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Subject: Looking for Wish List Cuttings Replies: 1
Posted By: MastiffGuy Views: 146
 
Hello Everyone,
As we are in the midst of cutting season I'd like to see if anyone has cuttings of the two figs highest on my wish list.

Figoin

Gris Olivette

I have over 100 varieties but I have gotten fruit from only a handful. I am happy to trade a cutting of any of those big enough to cut but I won't be able to guarantee it to be what I purchased it to be. Of course I am happy to pay for the cuttings as well. I know it's a bit of a shot in the dark but this is the best place to try that shot.

Merry Cutting
&
Figgy New Year

To All!

Subject: Do I Let Them Go Dormant? Replies: 1
Posted By: MastiffGuy Views: 89
 
Hi There,
I have a bunch of cuttings that have rooted and I have put outside to grow on. They are about 2 months with roots old. The weather here is starting to dip into the mid to high 40's at night. My question is at this point can these baby plants make it through a 9a winter outside or should I bring them all inside and keep them warm and growing through the winter? Most are from plants that have survived much colder winters.

Thanks from 9a

Subject: Fig Starter Bundles Replies: 47
Posted By: MastiffGuy Views: 1,648
 
I'm also interested.


Thanks from a newbie!

Subject: Dormant or Not? Replies: 2
Posted By: MastiffGuy Views: 110
 
What is the better choice- wait to bring a dormant plant to a warmer climate where temps haven't dropped enough yet to force dormancy? Or get it now just b4 it goes into dormancy and let it live (?grow?) for another month before going dormant?

I'm 9b and the plant is coming from 8a.


Thanks

Wish List: Sweet Joy, Figion, Gris Olivette

Subject: Do I Need Them All? Replies: 11
Posted By: MastiffGuy Views: 356
 
Thanks for the responses.

Ross- thanks for the info. As a first year fig person my personal taste experience is limited. Taste, productivity and easy of care. My garden mantra is "you've gotta earn your spot."
I'll trial Gino's and Scott's while I see if I can find a Kathleen's Black.

Subject: winter cutting project Replies: 14
Posted By: MastiffGuy Views: 388
 
I add an inch of perlite on top of my mix. It is my go to method. I'm also finding Hydrogen Peroxide is a kind of cutting cure all.

Subject: Do I Need Them All? Replies: 11
Posted By: MastiffGuy Views: 356
 
Hello Everyone,
I was just looking at my cutting/plant list and I noticed a trend. A lot of figs that end with the same name. Black.

Kathleen Black, Marseilles Black, Malta Black, Socorro Black, Durio's Native Black and Durio's Italian Black.

I already have Gino's Black and Scott's Black. I want productive, tasty, easy to care for figs. I am also trying to grow a range of figs so I'm looking for the best examples not all the different types. Due to space constraints if there are some on my list that are very similar or not as productive or tasty as another fig I have, or fig that is on the list, I'd like to know. All input welcomed.

Thanks

Zone 9b California
Wish List: Sweet Joy, Gris Olivette, Figion

Subject: Percentages Replies: 16
Posted By: MastiffGuy Views: 275
 
Hi Again,
Since I have been asked I'll tell you what I do to root cuttings. Again, there a so many wise voices here on this forum I don't want to in anyway want to imply my way is better. It's just my way. In fact, my way is three different ways cobbled together.

1st thing I do with cuttings is wash them with antibacterial soap. I use Dial. I use either a toothbrush or just by hand.
Then I put paraffin wax on any cuttings on the top 1/3 of the cutting.
Then I put the cutting in a clear plastic cup (16oz Dixie cup) and fill halfway with water.
I now know smile good. Frown bad. As far as which way is up.
I have a kitchen window that gets a hour or so of first light and is bright all day.
That's where the labeled cups stay. I change water daily.
Usually in about 3 weeks the cuttings will show leaves and feeder roots.
Then I put them in nursery pots for trees filled a 1/2 chunky peralite and 1/2 potting soil mix. The nursery pots sit in a holder for 12.
Be gentle and watch how you deal with the roots.
That holder is in the bottom of a plastic container. The top is a larger plastic container. The humidity box.
That set up is where I grow them on. I sit it in a corner that the patio door is. It gets constant indirect light.
I spray it every other day or so. I put a little water at the bottom in the saucer that covers the nursery pot holder. I do it for humidity and so the soil at the bottom doesn't dry out.
In a few weeks I can usually see roots at the bottom of the nursery pots that are doing the best. I pay attention to the roots not the leaves.
When most have leaves and roots peaking out the bottom I take the bottom part outside and leave it in the bright shade for the day and take it in at night.
At this point I'm I'm dunking the pots halfway up in water for a second or two in the morning. Less is more when it comes to water and cuttings.
I do that Everyday or every other day depending on how hot it will be that day.
After awhile you have a plant that has root growth and is acclimated to outside temps.
BE CAREFUL HOW MUCH DIRECT SUN YOU GIVE THESE NEW PLANTS!!!!!
I fried a whole batch of cuttings/plantlings doing this.
Less water. Less direct sun. And let nature do it's thing.

The link is to my fall back method.
The success rate is high if you don't overwater and are patient.
It takes much longer to get leaves and roots. But I've had 1inch piece of cutting give me a plantling.



Good luck all!

Subject: Percentages Replies: 16
Posted By: MastiffGuy Views: 275
 
I started collecting and growing this year. I started with the biggest plants I could find at online nursuries. I wanted to get some figs this year. And my 2 LSU Purple and my Chicago Hardy have given me 15-20 figs each. Both pretty yummy. Then I went tried cuttings from eBay. I just recently found the method that works best for me. I made all the rookie mistakes with cuttings getting to that good place. So 40% of my plants are from nurseries. 30% are from eBay. 25% are purchased directly from F4F members. And the rest are cuttings taken from local trees. I'll start trading next year. I almost forgot. I placed a sizable order with Greenfin/Figcuttings.com. We'll see how that turns out.

Subject: Percentages Replies: 16
Posted By: MastiffGuy Views: 275
 
I didn't even think of Craigslist.

Subject: Percentages Replies: 16
Posted By: MastiffGuy Views: 275
 
Hello All,
Just a quick question on where the figs in your collection came from. What percentage were purchased from a nursery, purchased from EBay, traded for or gifted. What's the error rate? Obviously, it doesn't have to be exact.

Thanks


Zone 9a
Wish list: 1. Gris Olivette
2. Sweet Joy
3. Figoin

Subject: Any Reason To Wait? Replies: 2
Posted By: MastiffGuy Views: 69
 
This is one of my better rooted cuttings. Is there any reason to wait to put it in a pot?

Attached Images
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Subject: Newbie Questions Replies: 3
Posted By: MastiffGuy Views: 103
 
Thanks for the responses. Things like #8 I kinda forget with all this thought that goes into potting mediums and the like.

Subject: Newbie Questions Replies: 3
Posted By: MastiffGuy Views: 103
 
Pick a number and let me pick your brain.


1. Does the night time temp(low temp) affect the ripening of figs. Slow it up? Speed it up?

2. What makes a fig sprout. What makes it say now and not a month from now? Size of tree? Temp. Length of day. Nite time temps? Humidity? Some trees(same height and width), from the same nursery, are putting out figs. Others nothing.

3. What varieties absolutely need to be pruned to be fruitful? I have a Celeste and Verte that are about 3 to 4ft tall with 3 or 4 thick stems and 1 fig between them. I have a very bushy Negronne about the same height and no figs. I've pinched both.

4. Do they have to go dormant? Any draw back if they don't? Our weather (zone 9a/b) is in major flux with global warming, droughts and El Niño. So there is no guarantee on what to expect year to year. The recent average chill hours are about 600.

5. I don't want to climb a big ladder to get figs when I'm 60. I'm willing to sacrifice some productivity to keep the sizes manageable (under 10 feet tall). Do I need to think about the size I want 10 years down the line now with plants a year or two old?

6. How often do you "cull the herd"? How long do you/should you give a plant? Is the evaluation not complete till it goes in the ground?

7. Can you plant a fig where a fig once grew?

8. Are there any varieties I shouldn't try planting in the ground? That are best left in pots?

9. What varieties would you consider "centerpiece" varieties. I would like 1 or 2 trees I could let grow tall so they can fully show off their productivity. I got Brooklyn White for 1. Are there any other recommendations?

10. If you get a variety from a nursery that isn't what it was supposed to be, even if you find out 2,3 or 4 years later, do you........? Ask for refund? Ask for the right variety? Chalk it up to things happen? Is the etiquette the same with "regular people"?

Subject: Trees Of Joy Replies: 0
Posted By: MastiffGuy Views: 229
 
Hi Everyone,
Just a heads up. Trees of Joy has put some plants up for sale on his site. I'm sure most of you know TOJ. For those who don't I was very happy with the condition of the plants I got from them. Healthy and all are doing well now.

Subject: Hello- & 3 from the Garden Replies: 5
Posted By: MastiffGuy Views: 73
 
I bought 2 from a big online nursery for figs. The plants are the same as each other. They don't get very purple inside or out. We are coming of several weeks of 90+ degree weather. I don't know if that could affect/change anything. I'm hoping at least the plants I've gotten from nurseries are true to name. I know part of the fun of the next few years is seeing what figs are the same as what I purchased. Comes with the territory I guess?

Subject: Hello- & 3 from the Garden Replies: 5
Posted By: MastiffGuy Views: 73
 
Thanks "rcantor". Newbie mistakes. I thought Breba were just the early figs.

Subject: Hello- & 3 from the Garden Replies: 5
Posted By: MastiffGuy Views: 73
 
I just wanted to say Hello! I'm kinda new to the forum and this is my first post. I thought I'd share my latest figs to ripen. They are: (from left to right)

?breba? Lebanese Red, LSU Purple & Black Mission.

All my figs are with me for a year or less so still figuring out what are Breba and what are main. The next figs from Lebanese red were much darker and much more flavorful.

Thanks to all for the wealth of information. And for not feeling bad about having a fig addiction.


______________________
Zone 9, CA




Wish List:

Gris Olivette

Encanto, Red Fracazzano,Malta Black, Pastiliere, Syrian#2, Syrian Long, Galicia Negra

Adriano, Adriana, Big Granata

Attached Images
jpeg image.jpeg (312151, 18 views)

Subject: $7 fig trees for spring/summer delivery, around 150+ varieties Replies: 775
Posted By: MastiffGuy Views: 28,750
 
When does the window to order trees for 2017 close?

Thanks