New Fig Grower Looking for Advice

P

paupau

Well-known member
Hello there,

I'm in zone 8 in central NC. I want to grow figs for my wife and I to enjoy throughout the year as snacks. I am not looking to put a ton of energy and resources into growing a variety that does not do well in my area. I want to learn the basics and whatever I need to in order to get from where I am now (0 fig knowledge before this week) to having some plants outside this summer.

My grow area is pretty small as I only have around an around 1000 sqft back yard where my handful of raised bed vegetable garden currently resides. The back yard is enclosed by a fence on the north and south sides of the yard and a ~50ft retaining wall (neighborhood was built on a hill) on the east-facing side. I'm thinking about putting some figs in the back right corner (northwest corner, southeast facing) of the yard which does get 8ish hours of sun a day. I'm not married to that location but I don't exactly have too many options.

I also have a grow tent in my garage that I use to start onions, peppers, and tomatoes before transplanting to the yard. I use some T8 LED lights for seedlings and I have a 200W light I use for growing pepper plants for breeding in the tent throughout the year.

Some initial questions I have which hopefully will get me going in the right direction:
1. When do I start? Based on what i've read so far my best bet would be to get my hands on some cuttings and start the plants from there. One grower I talked to earlier today said I should look to get started ASAP
2. What's the cutting to transplant process like? Is it similar to growing vegetables (seedlings -> harden -> transplant)? I understand with cuttings/scions i'll have the added steps for rooting.
3. What should I grow to start? I think 1 variety each from sugar, dark berry, and honey to start. I don't want to break the bank and I'm really just looking for something that grows well in central NC (pest, rain, and frost/freeze resistant) and doesn't require a ton of input (i'm no stranger to nutrient feeding schedules but I don't want to have to go buy specialized stuff or constantly having to fight pests/use pesticide - I stopped trying to grow squash due to squash bugs and vine borers). I'm also not looking to sink a ton of time into this (my wife gets on me about the time I already spend on garden stuff lol) I just want to grow some figs for us to eat. Based on feedback i've received so far as well as web surfing i've done in the last couple days I'm thinking about starting out with some kind of celeste (probably black) and ronde de bordeaux. I'd like to try a honey type as well but haven't settled on one to start yet.
4. Best way to go about obtaining cuttings? I've seen sites list different varieties for anywhere from $20 to $200 and i'm definitely not looking to spend the latter.

Thanks in advance!
 
Unless you just really want to root cuttings, I would buy already rooted trees. Websites like onegreenworld.com, offthebeatenpathnursery.com, or treesofjoy.com have really great varieties to choose from at good prices. I think that would take a lot of headache and stress out of it if you just want a few trees.

It is fun to grow from cutting though, so no harm in that if it’s your preference. The site ktrain listed above is a good one at this moment. I’m not sure if offtgebeatenpathnursery.com still has cuttings available, they might!
 
GoodFriendMike said:
Celeste, Chicago Hardy, Violet de Bordeaux. All cheap and good work horses. I would also add a cheap honey fig as well.
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I have those 3 varieties in my yard. I look forward to spring to see if they survived this awfully brutal winter. If they did I will never dig them up. Got another extreme cold watch for Saturday 4am till Sunday 10 am. Wind chill temps from 0 to 15 below zero.
 
RosyPosy said:
Unless you just really want to root cuttings, I would buy already rooted trees. Websites like onegreenworld.com, offthebeatenpathnursery.com, or treesofjoy.com have really great varieties to choose from at good prices. I think that would take a lot of headache and stress out of it if you just want a few trees.

It is fun to grow from cutting though, so no harm in that if it’s your preference. The site ktrain listed above is a good one at this moment. I’m not sure if offtgebeatenpathnursery.com still has cuttings available, they might!
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My preference is not to have to pay $50 per tree
 
Since you live in a humid climate like I do, I recommend looking for varieties with tight eyes/openings, short hang times, and not prone to splitting. I wish I could give recommendations on fig varieties, but have just started growing them myself. My in-laws have a few fig trees and the one with the large eyes are always infested with ants.
 
Someone on this forum said make sure you buy a couple plants so that you have a couple that are growing if you root cuttings so that if you have losses you still have some wins. My first ones were trees so I had something doing well when I killed my first cuttings You can get fancy figs but with limited space make sure you get a couple of good easy productive ones. There is nothing wrong with a basic easy to grow productive figs. And totally get one from each flavor profile . I thought I liked just sugar figs then I tried berry figs and I really liked them too and this next year is all about picking a honey fig that I like that does well here. Glad you're here. Hope you have fun 😊
 
Poplee said:
As a NC grower I suggest you purchase 3 small trees and grow in pots this year. Overwinter in a garage or shed 1st. year. Then you could decide if and where to put in ground. If you live near Hickory I might be able to help.View attachment 18739
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Unfortunately i'm not, i'm in the Raleigh area. How'd your figs do with the unusually harsh winter we've had so far? And yeah i definitely plan to do at least one potted tree this year, just not sure what yet. Going to check my local nurseries first but I also don't wanna spend $80 for a single plant quite yet.
 
Also so far White Marseilles has caught my eye as a potential honey fig to grow. Anyone here grown it that could comment on its cold/rain resistance?
 
paupau said:
Hello there,

I'm in zone 8 in central NC. I want to grow figs for my wife and I to enjoy throughout the year as snacks. I am not looking to put a ton of energy and resources into growing a variety that does not do well in my area. I want to learn the basics and whatever I need to in order to get from where I am now (0 fig knowledge before this week) to having some plants outside this summer.

My grow area is pretty small as I only have around an around 1000 sqft back yard where my handful of raised bed vegetable garden currently resides. The back yard is enclosed by a fence on the north and south sides of the yard and a ~50ft retaining wall (neighborhood was built on a hill) on the east-facing side. I'm thinking about putting some figs in the back right corner (northwest corner, southeast facing) of the yard which does get 8ish hours of sun a day. I'm not married to that location but I don't exactly have too many options.

I also have a grow tent in my garage that I use to start onions, peppers, and tomatoes before transplanting to the yard. I use some T8 LED lights for seedlings and I have a 200W light I use for growing pepper plants for breeding in the tent throughout the year.
Click to expand...
That will be great for cuttings. Most of us use heating mats set at 75-78 deg for propagation. Make sure you put a protective layer between the mat and the cuttings to prevent the soil from drying out to quickly or frying the delicate roots.
paupau said:
Some initial questions I have which hopefully will get me going in the right direction:
1. When do I start? Based on what i've read so far my best bet would be to get my hands on some cuttings and start the plants from there. One grower I talked to earlier today said I should look to get started ASAP
Click to expand...
Starting cuttings in late winter (right now is ideal) gives your plants a head start. As the cuttings begin to develop roots, bud and leaves indoors, the outdoor temperatures are gradually warming. By the time the cuttings are fully rooted, the danger of hard frost is mostly past; days are longer; sunlight is stronger and thus you can safely begin hardening them off outdoors.
paupau said:
2. What's the cutting to transplant process like? Is it similar to growing vegetables (seedlings -> harden -> transplant)? I understand with cuttings/scions i'll have the added steps for rooting.
Click to expand...
Once your propagation container (figpop bag, 4x9 treepot, or clear solo cup) becomes root bound or shows dense circling roots, it’s time to move the plant to a larger pot. This prevents stress, promotes strong growth, and prepares the young tree for long‑term vigor. for in ground planting. I have not put a year old tree in ground in 7b but maybe that can be done in your zone.
Forum members have great success using the figpop method and there is an expert fig popper that can provide great insight for successful propagation.
paupau said:
3. What should I grow to start? I think 1 variety each from sugar, dark berry, and honey to start. I don't want to break the bank and I'm really just looking for something that grows well in central NC (pest, rain, and frost/freeze resistant) and doesn't require a ton of input (i'm no stranger to nutrient feeding schedules but I don't want to have to go buy specialized stuff or constantly having to fight pests/use pesticide - I stopped trying to grow squash due to squash bugs and vine borers). I'm also not looking to sink a ton of time into this (my wife gets on me about the time I already spend on garden stuff lol) I just want to grow some figs for us to eat. Based on feedback i've received so far as well as web surfing i've done in the last couple days I'm thinking about starting out with some kind of celeste (probably black) and ronde de bordeaux. I'd like to try a honey type as well but haven't settled on one to start yet.
Click to expand...
Sugar-Celeste is cheaper than Black Celeste. Teramo is another affordable variety.
Dark Berry-@ktrain mentioned the Mt.Etnas i.e. Chicago Hardy, MBVS are great. RDB is early and should be fine. LSU Tiger is another affordable variety that is highly touted.
Honey-Look for smaller size rain resistant honey figs. I am not a big fan of large honey figs. I dont grow White Marseilles but supposedly its good and cheap. I would get Campaniere or LSU Hollier.
Get a Smith for the heck of it and/or an adriatic variety i.e. Green Michurinska

Fig trees are plants and will be susceptible to disease and/or insect infestation. The most common fig disease is Fig Mosaic Virus which stunts growth and production. The only insect that has killed one of my tree is the ambrosia beetle which attacks sick trees during its dormancy.
Well, it will be time consuming to get started because you'll need to root the cuttings, fertilize them for vigorous growth for a couple years and eventually plant them in ground so you dont have to devote most of your time growing them in pots. If by chance, you want to try the varieties that you see on the google sheet, growing those expensive varieties in pots is the only option in our zones because without winter protection, they'll likely dieback to the ground or worse, dont come back at all.
Her wife will have to understand that growing food is a harmless addiction.
paupau said:
4. Best way to go about obtaining cuttings? I've seen sites list different varieties for anywhere from $20 to $200 and i'm definitely not looking to spend the latter. See other members comments.
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Figaholics, Off the Beaten Path Nursery, facebook fig groups. Forum members do sell on figbid so buy with confidence. Lastly, the fig community is willing to donate their surplus cuttings to newcomers.
paupau said:
Thanks in advance!
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Those are generalize statements that should help you become a fig fanatic. As you can see the well-known members have gone past the point of no return. I would recommend watching Ross the FigBoss and checking out his website.
 
I would buy a rooted fig tree(s) to start with. By the time you purchase the root starting soil, potting up soil, pots, heating mat, lights - you could have bought a tree, plus, save you a lot of energy and stress of learning to root a cutting. After the tree you plant grows, then take some cuttings and start learning to root them. Will be more fun for you.
 
RosyPosy said:
Unless you just really want to root cuttings, I would buy already rooted trees. Websites like onegreenworld.com, offthebeatenpathnursery.com, or treesofjoy.com have really great varieties to choose from at good prices. I think that would take a lot of headache and stress out of it if you just want a few trees.

It is fun to grow from cutting though, so no harm in that if it’s your preference. The site ktrain listed above is a good one at this moment. I’m not sure if offtgebeatenpathnursery.com still has cuttings available, they might!
Click to expand...
i highly recommend checking out fruitwood nursery. theyre pretty nicely rooted plugs, smaller than a full tree but 2-3 inches of roots and they got some great varieties even now 10 dollars a plant + 15 shipping. their cuttings i think are 6 bucks ? but i mean when possible its worth it to buy them rooted lol
 
I see lots of people using pots.. what's the general consensus on grow bags? I have 1 gallon ones that are plastic that look like brown lunch bags and then i have 5 gallon woven fabric bags. Would those be acceptable for growing figs in or are the hard plastic ones a hard requirement (no pun intended)?
 
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