I have a problem.

Crabby127 said:
I am glad someone posted about this insanity! I’m just starting out … never tasted a fig yet I know In my Gut it’s going to be amazing.
I Started with 2 plants ( that didn’t ripen fruit this summer- first year) and now I counted at least 70 cuttings going!!!Thanks to many generous cutting gifts from members and also some purchases… I think I may have to get a greenhouse this fall and figure that out as I go. Duplicates should they survive will be gifted To family and friends… and my school. Yet I am thinking 🤔 about how fun this summer is going to be!
Click to expand...
I was in your boat last July. I now have going on 45 trees
 
I had zero intention of rooting anything this winter. I redid my grow space to be mostly just for vegetable starts and eliminated an entire shelving unit. Then I started chatting with someone about rooting mediums which got my mind going, then I wanted to try some things, then I had an idea for an article for my blog, which led to getting some cuttings, which led to more thoughts, more cuttings, more articles. All of this led to today, where I am out of room in my grow space, have boxes of cuttings spread throughout the house, and have no room to start my vegetable seeds (which were supposed to be the only thing going right now.)

I’m also supposed to be eliminating a good portion of my collection before the season starts, but have effectively replaced all of the ones to go with rooted cuttings (that I wasn’t planning to have.)

It is insanity!!! 😂😂😂😂

BUT, propagating cuttings is so rewarding, that is what keeps it going on in part. That, and all of the fig pics.

So at least you know you are in good company, hahaha.
 
RosyPosy said:
I had zero intention of rooting anything this winter. I redid my grow space to be mostly just for vegetable starts and eliminated an entire shelving unit. Then I started chatting with someone about rooting mediums which got my mind going, then I wanted to try some things, then I had an idea for an article for my blog...
Click to expand...
Do you have a link to your blog?
 
Jigfig said:
So to start off I already have more trees and a wider spectrum of varieties than I ever planned to have. I’m already having to get more medium and pots. Welp I keep catching myself thinking about cuttings next year, before I smack myself back to reality lol. Anyone else have this problem?
Click to expand...
What I should have done if rooted 50 California brown turkeys and grew them all single whip year one and year two cut them all at 18 inches and grafted 4 different varieties onto each stalk. Could have had 200 varieties in the footprint of 50 lol. If I had to start again I think that is what I would have done. Then again I started off with 3 trees and didn’t think I would get more but here I am in double digits maybe it’s hit triple digits. lol 😂
 
Italian4u said:
What I should have done if rooted 50 California brown turkeys and grew them all single whip year one and year two cut them all at 18 inches and grafted 4 different varieties onto each stalk. Could have had 200 varieties in the footprint of 50 lol. If I had to start again I think that is what I would have done. Then again I started off with 3 trees and didn’t think I would get more but here I am in double digits maybe it’s hit triple digits. lol 😂
Click to expand...
I am in the same boat except for sure haven’t hit triple digits. Grafting would probably be a good idea, except I’ve been known to leave my trees out in weather that would kill grafts. Doesn’t help that our weather forecast can be and has been massively optimistic for nightly lows. Between that and me getting busy I’m afraid I’d lose quite a few varieties.
 
@Italian4u i know that sounds bad, but there is some explanation. My original candidate for grafting when I was debating it last year suffered a decent amount of dieback at a temperature that all my other trees sailed through. Add the fact that I have 5 kids between the ages of 8-14 and 2 dogs I tend to be busy at night/evening. The last puzzle piece is I’m on a medication that affects my memory and makes me sleepy. It’s not laziness or intentional neglect per se. if it’s not a for sure bring them in night I sometimes forget or pass out before I get around to bringing them in.
 
I had the same issue- which is why I gave you so many trees last year! (Sorry and you're welcome? 😂 )

I can realistically manage 12-16 trees. How I have narrowed it down is I want to have as long a season as I can meaning I want both early and mid/later varieties. I have learned I prefer fruitier figs with a little acidity (ie Adriatics, Berry-Honey and some Mt Etnas) and need to be wary of varieties that split. I also want productive varieties that I don't have to baby. So this has allowed me to focus on finding 1-2 early and 1-2 later, more premium variety in each category, and thus, narrow down my collection. If I add any varieties, I remove others all while maintaining a good balanced roster. This is how it will be until/if I ever get a bigger place with more yard.

But the trick with all that is you have to try them before you know if you like or dislike them, which takes 1-3 years!

I digress. Ask me this question again in a few months and you will probably get a different answer. 🤪 Anyways here's what that looks like for my collection if this may help anyone trying to narrow down their collection:

All in 5 gallon pots.

Adriatics:
- Green Michurinska (early)
- White Madeira #1 (late)
- Angelito (late) New this year and may replace WM1- we will see how similar they are.

Honey-Berry:
- Campaniere (early)
- LSU Hollier (mid/late)

Mt. Etnas: These are my early ones to counter all my later premium berry figs below.
- MBVS (early)
- RLBV (early)
- De Tres Esplets (early) I know, not really Mt Etna...

Premium Berry:
- Bourjassotte Grise (mid)
- Smith (mid-late)
- I-258 (late)
- Madiera Island Black (late)

- Capri-Q
 
Jigfig said:
@Italian4u i know that sounds bad, but there is some explanation. My original candidate for grafting when I was debating it last year suffered a decent amount of dieback at a temperature that all my other trees sailed through. Add the fact that I have 5 kids between the ages of 8-14 and 2 dogs I tend to be busy at night/evening. The last puzzle piece is I’m on a medication that affects my memory and makes me sleepy. It’s not laziness or intentional neglect per se. if it’s not a for sure bring them in night I sometimes forget or pass out before I get around to bringing them in.
Click to expand...
No body is perfect I forget to do stuff all the time. That’s probably why my phone has so many reminders for me. If the kids are old enough to earn an allowance work fig duties into their household work schedule. Pretty sure my pops worked digging tree holes into mine when I was little lol. 😂
 
Italian4u said:
No body is perfect I forget to do stuff all the time. That’s probably why my phone has so many reminders for me. If the kids are old enough to earn an allowance work fig duties into their household work schedule. Pretty sure my pops worked digging tree holes into mine when I was little lol. 😂
Click to expand...
Luckily this year I think I’ll have some help and reminders as a couple of kids have taken somewhat of an interest varying between helping root cuttings and fertilizing plants to asking when do we get to eat them. 😂 this last year I tempted fate some as well because everything(tomatoes, squash, melons and figs) were extremely late in this area. No clue why as the weather was good, but it is what it is. This year my original trees have alittle age on them and they are getting an early start so we should get to eat some figs and by the time cooler weather comes I’ll be shutting them down for the most part.
 
Italian4u said:
What I should have done if rooted 50 California brown turkeys and grew them all single whip year one and year two cut them all at 18 inches and grafted 4 different varieties onto each stalk. Could have had 200 varieties in the footprint of 50 lol. If I had to start again I think that is what I would have done. Then again I started off with 3 trees and didn’t think I would get more but here I am in double digits maybe it’s hit triple digits. lol 😂
Click to expand...
I have BT to give away. 😄
 
Italian4u said:
No body is perfect I forget to do stuff all the time. That’s probably why my phone has so many reminders for me. If the kids are old enough to earn an allowance work fig duties into their household work schedule. Pretty sure my pops worked digging tree holes into mine when I was little lol. 😂
Click to expand...
I wouldn’t trust my kids with my fig babies…. 🤣😂
 
I started with 2... after about 8 months with them I discovered figbid... thought I'd get a few more. Ended up with 18, haha And since they're in the greenhouse I've cut a few and multiplied my collection even more. Sounds like it's happened to alot of us on varying scales. My biggest problem now is finding people to give some of my other plants and fig cuttings to locally.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top