Fig cuttings/airlayers

Steve Winter is in Alpine, TX - a couple hundred miles to your east, but still in the high desert of West Texas.
He is an expert with 20 years experience and a top seller (at one time, he's getting up there in years and has mentioned slowing down). I would read everything I could that he writes about growing fruit.
It will probably literally save you years of
effort.

Here's an example, a great post about greenhouse culture in your climate - especially directed at figs, although he grows stone fruit and others.


Steve Winter AKA/ @fruitnut has the finest Greenhouse I have seen on many platforms. Only to be competed with @SubmarinePete
He's actually a member here but sadly doesn't come to visit very often. I didn't know he was the leader of growingfruit.com he sells some wonderful cuttings, and trees
 
Last edited:
Personally, I would be very careful about buying air layers now. Here its hitting 95° almost every day and it looks like yours is even hotter.
One day to long in the mailbox and they are cooked, and you're not out of the weeds yet, you still will have to care for them and unless you are going to have misters or an air-conditioned greenhouse the stress will be too much for young plants. Also in this heat, they won't grow much anyway I would wait a few months when it gets down to highs of 85° before buying any.



We don't have any air layers to sell right now, but if you can give us a list, we can set probably some for you.
Let me suggest a few variates that would likely be good for you: Labritja, Nuestra Senyora del Carmen, Red Sicilian, Colonel Littman's Black Cross, Des Tres Esplets, Negra de Agde, Dels Ermitans, Coll de Dama Roja, Coll de Dama Mutante, Col de Dame Gris (Baud), Bourjasotte Grise, and Black Madira aka Figo Preto, BMKK, Madira Island Black, and probably Craven's Craving.


As for sellers to buy from here is a link to a page on our website: https://figroots.com/trusted-sellers/.
Also, maybe talk to Steve Winter (Fruitnut) on Growing Fruit, he is in Alpine so a similar climate.
Thank you so much for this info. Like I mentioned I’m new at this and learning by the day. I’ll definitely pm you in a later time
 
Personally, I would be very careful about buying air layers now. Here its hitting 95° almost every day and it looks like yours is even hotter.
One day to long in the mailbox and they are cooked, and you're not out of the weeds yet, you still will have to care for them and unless you are going to have misters or an air-conditioned greenhouse the stress will be too much for young plants. Also in this heat, they won't grow much anyway I would wait a few months when it gets down to highs of 85° before buying any.



We don't have any air layers to sell right now, but if you can give us a list, we can set probably some for you.
Let me suggest a few variates that would likely be good for you: Labritja, Nuestra Senyora del Carmen, Red Sicilian, Colonel Littman's Black Cross, Des Tres Esplets, Negra de Agde, Dels Ermitans, Coll de Dama Roja, Coll de Dama Mutante, Col de Dame Gris (Baud), Bourjasotte Grise, and Black Madira aka Figo Preto, BMKK, Madira Island Black, and probably Craven's Craving.


As for sellers to buy from here is a link to a page on our website: https://figroots.com/trusted-sellers/.
Also, maybe talk to Steve Winter (Fruitnut) on Growing Fruit, he is in Alpine so a similar climate.
Question we are moving to Oklahoma very soon. Would you still recommend the same ones?
 
Are you going to be in the hot dry part or the east of Oklahoma?

The ones of this list all have pretty large eyes expect Negra de Agde, and maybe some of the CDDs, which shouldn't be a problem in the west where its dry and they won't split, but in the east, there might be too much water.

Black Madira aka Figo Preto, BMKK, Madira Island Black, and probably Craven's Craving. BTW this means these may all be the some and not different varieties.
 
All of these are exactly the same plant?
Black Madira aka Figo Preto, BMKK, Madira Island Black, Craven's Craving.

They're extremely similar some may have different ripening dates by as much as two or three weeks. Of the entire group listed above black Madeira is certainly the slowest growing. Occasionally someone will have an aggressive grower of that variety. Personally I've been looking for something like that for a while. I have three BM in my Orchard but I've never really offered cuttings because my BM figs don't offer a lot of cutting material. Very slow I bought mine from Harveys sale figaholics

All of Harvey's varieties are very good but the BM version he has is a slow grower.
 
Last edited:
I’ve got some I could send, I just need to cover my time and inputs so something like 20 a tree plus shipping for rooted cuttings in 4x9. I’ve got a nursery license so no concerns there and I’ve got quite a few ready to go. I know I have some not verified that I got from Stan on Etsy like smith for example. I’ve got quite a few already verified ready to go also. I could probably do 4 trees taped in a square to save some shipping and ups as fast as you’re willing to pay for but usually 3 days or less. Let me know if interested and I can get a list of what’s ready. Some trees are on my figbid now if you want an idea of what my trees look like.
 
@AnaldoFigs and any others who have an interest in obtaining Air Layers from me it has been pointed out that currently do to my location in California I cannot provide traditional Air Layers outside of the state, due to the chance of spreading the BFF infestation to other area's. Not to worry I am going to find a way to work around this, but until I do I cannot send Air Layers out of State. Hopefully this will soon be resolved. Sadly traditional method Air Layers are not Safe for me to ship out of state ...
 
@AnaldoFigs and any others who have an interest in obtaining Air Layers from me it has been pointed out that currently do to my location in California I cannot provide traditional Air Layers outside of the state, due to the chance of spreading the BFF infestation to other area's. Not to worry I am going to find a way to work around this, but until I do I cannot send Air Layers out of State. Hopefully this will soon be resolved. Sadly traditional Air Layers are not Safe...
You could always treat the soil with something that kills grubs. That’s what I have to do with Japanese beetle restrictions. Essentially have to dunk the tree until no air bubbles come out with an insecticide.
 
@Bofig great suggestion. My thoughts were on similar lines. It would require a three-part solution to guarantee the safety of the starts. @MattK was helping me to work this out till 1AM. Last night. It has been a topic of discussion for a few weeks. But now that discussion has intensified as I realize new techniques will be required.

BTW for those who do not know @MattK is actually my ((propagation teacher)). He started teaching me by Private Message from the day I first joined online horticulture. Eventually Our Private Message thread grew to well over 1000 posts. He is also a spiritual advisor to me. A man of the highest morality. The good book is no stranger to our discussions.

The day came when I had to choose @TorontoJoe also a man of the highest morality to forever be my administrator , and FigFanatic.com to be my home. A decision I've never regretted.
 
@Bofig great suggestion. My thoughts were on similar lines. It would require a three-part solution to guarantee the safety of the starts. @MattK was helping me to work this out till 1AM. Last night. It has been a topic of discussion for a few weeks. But now that discussion has intensified as I realize new techniques will be required.

BTW for those who do not know @MattK is actually my ((propagation teacher)). He started teaching me by Private Message from the day I first joined online horticulture. Eventually Our Private Message thread grew to well over 1000 posts. He is also a spiritual advisor to me. A man of the highest morality. The good book is no stranger to our discussions.

The day came when I had to choose @TorontoJoe also a man of the highest morality to forever be my administrator , and FigFanatic.com to be my home. A decision I've never regretted.
What is your three-part solution and how would you guarantee the safety of the starts?
 
I don’t see why there would be any issues if you ship without fruit and in a dunk solution of insecticide. Japanese beetle prevention is one of the more strict rules nationwide and some states limit it all together unless grown solely indoors. If you have a sealed air layer, then brought indoors once cut and treat with something to kill any insects or larvae, then you also need a nursery license in almost all states for any plant movement. If you check all those boxes there should be no issues shipping out of California even with the fly.
 
Will you share your process once finalized to see how it holds up to scrutiny and regulations?

@bushdoctor82
If there were regulations then every Home Depot, or Lowe's that opens up wouldn't be spreading the disease further, and farther. So there's not much in regulation what I will do is go over the process with our moderators, and our administrator. and maybe yourself. Would that satisfy you ? I don't know that I'm going to commit to a completely public process. It will certainly be something far better than a bare root shipping. Which is often the current safeguarding.
 
Back
Top