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Subject: Rooting in Coir Replies: 93
Posted By: rcantor Views: 5,458
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by FMD
... Despite these wonderful successes, there are some who have reported disastrous failures. I am not sure why since coir is so forgiving when it comes to moisture problems. 


One factor may be the brand of coir.  The texture varies greatly.  Some are fluffy, some are gritty.

It would help people if everyone posted what brand of coir they were using.

Subject: Cuttings on eBay. Replies: 9
Posted By: rcantor Views: 870
 
Or step up your game and get a few caprifigs with mid season fruit on them.  Keep them above 40 in the winter.  :)

Subject: It's That Time of Year Again! Replies: 33
Posted By: rcantor Views: 806
 
Great job, it looks wonderful!

Subject: 5 Potted Figs - Need Help! Replies: 10
Posted By: rcantor Views: 515
 
Don't cut open an unripe fruit - it wont help at all.  The webs are probably from spider mites.  Remove the webs then spray with neem oil or safer soap to get rid of them.  Your soil is fairly dense for figs.  be sure the bottom of the pots don't stay wet.  Fig roots like air plus water in the soil.  If there's too much water with no air you can get root rot and fungal problems.

Subject: Great deal on Grafting Tool Replies: 35
Posted By: rcantor Views: 1,283
 
Troy, have you tried covering the longer grafts completely to see if that would help them survive?

Subject: New member from Maryland Replies: 22
Posted By: rcantor Views: 628
 
Welcome!  Best of luck with your figs.

Subject: Great deal on Grafting Tool Replies: 35
Posted By: rcantor Views: 1,283
 
Can't you sharpen the blade on the omega tool to avoid crushing the cambium?

Subject: Failing Cuttings Replies: 13
Posted By: rcantor Views: 684
 
Photos would help.  What media were the roots in when the plants were under the grow lights?  Did roots break off on up ptting to pro-mix? How wet was the promix?

Subject: found a monster in zip lock!!! Replies: 25
Posted By: rcantor Views: 894
 
This guy has Vitamino quarts for $16.50

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vitamino-by-Botanicare-boost-amino-acids-and-vitamins-for-better-healthy-plants-/201251937737?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item2edb8cddc9

Subject: Seeking Quality Heat Mat for Rooting. Is This one Good? Replies: 24
Posted By: rcantor Views: 666
 
Good luck!  I used to use an electric blanket folded double with plastic over it.  I folded the blanket over the cuttings as well.  It worked very well.

Subject: question Replies: 7
Posted By: rcantor Views: 414
 
I think what you wanted to say is right.  Common figs do NOT need pollination.

Caprifigs have male and female flowers.  Most of them are inedible.  They have 3 crops.  Of those, only the Profichi has male flowers (in general).  The other two crops are the winter mamme and the autumn mammoni.

You will be an old timer any day now  :)

Subject: Fig leaves aren't just for the dogs! Replies: 10
Posted By: rcantor Views: 408
 
For those with less experience, fig leaves and branches have a milky fluid that is very irritating.  Very young leaves may not have enough to do any harm but as the leaf matures it has increasing amounts of this fluid.  It would not be wise to eat a fresh leaf.  Fig tea from dried leaves is consumed by many around the world but no one really knows if it's safe.

Subject: question Replies: 7
Posted By: rcantor Views: 414
 
You already know about San Pedro, Common and probably Caprifigs.   What's left is Smyrna.  That wont produce any ripe figs without pollination or chemical intervention.

Subject: Black Ischia Cuttings : All Rotten Replies: 24
Posted By: rcantor Views: 869
 
How hot was the water?  I'd cut it at the bend so you have 2 relatively straight cuttings.  Send me the smaller one to root and you try a different method since coir has failed twice.

Subject: Lsu thibodaux Replies: 32
Posted By: rcantor Views: 1,090
 
Welcome, Dr.Daigle!  Thanks for sharing that history with us.  Best of luck with your orchard!  I hope you'll come back when you can and tell us about other figs and how yours are going.  We have other people with established fig orchards who you may want to communicate with.

Subject: Coll de Dam Blanc cuttings Replies: 16
Posted By: rcantor Views: 835
 
I think figs taste best when the 'pith' or 'meat' is translucent, instead of opaque white as in your photo.  What do you think?

Subject: found a monster in zip lock!!! Replies: 25
Posted By: rcantor Views: 894
 
How do you use the vitamino?

Subject: OT - can't get a break.......... Replies: 11
Posted By: rcantor Views: 534
 
JoAnn, I'm sorry life has been so rough lately.  I will pray for you as well.

Subject: Mad002 Replies: 53
Posted By: rcantor Views: 3,492
 
I knew there was something fishy here!  :)   I hope mine survives the winter and fruits this year  :)  Thanks for providing it, Jon.  A fig by any other name is just as sweet!

Subject: Graft took and bud open, what to do? Replies: 20
Posted By: rcantor Views: 506
 
If that's not a tape called grafting tape I'd remove it from the bud and put 1 wet coffee filter over the bud, then 1 dry one over that.  As long as what you're using is light weight it should work fine.  I would put it in the shade.

Subject: The mist cloner is complete Replies: 124
Posted By: rcantor Views: 4,391
 
Nice!

Subject: Introduction from Manila, Philippines Replies: 34
Posted By: rcantor Views: 987
 
Welcome!  I don't know what's legal and what's not for you but if permitted this guy would be a great source of cuttings.

https://www.facebook.com/figmalaysia?ref=br_tf

Subject: Fuzziness on cuttings in Humidity Chamber- Is this a good sign? Replies: 18
Posted By: rcantor Views: 598
 
Rich is right.  Those cuttings may be dead.  I would dump everything out but hold on to the cutting and make sure it moves with the perlite in case there are roots below.  Scratch just a small piece of bark.  If there's no green then that internode is dead.  Go past a node and scratch again.  If you have 1 live internode there's still a chance to get a good plant.  If none of them have any green the cutting is dead.  Either way the perlite is going to have mold spores and should be thrown away.

Subject: Mad002 Replies: 53
Posted By: rcantor Views: 3,492
 
I'm not Jon but from years of watching his ebay auctions I can tell you that there are numerous typos  :)  Something about long hours pruning and labeling  :)

Subject: --- Really cheap plant tags Replies: 37
Posted By: rcantor Views: 1,569
 
For $473 it should accept computer input rather than having to dial each letter individually.  The plastic labels get brittle and crack after 1 - 3 years.

Subject: lighting system help Replies: 19
Posted By: rcantor Views: 620
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by figpig_66
Thanks kk and rc. I just posted these cause i seen them a lowes and they were the brightest light i seen. You really couldnt look at them. Lowes has a light chart when buying lights and these are rated at 10. These are the HO LIGHTS the regular lights were rated at 4. I dont think you can use these bulbs in a regular 4 foot light. Think it may take a different ballast not sure. Can i buy these HO TUBES FOR MY REGULAER T5 LIGHT I ALREADY HAVE ????


Richard, no.  These HO tubes are 54 W and regular T5 tubes are 40 W.  You will destroy your fixture, possibly with flames.

Bigfig, this is a great deal.

Subject: Why do rooted cuttings suddenly die? Replies: 37
Posted By: rcantor Views: 1,043
 
Your soil is too dense and heavy and too wet.  That cutting isn't dead, either.  You still have white roots.  Carefully pick away the rotting parts and put the cutting in coarse perlite with all the fine particles rinsed or sifted away.  add a pinch of peat.  Bury the cutting almost to the top.  Water it once then wait till it's dry to water again.

Subject: Link: sampling 14 italian varieties, full description Replies: 12
Posted By: rcantor Views: 838
 
Now we need Han Solo to go get some for us  :)

Subject: lighting system help Replies: 19
Posted By: rcantor Views: 620
 
2700K = 4400F, but that's not what he means  :)

The color temperature of a light source is similar to its overall color.  In Fluorescent lights common color temperatures (abbreviated CCT for corrected color temp) are

2700 - reddish or warm
3000
3200
4100 - yellow but with terrible color rendition - only applies to fluorescent lights.
5000 - closest to sunlight at noon with a mostly clear sky.
6400 - bright white looks bluish if compared to 4100K and under but hardly at all if seen alone.

The numbers do come from temperatures in degrees Kelvin.  If a piece of metal is heated to 3000 degrees K it glows the color of the light assigned the number 3000K.  If you get it even hotter (and somehow it doesn't melt) to 5000 degrees K, it glows a more blue color.  Lights that look that color are assigned a CCT of 5000K.  It's very similar to a rainbow with lower temps red, slightly higher temps orange, then yellow, greenish, bluish.  These are all shades of white, however.

These also correspond to peak wavelengths which is helpful if you're going to read some PAR charts/graphs and if you're interested in LEDs

Wavelength (nanometers) = 3,000,000 / Col temp (Kelvin)

So, for example,  3200K = 937.5 nm

Subject: My battle with the big rat! Replies: 95
Posted By: rcantor Views: 2,200
 
I bet it would make good fertilizer for your trees and that would be a fitting end.  Bury it.

Subject: Sunny zone 6 Replies: 7
Posted By: rcantor Views: 377
 
Rodent, slug, fungus, insect, who knows?  The bark and cambium disappeared in a patchy fashion all around the soil line. 

Subject: My battle with the big rat! Replies: 95
Posted By: rcantor Views: 2,200
 
Yee Haw!  Try resetting it to see if those with too much experience are right  :)

Subject: OT: Fruits of Kauai Replies: 21
Posted By: rcantor Views: 834
 
Sounds like a great trip and we're just hearing the tip of the iceberg.  I don't think there would be any harm in posting the rest of it in this thread.   :)

Subject: Sunny zone 6 Replies: 7
Posted By: rcantor Views: 377
 
You're worse off in KY than we are here in KC, MO.  Are you in the mountains?  A green house is always better than out in the open for those of us with real winters.  Second best is dormant in a climate controlled area that doesn't go under 33 or so.  I have mine set for 35 because that's the lowest my heaters go.

So why did my CdDG die?  I found out it had been girdled.  The bark must taste superior to other plants just like the fig does.

Subject: Icy plants Replies: 7
Posted By: rcantor Views: 512
 
The rosemary's probably gone.  Don't judge figs until mid to late summer.

Subject: lighting system help Replies: 19
Posted By: rcantor Views: 620
 
Richard, link us to the lights at Lowes or give us the brand name of the lights or something!  Don't leave us in the dark!

Subject: LSU's Hammond Research Station Facebook Page Replies: 22
Posted By: rcantor Views: 927
 
This and the other field you mentioned is where I was in Oct.  I should have asked about cuttings.  Such a shame and a waste of my time to clear all those grape vines out.  The tangerines and persimmons were great, though.

Subject: lighting system help Replies: 19
Posted By: rcantor Views: 620
 
That's a great price for 8 T5 lamps.  You will have to move to gallon pots before long.  You could get 3 T8 shop lights from Walmart for ~$36 and 6 bulbs from Home Despot for ~$30.  That would also cover your 20 plants in gallon containers.

Subject: cuttings Replies: 15
Posted By: rcantor Views: 760
 
Read the page at this link, then read the alternate method link at the top.  It will help you a lot.  Get the coarsest perlite you can and rinse or sieve the fine particles out.

http://figs4fun.com/basics_Rooting.html

Subject: A short video of my Galicia Negra and Martinenca Rimada Replies: 28
Posted By: rcantor Views: 1,337
 
Nice plants.  I find that a/ls left over winter root very fast in the Spring.  Keep pumping them out.  The way prices are going I won't be able to afford one until 2040.    :)

Subject: My first fig growing attempt. Replies: 18
Posted By: rcantor Views: 568
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by nepenthes
Quote:
Originally Posted by rcantor
It looks nice.  As someone who uses similar lights I want to let you know that 2 rows of 1 gal pots won't get enough light from one shop light.  Two shop lights side by side will give enough for 3 rows  of pots.  Walmart has the cheapest shop lights (T8s) and Home Despot has the cheapest bulbs.
Hey Bob, just out of curiosity, do you mean a single tube fluorescent hood or a hood that holds two T8s (like I have pictured) when talking about the shop lights? I haven't gotten around to lowering the lights. Usually I keep the lights about 2" above plants I grow. Thank you for addressing the issue! And thanks to everyone else. Keep the advice coming while I keep reading threads about what I wish my figs end up looking like :P


As far as I know, all shop lights are 2 tube fixtures.  Yours certainly are.  One fixture of 2 lamps will not be enough for 2 rows of pots.  It's barely enough for 1 row centered under it.  Two fixtures side by side work much better.

Also, I arrange my pots by plant height (all the tall plants on one end) and tilt the fixture (The chain on one end is shorter than the other) so the bulbs are 2-3" above all of the plants.

Subject: Any fig growers in Northern Arizona? Replies: 10
Posted By: rcantor Views: 463
 
Welcome!  We do have a member in AZ so hopefully he'll chime in soon.  We also have others in 5b who will be able to tell you what figs work best for them.

Subject: My first fig growing attempt. Replies: 18
Posted By: rcantor Views: 568
 
It looks nice.  As someone who uses similar lights I want to let you know that 2 rows of 1 gal pots won't get enough light from one shop light.  Two shop lights side by side will give enough for 3 rows  of pots.  Walmart has the cheapest shop lights (T8s) and Home Despot has the cheapest bulbs.

Subject: LSU's Hammond Research Station Facebook Page Replies: 22
Posted By: rcantor Views: 927
 
There weren't any grapes purposefully planted, they were volunteers that were climbing in the fig trees.  I tore them down and pulled them out of the trees.  Some of the trees had signs, most didn't.  I might have been at the visitor's fields (at Burden) but they were there as of Oct 27, 2014.  I assumed they didn't allow cuttings so I didn't take any.  The facility director said I could take fruit, though.  There were tangerines that were excellent but the figs were terrible.  There were grounds people everywhere.

[image] 

[20141027_144545] 

Subject: My battle with the big rat! Replies: 95
Posted By: rcantor Views: 2,200
 
Harvey, he may be getting the banana from the back of the trap.  Cover the back and side so he has to go in the trap.

Subject: LSU's Hammond Research Station Facebook Page Replies: 22
Posted By: rcantor Views: 927
 
I was at Burden, too.  There were grapevines winding through the trees and other trees growing up through the fig trees.  I spent a lot of time pulling the grape vines out and breaking the other trees as best as I could.  It's a shame they let them get so over grown.  I was  there in late Oct, Richard, so you may have seen some of my handiwork  :)

Subject: My battle with the big rat! Replies: 95
Posted By: rcantor Views: 2,200
 
Maybe it's time to clean out the traps and let the cats in.  Bolt your pots to the table so they don't get knocked over in the chase  :)

Subject: Saratoga/Chico Strawberry fig Replies: 70
Posted By: rcantor Views: 3,023
 
Welcome.  If you start a thread introducing yourself, Crunbar, you'll get a lot more welcomes  :)

You're right about the Mission but there are many varieties that are superior.  Chico is different but only you can decide which you like better.

Subject: Cordon Plans and Question About In-Ground Pots Replies: 16
Posted By: rcantor Views: 596
 
I mostly like your plan but I question the wisdom of planting what you have now as the permanent rather than the temporary trees.   You're looking at several lifetimes of figs and you're in Zone 10. Why plant a Mission when you could plant Ronde de Bordeau, Col de Dame Grise, Maltese Falcon or Beauty, Sunfire, MVSB, Black Madeira, St Rita, JH Adriatic and on & on.  I'd suggest waiting until you audition several of the best figs and then plant the winners.  Plant some early, some late, some mid season.   Visit Jon, Harvey and several of the other CA growers.  If you invest 3 years to get the best figs your great, great grandchildren will thank you for it.  I'd donate some cuttings to the cause.

Subject: OT... I would like to thank Jon and the forum members. Replies: 51
Posted By: rcantor Views: 2,124
 
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