Pinched: Cessac

Figgin' A

Figgin' A

Well-known member
I wasn't gonna bore anyone anymore with my 'Pinched' posts that some of you saw in 2023/2024 on the other forum, but a few people asked me how I do this, so here is one more...

Cessac, rooted in January of this year, picked the stronger, healthier branch of the two and let it grow until the stem was at least 1/2" thick. The trunk was 12" tall at the time, it was April 20th, and I went ahead and pinched off the apical bud. Now, I normally pinch at 16", occasionally at 18" if the trunk isn't thick enough at that time, but lately I've been wanting my trees to start even lower, so I went with the 12" height.
Cessac-5.jpg

The scaffolds are growing very nicely. There are 5 of them now.

I've mentioned this before, but here it goes again - it's a LOT easier to get nice scaffolds going and to train your tree into a desirable shape in the first year. The longer you wait, the harder it will be, and the risk of ending up with a lopsided fugliness rises exponentially.

I have a couple of trees that I didn't shape right from the start that I wanted to re-shape later, and what I ended up with was even worse than before. I am going to cut them down to soil level and start over. Beautiful tree shape matters to me.

I will most likely remove one scaffold at the end of the season and leave four.
Cessac-6.jpg

Cessac-7.jpg

I may also pinch these scaffolds in June to let the tree branch out even more, so it has more fruiting branches to start off with next season.
 
I don't know if I would call it a monster, I've had bigger trees at this age... Tia Penya comes to mind... it was the most vigorous grower I've ever had...

I noticed that the more root space you give them, and the sooner you do it, the better and faster they grow. Of course, some varieties naturally grow slower, so you have to give them more time... but in general, that's typically the timeline for, give or take.

I also grow my figs in compost-rich soil, so that may play a role.

I just pinched a GNAF today, it was stuck in soil on Feb 21 together with another dozen cuttings or so. Two more should be ready for pinching within a week, the rest may take a couple more weeks, maybe more, we'll see.

figs-584.jpg

figs-585.jpg
 
Figgin' A said:
I don't know if I would call it a monster, I've had bigger trees at this age... Tia Penya comes to mind... it was the most vigorous grower I've ever had...

I noticed that the more root space you give them, and the sooner you do it, the better and faster they grow. Of course, some varieties naturally grow slower, so you have to give them more time... but in general, that's typically the timeline for, give or take.

I also grow my figs in compost-rich soil, so that may play a role.

I just pinched a GNAF today, it was stuck in soil on Feb 21 together with another dozen cuttings or so. Two more should be ready for pinching within a week, the rest may take a couple more weeks, maybe more, we'll see.

figs-584.jpg

figs-585.jpg
Click to expand...
So how many years would it take for the trunk to grow 2-3" in diameter.
 
Figgin' A said:
I don't know if I would call it a monster, I've had bigger trees at this age... Tia Penya comes to mind... it was the most vigorous grower I've ever had...

I noticed that the more root space you give them, and the sooner you do it, the better and faster they grow. Of course, some varieties naturally grow slower, so you have to give them more time... but in general, that's typically the timeline for, give or take.

I also grow my figs in compost-rich soil, so that may play a role.

I just pinched a GNAF today, it was stuck in soil on Feb 21 together with another dozen cuttings or so. Two more should be ready for pinching within a week, the rest may take a couple more weeks, maybe more, we'll see.

figs-584.jpg

figs-585.jpg
Click to expand...
Sorry to sidetrack this thread but I have to agree with @Bnaual1... that is amazing growth on your Cessac....did you grow it indoors? When did you up pot to a two gallon container? I'm a little leary about upotting too soon due to losses....My rule of thumb is I don't up pot till new growth is at least a foot tall.......What are your soil mix ratios?

BTW, I pinch at about 18", ....I don't like to go any lower in case some of the scaffolding buds don't pan out...

Your Cessac scafolding is textbook perfection....and look at all those figs....my goodness....nothing to critique here!
 
DELFIG said:
Sorry to sidetrack this thread but I have to agree with @Bnaual1... that is amazing growth on your Cessac....did you grow it indoors? When did you up pot to a two gallon container? I'm a little leary about upotting too soon due to losses....My rule of thumb is I don't up pot till new growth is at least a foot tall.......What are your soil mix ratios?

BTW, I pinch at about 18", ....I don't like to go any lower in case some of the scaffolding buds don't pan out...

Your Cessac scafolding is textbook perfection....and look at all those figs....my goodness....nothing to critique here!
Click to expand...
Yes, grown indoors and just recently went outside. I up-pot as soon as the rootball is big enough to got into a bigger pot. I don't want the roots to become rootbound or starve at this age. I buy my soil pre-mixed , it's 50% plant based compost, the rest is a mix or perlite, worm castings, peat and sphagnum.
 
TorontoJoe said:
I know most consider them identical but I swear that Cessac is less productive and noticeably sweeter then Smith.
Click to expand...
You know, I am looking at the past pictures of my Smith at the same age as my Cessac and I do notice more figs. My Smith is a fig machine though, it puts out an obscene amout of figs. The Cessac does look less oproductive in comparison. I can't wait to try them side by side and see how they compare tastewise.
 
Figgin' A said:
You know, I am looking at the past pictures of my Smith at the same age as my Cessac and I do notice more figs. My Smith is a fig machine though, it puts out an obscene amout of figs. The Cessac does look less oproductive in comparison. I can't wait to try them side by side and see how they compare tastewise.
Click to expand...

Let me know what you think. I'd like to know if it's just me.
 
Beautiful Cessac man, I used to do the same.
I need to get back to working with my trees more, if life would slow down a bit. lol
I didn't even set my usual spring air layers....oy

Good post!
 
Figgin' A said:
Yes, grown indoors and just recently went outside. I up-pot as soon as the rootball is big enough to got into a bigger pot. I don't want the roots to become rootbound or starve at this age. I buy my soil pre-mixed , it's 50% plant based compost, the rest is a mix or perlite, worm castings, peat and sphagnum.
Click to expand...
What is your fertilizer program? I use 1/2 strength of Miracle grow....
 
ktrain said:
Beautiful Cessac man, I used to do the same.
I need to get back to working with my trees more, if life would slow down a bit. lol
I didn't even set my usual spring air layers....oy

Good post!
Click to expand...
Tbank you, Kevin. I hear you. It can quickly get overwhelming and I feel it this year... A major downsizing is needed.
 
DELFIG said:
What is your fertilizer program? I use 1/2 strength of Miracle grow....
Click to expand...

My program is no program LOL Once they root out, I give them a little Pro Mix liquid organic tomato fertilizer, and can add MG if the leaves look like they need it. After that, it's the usual - whatever I have on had - garden tone, tomato tone, shake n feed, osmocote, chicken poop, etc.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top