number after it - maybe 217.  Any early fig and any fig that produces a good breba (such as Destert King) will be your best choices.  Santa Maria's summers rarely get hotter than 75 if my sources are correct.  That means most figs won't develop great flavor. Chicago Hardy and Salem Dark develop good flavor in cooler climates.  Brown Turkey wont. 

Subject: Redneck greenhouse- almost free Replies: 27
Posted By: rcantor Views: 845
 
That looks great, congratulations!