I really wasn't expecting it to be THIS cold (10 degrees less than predicted), and lasting for two days. So, I am hoping that I do not have too much damage. I did move more of, but not all, my potted figs into the GH yesterday. Wishing I had moved everything. Live and learn, as the saying goes.

Snaglpus - It might be cold for a day or two. But the high for Tuesday is 75, and 80 degrees on Wednesday. Go figure.... This might just be our whole winter. We would love to have you down here. I lived in Rock Hill (just barely south of you) for a while before we moving back to Houston the last time.

CliffH

I have to agree with comment on help from young children. I have only been working with figs for less than a year, and I already have a few unknowns due to "help" from my 7 yr old. It's all her fault for every unknown..... that's my story and I am sticking to it.....

Oh, and trying to make stick labels reusable by putting masking tape on them and then writing on the tape. DON'T do this. The writing is gone almost over night. I managed to catch all but one before the writing was un-readable. Now I too use paint pens to write on the tree itself (along with the standard silver metal tags).

CliffH

Has anyone heard of a fig variety called "Yellow Spanish", or also maybe know as "Jerusalem". A local person is selling a largish tree, and these were the names that he says he was given for the variety. He described it as "yellow, sweet, with like a honey-drop at the eyes blocking out bugs".

I am going to go check it out after Christmas, but wanted to see if anyone had any more info. I have read a few postings on a Jerusalem fig, but the descriptions don't match. Just hope this does not turn out to be the ever-present Kadota that is sold under so many different name down here.

Thanks
CliffH

A thumbs up for arachyd's post. I agree and could not have said it better, and I also now have Olga added to my followed seller on eBay due to glowing comments posted here. If the more active well respected members of this forum themselves respect Olga, then that is good enough for me.

CliffH.

CliffH.

Wow, thanks! I will add this tree to the testing. I am hoping that I can eventually start providing a true Banana fig to those that want one.


BTW - All the Chico Strawberry cuttings have rooted and are doing well...

Cliff

I also use a very diluted Miracle Grow solution, but I also add several organic additives (i.e.  fish em, seaweed, molasses, etc.) too. All in weak concentrations. I started this because I was seeing deficiencies signs in the early leaves of some cuttings. I have had very good luck since starting this.


CliffH

Yes, it is okay to move. I actually move the cuttings that I have rooted in water to a soil (or soil-less) mix sooner, when the roots are still white (and about the diameter or yours). All that I have done this to have survived and are growing well.


CliffH

I did get to try Franklin's brisket, or a sample anyway, at an event that he was at. Not sure it was better than Blacks or not. Not without have both at the same time, but it was very good. I don't know about standing in line for hours for it......

I did look at a nice Traeger electric smoker today, and hinted to the wife about x-mas. 

Great looking pork and turkey, BTW!


Cliff

I too feel your pain. Even as a person growing figs for less than a year. I have tried a number of methods, as I am sure most people do. What I learned, for me, is that a lot has to do with the cuttings you start with. A method that worked well on one set of cuttings failed on others, and I take very careful notes to duplicate the method.

On some cuttings I had 100% success rate. On others I failed completely. Example of my failures would be Smith, where the cuttings were old (I knew this going in). Battaglia Green and CdD Gris were also 100% failures (these were green cuttings, and I have had issues getting green cuttings to root). Most attempts were somewhere between these two extremes.

I have picked several small trees of special varieties, to be sure of success. All from members or reputable nurseries.

Keep practicing with the cuttings is all we can do. I have practiced on many that were easy, and free, to obtain locally.

Cliff H.

I once got a very tiny splinter in the tip of my index finger one morning. I mean just a tiny black speck. I annoyed me, so I dug it out that afternoon. By later that evening the whole end of my finger was red and swollen. I woke up in the night with my hand hurting. The whole finger was swollen, and the end was turning purple and black. I went to a doctor the next day (Sunday). They looked at it, gave me an antibiotic shot and prescription, and said that I need to see a hand specialist. By this time the finger was purplish black to the first joint.

By that evening, less than 36 hours after first getting the tiny splinter and with all the antibiotics, my finger was double its normal size. I also had red streaks run up my arm to the shoulder. This was only about 24 hrs from the first real sign off trouble.

I got an emergency appointment to see a hand surgeon the next morning. To shorten story, I ended up loosing the whole end of my finger and being on drugs for a month. I had gotten a infection in what they call a "felon pad" in the tip of my finger. The surgeon said that if I had waited a few more hours, I would have lost the whole finger and ended up in the hospital with sepsis.

This just shows how a very small, almost non-existent, injury can end up threatening your life. I am a lot more conscious and careful with splinters now, and wear gloves more than I used to.

CliffH.

I do use a soldering iron or a wood burning tool to melt hole in all the thin plastic containers that I have been using (cups, qt deli tubs, and small pots). This is after failed or not-so-good attempts to use a drill, dremel, or other tools. Works quick too. I sometime use a utility knife or chisel to clean up the holes.

CliffH

I would agree that this size is over-kill for keeping a tree for about 6 years. A 55 gallon barrel, cut in half or 2/3, should be plenty.

However, if you want to use the bigger containers, I would recommend using the smaller 275 gallon size and cutting them in half horizontally. Cut the metal frame and plastic container together. It will need to frame to support the plastic bin. I have done this before, to use them as storage for different soils and materials.

CliffH.

I'm still in my first year of fig growing. So, not really anything to trade for now. But I hope to help out others starting next year. I'm basically looking for the best and most productive in our hot and humid southern Texas weather. Looking to have about 20 (or so) in the ground. Here are some that I would like to try out.

Figo Preto
Col de Dame Blanc
Deanna
Violette de Sollies
Nero 600 M
Battaglia Green

CliffH