Slower growing varieties?

GilaMonster

GilaMonster

Well-known member
I was searching for a thread about these and didnt find one, forgive me if one already exists.

Im hoping to make a list of slow growers. In my collection the following are very very slow:

-col de dame noir
-Bordisott blanca negra
-Marac noir
 
It’s hard to make a conclusive list because other variables can affect growth. For example, CdDN is a really good grower for me.

I do think a majority have issues with Black Madeira. Zaffiro for me is a slow grower, don’t know if others are experiencing that too. Cherry Pie is a slow grower for me.

I have others too, I should go out and look! 😆
 
I find slower growers are due to the health of the mother tree. BM is slow for many due to FMV. But if it produces a healthy branch you can marcot it and have a tree that grows quite fast and is very healthy. I have done this with a few slow growing trees.
 
I think it’s worth noting that sometimes a variety may not be doing well for you, but it’s worth sourcing cuttings from multiple sources and growing them out before determining vigor or productivity. Also I don’t consider trees with a naturally dwarfing growth habit to be slow growers. As long as they have lots of nodes and set a lot of fruit I consider them good “growers”. You can’t eat internodal wood!
 
RosyPosy said:
It’s hard to make a conclusive list because other variables can affect growth. For example, CdDN is a really good grower for me.

I do think a majority have issues with Black Madeira. Zaffiro for me is a slow grower, don’t know if others are experiencing that too. Cherry Pie is a slow grower for me.

I have others too, I should go out and look! 😆
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Interesting since Zaffiro and Cherry Pie are my strongest growers (in addition to Cherry Cordial and Unk Portuguese #4), but I wonder if maybe our growing conditions being so different contributes to it? And some of my weakest ones here in PA probably would do gangbusters there in CA.
 
The slow growers for me are very healthy appearing. Thick growth, good leaves, do well in the hottest months. But just seem to grow overall much much less in terms of branches, buds, height. Ect. I feel that they are happy but lazy.
 
De La Roca, Ischia Black, Black Madeira, CDDB, Borada Barraquer, Galicia negra... few others. Lots of overlap with the hard to root varieties - usually the same ones.
 
The BMs are generally more compact in growth but doesn't mean they are less in production. Like others mentioned, most of us grow figs for fruits. If you grow them for the cuttings, then BMs may not be the best ones to grow. Though I haven't tried the latest TC BM, I can't be certain if the compact growth has to do with FMV or the nature of the variety.
 
GoodFriendMike said:
I find slower growers are due to the health of the mother tree. BM is slow for many due to FMV. But if it produces a healthy branch you can marcot it and have a tree that grows quite fast and is very healthy. I have done this with a few slow growing trees.
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Also... Cuttings taken from a branch that goes straight up, tend to grow differently than those taken from the same tree from a branch that grows more horizontal...

BTW: I like your use of the word "marcot" (from the French word "marcottage") @GoodFriendMike Mike!
 
Schoenie said:
Also... Cuttings taken from a branch that goes straight up, tend to grow differently than those taken from the same tree from a branch that grows more horizontal...

BTW: I like your use of the word "marcot" (from the French word "marcottage") @GoodFriendMike Mike!
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That’s an interesting observation - never thought about that.
 
snarfing said:
Fingers crossed mine look ok. But slow yes
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Ive been pumping mine full of neptunes with great results it was ultra slow at first now its fine and better than some. It seems to just require a bit more fertilizer than others
 
Schoenie said:
Also... Cuttings taken from a branch that goes straight up, tend to grow differently than those taken from the same tree from a branch that grows more horizontal...

BTW: I like your use of the word "marcot" (from the French word "marcottage") @GoodFriendMike Mike!
Click to expand...
Before figs I was into tropical fruit. Not the best hobby for my zone. Figs on the other hand grow well here.
Reading books on tropical fruit from around the world. It was very rare to see the term "Air Layer"
It was always called a "Marcot". That word stuck with me since that time. Once you learn the name of something. It is hard to change it. :)
 
BucksCountyFigs said:
Interesting since Zaffiro and Cherry Pie are my strongest growers (in addition to Cherry Cordial and Unk Portuguese #4), but I wonder if maybe our growing conditions being so different contributes to it? And some of my weakest ones here in PA probably would do gangbusters there in CA.
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That’s exactly it, this is what I’ve noticed whenever someone makes a statement that a variety is hard for them, there’s always a handful who say it’s not. Certainly, environmental factors have to play in.

Another one— HdA was one of my easiest to root, zero problems with it. For rooting though, I do think the source matters.
 
grasshopper said:
The BMs are generally more compact in growth but doesn't mean they are less in production. Like others mentioned, most of us grow figs for fruits. If you grow them for the cuttings, then BMs may not be the best ones to grow. Though I haven't tried the latest TC BM, I can't be certain if the compact growth has to do with FMV or the nature of the variety.
Click to expand...
If it's the one ProFig w/Agristarts, I think it turned out to be Tena - caused a big mess for Brian. Or has someone else done BM TC?

Yeah, it's hard to say the cause - but my original BM (from Harvey, 2019) was a very slow grower. It did better on grafted RS for me.

I've heard others mention it grows slowly for them also. Of course there are many factors, like cutting quality, stage, maturity of the mother tree, FMV, variety, etc.
 
PapaFig said:
If it's the one ProFig w/Agristarts, I think it turned out to be Tena - caused a big mess for Brian. Or has someone else done BM TC?

Yeah, it's hard to say the cause - but my original BM (from Harvey, 2019) was a very slow grower. It did better on grafted RS for me.

I've heard others mention it grows slowly for them also. Of course there are many factors, like cutting quality, stage, maturity of the mother tree, FMV, variety, etc.
Click to expand...
Yeah, that was a mess but I think Brian did a take 2. I wonder what came of it. Hope it works out this time. @Profig
 
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