Crazy prices out there on cuttings, got to see this.

[Topfigs]

I also have a special Smith I’d like to share. It’s not only super productive, but every fig drips with honey from the eye. Keep an eye out—I’ll be listing it on FigBid in November.

 

[Dbox]

I also have a special Smith I’d like to share. It’s not only super productive, but every fig drips with honey from the eye. Keep an eye out—I’ll be listing it on FigBid in November.

You guys are killing me! I’m looking forward to continuing to learn the personalities so I know who’s serious and who’re pulling my chain. lol.

Ps I hug with sarcasm - so I’ll read postings like this with my sarcasm and then back off and realize not everyone is tongue in cheek.


@Topfigs are you serious or yankin my chain? Lol

 

[Kompakfigs]

Ditto! I can so relate to that. Your words are spot-on! I haven't yet dove into Figbid, but I do host an annual cuttings sale to try and offset what I spend on cuttings, plants, soils, mulches, fertilizers, pots, irrigation, etc... I've been growing for years and spent a lot on my trees. I'm still in the red, too, and I'm perfectly okay with that. I do it for the love of figs and not the love of money. There is nothing that compares to eating fruit from one's own trees. Totally worth every penny! Figs are my happy place.

I feel like I’ve spent too much time and money on this money but eating figs off the trees is the reward. It’s still amazing to

You guys are killing me! I’m looking forward to continuing to learn the personalities so I know who’s serious and who’re pulling my chain. lol.

Ps I hug with sarcasm - so I’ll read postings like this with my sarcasm and then back off and realize not everyone is tongue in cheek.


@Topfigs are you serious or yankin my chain? Lol

Honestly, get a Smith but don’t overpay for either cuttings or plants.

 

[Bofig]

I’ve found when you buy cuttings there is a huge range in quality. 10 bucks can get you a 10 inch sharpie thickness or down to a 5-6 inch twig. The health range can be anywhere from just cut never seen a frost to a stick that sat in a fridge for 6 months rotting but washed right before shipping or even one that the grower lets it “get hit with a few frosts for DoRmAnCy” and they have spots of dead material on the cutting.

My cuttings I hope to have top quality as that’s what I expect when purchasing. I shoot for 3/8 to 3/4 inches and roughly 8-10 inch for cuttings to ship out. Never let them get frosted because we have early frosts that hit while trees are still actively growing sometimes.

Be careful what you buy because you may spend a fortune and get garbage or you can spend almost nothing and get the most beautiful cuttings.

 

[Topfigs]

You guys are killing me! I’m looking forward to continuing to learn the personalities so I know who’s serious and who’re pulling my chain. lol.

Ps I hug with sarcasm - so I’ll read postings like this with my sarcasm and then back off and realize not everyone is tongue in cheek.


@Topfigs are you serious or yankin my chain? Lol

I have quite a few Smith trees, probably from five different sources, and this one really stands out. The others look similar, but none are nearly as productive. Out of the five, one was extremely vigorous—grew 12 feet from a cutting in the first year—but it didn’t set any fruit. In its second year, I slowed down its growth by not fertilizing that tree, and it did set some fruit, but not nearly as much as my super-productive Smith. The figs look the same though, even with honey at the eye on most of them.


I’m not saying my tree is a different Smith sport—it may simply be a healthier Smith overall. I can’t say for certain either way. But just like with puppies, a fig tree’s pedigree matters: when it comes from strong, healthy stock, you’re far more likely to end up with vigorous growth and excellent fruit.

 

[Fig Gazer]

So is my nothing special, regular Smith, for which I paid $6 for a cutting. Or should I say, Smith FA?

In its 1st year, last season:

In its second year, 7 feet tall, well over 200 figs, this season:

SUPER SMITH !

 

[Figgin' A]

SUPER SMITH !

Hardly. I had another Smith tree that was rooted from a cutting from an entirely different source, and it was just as vigorous and productive. The second one was a bit slow initially and showed some nutrient deficiency, but really kicked into high gear after up-potting and some extra feeding.

I am sure you know this better than most of us - it's not what you grow, it's how you grow it.

 

[Figgin' A]

I have quite a few Smith trees, probably from five different sources, and this one really stands out. The others look similar, but none are nearly as productive. Out of the five, one was extremely vigorous—grew 12 feet from a cutting in the first year—but it didn’t set any fruit. In its second year, I slowed down its growth by not fertilizing that tree, and it did set some fruit, but not nearly as much as my super-productive Smith. The figs look the same though, even with honey at the eye on most of them.


I’m not saying my tree is a different Smith sport—it may simply be a healthier Smith overall. I can’t say for certain either way. But just like with puppies, a fig tree’s pedigree matters: when it comes from strong, healthy stock, you’re far more likely to end up with vigorous growth and excellent fruit.

There can be significant variability in results even when rooting cuttings from a very healthy stock.

I had a lot of people ask me for cuttings and rooted trees of my VDB, which many consider to be a superior phenotype. I personally rooted dozens of cuttings from that tree. Some looked just like the mother tree, some didn't. Some lacked the same vigor and productivity, while all were treated exactly the same.

One season, I had a few trees that I neglected to up-pot on time and had them sit in small containers much longer than usual. The result was that they grew scrawny, had spots all over the leaves, likely a nutrient deficiency, and barely set any fruit, while the ones that were taken good care of were very productive from the first year. I had to throw them away.

The reverse seems true too. I had a couple of varieties that didn't grow and produce well for me and I grew very frustrated with them. I did notice though that both had one or two very thick, healthy, and very vigorous branches. I took cuttings from those and rooted them. They grew and produced beautifully, much better than their parents.

So, it's not that simple, and there are no guarantees whatsoever, as some try to make it look to be.

 

[NYC_Fignetic]

Hey, I get on when I can. So dang busy all the time it seems. Was looking for deals on cuttings and was shocked at the prices lately.

Figbid is expensive however you look at it but chances are you get what you pay for.. or take your chance on eBay/etsy and get pear trees as I did lol

 

[Figgin' A]

I’ve found when you buy cuttings there is a huge range in quality. 10 bucks can get you a 10 inch sharpie thickness or down to a 5-6 inch twig. The health range can be anywhere from just cut never seen a frost to a stick that sat in a fridge for 6 months rotting but washed right before shipping or even one that the grower lets it “get hit with a few frosts for DoRmAnCy” and they have spots of dead material on the cutting.

My cuttings I hope to have top quality as that’s what I expect when purchasing. I shoot for 3/8 to 3/4 inches and roughly 8-10 inch for cuttings to ship out. Never let them get frosted because we have early frosts that hit while trees are still actively growing sometimes.

Be careful what you buy because you may spend a fortune and get garbage or you can spend almost nothing and get the most beautiful cuttings.

Well said.

I'll just add to that that you need to do your own research and don't believe everything that anyone says, especially $$ motivated fig sellers, no matter how reputable they are or may appear to be. Don't fall for ridiculous claims, because many are ridiculous.

Like this one I jast saw on FigBid:

Is it rare and worth growing along a 'non-rare' one or paying more for it? Is that a true statement or just a sleezy marketing ploy to make gulluble fig enthusiasts part with their money? You need to ask yourself that question and do your due diligience.

Look at Harvey's photo, do you see a shape that's any less "Flat"? He doesn't mention anything about the rarety of the shape of his NDB. Beacause there isn't one. Period. It's not rare.

How many NDBs out there that have "Flat" shape? I seached Google and I see a lot.
Heck, one of mine I just picked was pretty flat...

Do you research, ask questions, don't fall for false claims which seem to be aundant in the fig growing world.

 

[Figgerlickinggood]

I believe this is the highest price I have seen for cuttings in a long time. Insane. Still has nearly 3 days left; better get your bid in before it's too late. 3 cuttings

View attachment 13427

The price actually went down since I first seen it.

 

[DCallahan]

Well said.

I'll just add to that that you need to do your own research and don't believe everything that anyone says, especially $$ motivated fig sellers, no matter how reputable they are or may appear to be. Don't fall for ridiculous claims, because many are ridiculous.

Like this one I jast saw on FigBid:

Is it rare and worth growing along a 'non-rare' one or paying more for it? Is that a true statement or just a sleezy marketing ploy to make gulluble fig enthusiasts part with their money? You need to ask yourself that question and do your due diligience.

Look at Harvey's photo, do you see a shape that's any less "Flat"? He doesn't mention anything about the rarety of the shape of his NDB. Beacause there isn't one. Period. It's not rare.

How many NDBs out there that have "Flat" shape? I seached Google and I see a lot.
Heck, one of mine I just picked was pretty flat...

Do you research, ask questions, don't fall for false claims which seem to be aundant in the fig growing world.

It would of helped if that seller used some punctuation. Then you be about tell whether they were distinguishing the variety or shape of the variety as rare.

 

[Figgin' A]

It would of helped if that seller used some punctuation. Then you be about tell whether they were distinguishing the variety or shape of the variety as rare.

Punctuation is always good, though I don't think it would have helped in this case, as NDB is not a rare variety.

 

[grasshopper]

Maybe Rare is a popular search term. Fresh is another one. I prefer fresh cuttings even though the non-fresh ones are usually just as good.

 

[bushdoctor82]

Punctuation is always good, though I don't think it would have helped in this case, as NDB is not a rare variety.

Plain Jane NDB may not be a rare variety, but this one in particular is. After all, it’s in the name - enough said.

 

[Figgin' A]

Plain Jane NDB may not be a rare variety, but this one in particular is. After all, it’s in the name - enough said.

This IS a plain Jane NDB; it looks identical to Harvey's and many others I've seen online. Mine are 'flat' too. There is nothing about his fig that I see that makes it rare or different from a 'plain Jane NDB'. Just because someone puts 'rare' in the name, it does not necessarily make it rare. It's misleading. Unethical. Accepting crap like that, letting it happen, justifying, excusing and rationalizing it, is what's wrong with this hobby.

 

[Kompakfigs]

Single cutting is only $17 total. Seller has (416) 5 star reviews on figbid.

 

[Figless]

@all y'all @Fig Gazer @Figology @Venturabananas Many Smith cuttings we're passed out by the dozens to our new members last dormancy. Fig Gazer does not fertilize they taste wonderful, but the fruit is smaller. I personally never got to go to @Figology Home Orchard when I had the chance. For those who do not know I was virtually blind last year for over 6 months. So I couldn't travel anywhere. My site mostly recovered due to eye operations. The ones from @Venturabananas we're a gift to me that I grew that were super vigorous, and the fruit was large. I.completely cut down to about 8 in hight providing free cuttings. I agree with @Figgin' A that there's no guarantees but all three Orchards had excellent reputations. I do believe personally in Superior Phenotype strains, but these are very rare. They usually pop up in Orchards where literally thousands of cuttings of the same variety are taken. I also agree that it is likely that @Figgin' A May likely possess a VDB with Superior Phenotype characteristics. But you can read in his post on this thread that not every cutting taken from his trees possess the same positive characteristics. It should also be noted that @Figgin' A consistently grows Superior trees, and fruits in his magical Home Orchard. His pictures have proven that time, and time again.

 

[GilaMonster]

Fruit collecting requires $...Depends on who you are and what you want. It may be $5, or it may be $500. Fruit tree, scion and cutting sellers are a net benefit to the world. Nothing and no one is perfect. There will always be trees that sell for more than they are worth. That's the price of participating sometimes. The exchange of fruit trees is a net benefit and this should always be remembered. Capitalism, though it has its faults is the best form of currency interaction. Sure, trading is great, but it's impossible to trade for everything you want. You need $, gold, or something someone else wants to participate.

So people can complain about $200 cuttings...and they are right.
People can be happy about $200 cuttings...and they are right.
There is no one perfect system, and there are an infinite amount of opinions.....

In the end, it's just fruit and it's just money. Fruit and money both come and go.

At least someone isn't spending $200 on drugs....it's $200 to grow some awesome fruit trees to feed themselves and their family tasty high quality nutrition.

If you think further all the investment we put into the hobby...the fruit costs quite a bit! Im sure over years as your crops groe the cost per fruit decreases but the water, soil, mulch, fertilizer, pots, cost for cutting or tree, all that is $$$ invested into the end product that would cost $ at a grocery or market.

 

[Fig Gazer]

@all y'all @Fig Gazer @Figology @Venturabananas Many Smith cuttings we're passed out by the dozens to our new members last dormancy. Fig Gazer does not fertilize they taste wonderful, but the fruit is smaller. I personally never got to go to @Figology Home Orchard when I had the chance. For those who do not know I was virtually blind last year for over 6 months. So I couldn't travel anywhere. My site mostly recovered due to eye operations. The ones from @Venturabananas we're a gift to me that I grew that were super vigorous, and the fruit was large. I.completely cut down to about 8 in hight providing free cuttings. I agree with @Figgin' A that there's no guarantees but all three Orchards had excellent reputations. I do believe personally in Superior Phenotype strains, but these are very rare. They usually pop up in Orchards where literally thousands of cuttings of the same variety are taken. I also agree that it is likely that @Figgin' A May likely possess a VDB with Superior Phenotype characteristics. But you can read in his post on this thread that not every cutting taken from his trees possess the same positive characteristics. It should also be noted that @Figgin' A consistently grows Superior trees, and fruits in his magical Home Orchard. His pictures have proven that time, and time again.

GRANTED I DO NOT FERTILIZE IN GROUND TREES ! HAVE REALY GOOD DEEP SOIL ! Trees grow to tall as it is and some fruit over 200 grams grow on some varieties ,i also do not water much on inground trees in a climate that is rainless from may till nov . SO SMALLER HI BRIX FIGS ARE THE RULE .