Newbie seeking knowledge

Gob

Gob

New member
Hey everyone, first post and trying to learn the ins and outs of growing my collection more! There are so many varieties and so much to discover. I was hoping learn how to navigate the cutting season and what to expect. I see a lot of people talking about the Figaholics cutting sales in particular and I'm aware of FigBid. I imagine with how popular certain varieties are that perhaps they sell out fast. I was mostly curious of how fast cuttings go in those more popular varieties but any more information about what to expect in the end of the season would be greatly appreciated. Perhaps I am overthinking things and feel free to tell me that I'm crazy if that's the case.

I have always loved learning about other countries through food. When I hear a cool story of how a particular fig tree was brought from their home regions to other countries I cannot help but think how special they must be to their culture. Between learning what does well in my area, different flavor profiles and what was available near me in local nurseries I already have 5 fig trees(in containers) in the ~2 months I have been learning. As I look forward to adding more varieties, I know I need to be a little more willing to tell myself to slow down and grow the collection slowly.

Thanks in advance for reading and any help you can provide to a newbie like myself.
 
On a serious note - you’ve already done the best thing you can do: buy a rooted tree. You even already have 5 - so you’ll get to taste some figs. Other than that there is a lot of hype out there about “the best tasting fig”. When someone raves about how their fig tastes like a passionfruit roll up covered in unobtanium berry syrup and drizzled with chocolate truffle - take it with a grain of salt; it’s a fig at the end of the day.
 
Thanks, I certainly have the feeling like I am missing out but I have always been pretty bad about staying patient.
Egg said:
When someone raves about how their fig tastes like a passionfruit roll up covered in unobtanium berry syrup and drizzled with chocolate truffle - take it with a grain of salt; it’s a fig at the end of the day.
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That's something I'll be keeping in mind, haha. That is the way it sounds sometimes. That gave me a chuckle.
 
Egg said:
On a serious note - you’ve already done the best thing you can do: buy a rooted tree. You even already have 5 - so you’ll get to taste some figs. Other than that there is a lot of hype out there about “the best tasting fig”. When someone raves about how their fig tastes like a passionfruit roll up covered in unobtanium berry syrup and drizzled with chocolate truffle - take it with a grain of salt; it’s a fig at the end of the day.
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Don't know about unobtanium, My whole reason I grow them is the diversity of flavors. Apple tastes like apples. Some good some bad. A fig can taste like a fig or a raspberry. Odd but good. :)
 
@Gob Welcome!!!
Something I could suggest if you are looking to expand your collection by propagating cuttings would be to get some/any cuttings now. And get practiced up on your technique for the varieties you desire to obtain later. It is not hard but there is a learning curve.

Look in your area at what varieties grow will for others there. Washington seems to be a unique growing climate for figs and some varieties do better than most others.
 
That's very good advice you got from @DCallahan . The figs that will do best in your area, are the figs already doing well in your area.

There's a regular contributing member here who once recommended that a great way to build a great collection is to, "lean on the fig community". He was very correct. And this person just happens to be located in Oregon. And he has a most impressive collection. ;)

I'm just going to wait for him to chime in! 😬
 
I’m still fairly new myself, but if you stay active here and keep up with the forum, you’ll end up with more cuttings than you ever expected—thanks to the generosity of members and frequent giveaways.
Some of the more popular or in-demand varieties disappear quickly on other sites and often come at a premium. In my experience, though, the quality of cuttings from members here has been just as good, if not better.
Since you already have five trees, you’re also in a great position to trade cuttings and expand your collection that way.
I’d also recommend learning to graft. It’s a great way to add more varieties without needing extra space. If you’re already planning to learn rooting, you might as well tackle grafting at the same time. The learning curve feels pretty similar, and honestly, grafting might even be easier and more reliable once you get the hang of it.
 
Brian V said:
Last year I bought a black mission from Walmart for $12 or $13. It had branches growing everywhere. I removed most of them and was able to practice rooting cuttings. Now I have way too many black mission trees. Im going to have to give them away.
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That is not a problem. That is an opportunity to recruit more growers! If someone expresses interest send them home with a plant! I love doing that, and puts a smile on their faces. Maybe even trad for a different variety.
 
betdempster said:
I'm proof if you found this forum it's wayyyyy too late to turn back . One year later and I have about 90 trees. No I'm not going to keep them all. I'm just "trialing" them for the rest of their lives .. 🤪
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It's true! I went from 3 fig trees and 6 various purchased LSU varieties fig cuttings which lead me to this super friendly and informative forum. I responded to a giveaway on this forum and received a VERY Generous 19 fig cuttings ( I was expecting maybe 5 or 6) which are now rooting (crosses fingers). Meanwhile, I had itchy fingers while reading about all the different and amazing fig varieties and "somehow" 😉 purchased 10 more fig cuttings. I justified it to myself that there was a learning curve and first timers to fig rooting would be very happy with 50 percent success. While rooting the 19 fig cuttings last Tuesday, my husband was wondering if I would have too many fig trees. I reassured him there were many people who had "hundreds" and my fig collection was very "tiny" in comparison. 😁
 
Gob said:
Hey everyone, first post and trying to learn the ins and outs of growing my collection more! There are so many varieties and so much to discover. I was hoping learn how to navigate the cutting season and what to expect. I see a lot of people talking about the Figaholics cutting sales in particular and I'm aware of FigBid. I imagine with how popular certain varieties are that perhaps they sell out fast. I was mostly curious of how fast cuttings go in those more popular varieties but any more information about what to expect in the end of the season would be greatly appreciated. Perhaps I am overthinking things and feel free to tell me that I'm crazy if that's the case.

I have always loved learning about other countries through food. When I hear a cool story of how a particular fig tree was brought from their home regions to other countries I cannot help but think how special they must be to their culture. Between learning what does well in my area, different flavor profiles and what was available near me in local nurseries I already have 5 fig trees(in containers) in the ~2 months I have been learning. As I look forward to adding more varieties, I know I need to be a little more willing to tell myself to slow down and grow the collection slowly.

Thanks in advance for reading and any help you can provide to a newbie like myself.
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Please do yourself a favor and practice rooting cuttings on inexpensive figs such as Chicago Hardy. A local guy that lives by me decided to try rooting expensive cuttings such as Sicilian 33 and a few other high end varieties and paid a costly price on the failures. Once you get a hang of rooting by practicing on the less pricy stuff then you can graduate and move up to pricier cuttings. Figbid would be the best place to get cuttings any time whereas Figaholics has a finite window to buy cuttings before they are done for the season. Figaholics is a great place to get cuttings and a great price but you have to be on it and ready as sometimes by the time you’ve added a variety to your cart and go to check out sometimes that variety is already sold out before you can even pay.
 
Gob said:
Hey everyone, first post and trying to learn the ins and outs of growing my collection more! There are so many varieties and so much to discover. I was hoping learn how to navigate the cutting season and what to expect. I see a lot of people talking about the Figaholics cutting sales in particular and I'm aware of FigBid. I imagine with how popular certain varieties are that perhaps they sell out fast. I was mostly curious of how fast cuttings go in those more popular varieties but any more information about what to expect in the end of the season would be greatly appreciated. Perhaps I am overthinking things and feel free to tell me that I'm crazy if that's the case.

I have always loved learning about other countries through food. When I hear a cool story of how a particular fig tree was brought from their home regions to other countries I cannot help but think how special they must be to their culture. Between learning what does well in my area, different flavor profiles and what was available near me in local nurseries I already have 5 fig trees(in containers) in the ~2 months I have been learning. As I look forward to adding more varieties, I know I need to be a little more willing to tell myself to slow down and grow the collection slowly.

Thanks in advance for reading and any help you can provide to a newbie like myself.
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Gob as in George Oscar Bluth or no?
 
Italian4u said:
Figaholics has a finite window to buy cuttings before they are done for the season. Figaholics is a great place to get cuttings and a great price but you have to be on it and ready as sometimes by the time you’ve added a variety to your cart and go to check out sometimes that variety is already sold out before you can even pay.
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Thanks for addressing that, I kind of gathered that would be the case but wasn't sure if I was overthinking it. I'm going to take your advice and source some more common cuttings for practice!
cdh said:
Gob as in George Oscar Bluth or no?
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No, I am asked that a lot, lots of AD fans out there! It's the name of a character I played in a D&D campaign, I have just carried the name ever since, haha.
julie said:
Welcome! What varieties do you currently have?
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I have two smaller trees growing up in 1 gallon pots, Olympian and Lattarula. Then 3 trees growing into 3 gallon pots, Petite Negra, Stella and Blanche De Deux Saisons.

Thank you everyone for contributing and helping me understand what to expect. As more than one person has mentioned, it's a slippery slope into this awesome hobby but I couldn't be happier to be here! This community has been such an amazing place and I have only joined earlier this week! Seriously, thank you.
 
Welcome to the addiction! Honestly, 5 trees in two months is a fast start, but we’ve all been there.

To answer your question about Figaholics and the big winter sales: yes, the high-end, hyped varieties can literally sell out in seconds. It’s like trying to buy concert tickets. But here’s the secret nobody tells you when you're starting out: you don't need to stress over the $100 cutting hype.

A lot of those ultra-rare varieties eventually make their way to trusted sellers on FigBid for a fraction of the price once the initial craze dies down.

Since you’re growing in containers, my advice for cutting season is to focus on reliability first. Look for proven winners that produce early, especially if you have a shorter growing season like I do. Work on possible pop-up greenhouse tent if space permits to extend your season a bit.

Getting a solid 100 delicious figs beats 3 figs that may be "rare".

Of course as you get into a few years, slowly broaden your horizon.

Pace yourself, enjoy the 5 you have, and use this first winter just to see how the market flows before diving into the deep end!

I may have something for you. Hit me up on dm 😁
 
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