So the squirrels would cut the green Fuyu Persimmons off the limb and carry it up into one of the Oak trees. Once there they would eat the Persimmon in such a way so when they dropped what they didn't want it looked like a small Granny Smith Apple Core that was discarded.
I think some of the differences that we attribute to a variety, are actually differences in individual trees. Also a tree might do great one year and not so good the next. My VdB did great last year, but this year it is not very impressive so far. I think that I should have pruned it pretty heavy last winter and it would have done much better this year. That is a lesson I learned for next year, but then some trees would do better without any pruning. I am just learning what to do with each tree. It's just my 2nd year growing.I bought two types of Vdb. The first type was a cutting that looked puny and pathetic as a rooted cutting, and after putting it in a 6gallon pot, over the summer it grew amazingly, three main branches from the core about 2.5 feet, each branch gave me about 10-12 figs. The fruits on this were medium to small but significant oval/eggplant shape, and not very syrupy or juicy when ripe, but I enjoyed them. The second was an actual Vdb tree I had bought online and it was more akin to what people show on the internet. It grew maybe 5 inches total after being planted in ground in-late March last year. It gave a a couple of figs, a rounder medium shaped fig that was exactly as described and the fruit on this one I preferred over the cutting. I was just disappointed with the growth and this year its off to an okay start, it has one breba on it, and maybe 5 to 6 inches of growth on a new branch off the main trunk and limited growth on the main trunk maybe an inch or two. I don't see figlets yet forming on the new growth. I believe some people have said it's a slow grower, but I feel like others state the opposite. I'll add some pics later. I have no regrets, I am just impatient
Gave me a bunch of tasty figs, and everything about the tree resembles what I see as VdB. I am a fan. Productive and tasty. Happy Accidents!
For years????
That's, of course, an exaggeration... You asked me for a cutting on 07-12-2024, my tree wasn't even 1 year old back then, and I suggested to remind me in October/November, and I sent you couple at the end of the same year. I don't recall any begging It's not needed with me 
What is not an exaggeration is that all your trees seem to always have explosive growth and productivity...."fig performance is mostly about how we grow them"....please summarize some of your game changing tips....For years????
As I mentioned to you in our conversation, I believe that fig performance is mostly abouyt how we grow them... I have many other varieties that are just as productive... I don't see my VDB as anything special... but it's been an overall great tree for sure... lots of breba this year, and they are a couple of days away from being ripe.
Sufficient room for roots, compost-rich soil, consistent watering, regular fertilizing, plenty of heat and light.
. I never found you to be exaggerating I found you to be uh how should I put it “inspiring”.
The only thing I don't do is use compost mixed into the soil......according to the "Soil Guru" Gary Matsuoka compost will eventually kill your roots and should be used as a top dress only so that your roots don't eventually get choked out from oxygen.....I will trial some plants using your method....what percentage compost do you use?
I am the type that doesn't believe anyone's claims unless backed up by extensive peer reviews and other evidence from credible sources, "guru" or not, or unless those claims are validated by my own experience.
OK, you got me sold on doing a trial (50% mushroom manure compost) for some trees I've got that are ready for uppotting. And I will do a comparison with the same variety of fig (with and without compost). My own experience using Gary's mix has been very good for me, really a game changer. Best of all I can buy the materials in bulk and make my own mix to reduce my costs. However, your plants seem to be next level. What you achieve in 5 months, I can there in about 10 months.I am the type that doesn't believe anyone's claims unless backed up by extensive peer reviews and other evidence from credible sources, "guru" or not, or unless those claims are validated by my own experience.
I watched his latest video linked on this forum recently, as well as one of his older videos from a few years back. A lot of interesting information, but I left with more questions than answers.
In his last video, he said they used gardinia as an indicator of whether the soil is good for the long term... that if it survives for 3 years, it's good for trees, etc. So, it survived in their Top Soil mix... great. I have fig trees that survived 4 years in my organic potting soil that contains 50% plant-based compost, and they are thriving. I can now claim that my soil is better than his Top Soil mix. Prove me wrong, guru!
He claims that nobody other than him and someone in Texas sells good potting soil... that's a red flag for me. He made a claim that academia is very politicized and that's why they don't want him to teach... that he basically is the only one who really knows what the good soil is. Really? That's another huge red one for me.
They say every potter praises his own pot. That what I see here... He makes soil mixes and makes sales pitches to backyard gardeners. Nothing wrong with that. Is his soil mix the best for trees? Not better than the potting soil that I use, loaded with compost, which he claims would kill a tree after a year, but in which my trees have been thriving for years. I also re-use my potting soil year after year after year to grow tomatoes and other veggies... I don't see plant roots rotting or suffocating. I see no water-logged sludge. I see perfectly aerated soil that my plants love.
In his video, he did, to my surprise, briefly allude to the fact that various microorganisms could make such soil aerated by burrowing through it... but that doesn't make sales...so let's go back to talk about the unmatched superior qualities of Acid Mix and Top Soil
