Welcome... everyone!

:LOL: On first glance I thought you meant Home Depot was selling these trees. I was scratching my head until I looked at the pics.

@Schoenie - You're in a good place for information on this... We have an entire section on the main menu that's dedicated to caprifgs on the main menu... Mike is the man in this realm.

There's a ton of info there already, but I think starting a thread that takes us through your learning journey on this would be very helpful to yourself and others.

I don't get to play in wasp country except when I'm in Italy... And at the time of year when I am there, they've finished doing their thing.
 
Schoenie said:
Hi @GoodFriendMike, and thank you for your swift response.

As an absolute beginner, I'm still reading up on the fascinating biology of caprifigs and fig wasps, so please forgive me if I'm posting silly questions...

On "Fighunter Downunder Caprifig Trees and BFF LocationsWorldwide" I found several Caprifigs in my area (Santa Clara, CA 95051) that have been reported as having wasps in them. As part of my beginning (all I have right now is a first set of 7 varieties that I'm trying to root from purchased cuttings...) I would like to grow a male tree, and somehow make it a home for fig wasps, so my figs will be caprified.

However, I have no idea to go about... I imagine I can take cuttings from a male tree, root, and grow them, and wait untill they start bearing fruit, but how can I maximize the chances of having fig wasps "move in"? Would I need to pick some wasp-colonized figs from an established tree, and hang these in my male tree at some time in the season (but when would be the best time?)? I believe that this is what the growers here in the Central Vallley do to get their Calimyrna figs caprified... Or is there a more established / easier way?

Any suggestions you might have are greatly appreciated!

CA 95051, zone 9b
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If you have the wasp in your area there is no need to grow a Capri. But a couple established Capri don't hurt.
 
TorontoJoe said:
:LOL: On first glance I thought you meant Home Depot was selling these trees. I was scratching my head until I looked at the pics.

@Schoenie - You're in a good place for information on this... We have an entire section on the main menu that's dedicated to caprifgs on the main menu... Mike is the man in this realm.

There's a ton of info there already, but I think starting a thread that takes us through your learning journey on this would be very helpful to yourself and others.

I don't get to play in wasp country except when I'm in Italy... And at the time of year when I am there, they've finished doing their thing.
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Seems Home Depot and Lowes are competing. I have a Capri found by Mark at a Lowes. Not persistent but a good one non the less.
 
@Schoenie If you have the wasp and your figs are ripening. Why worry about a Capri? But if your figs are not getting pollinated or you are getting very little pollination. Then adding a Capri may help. If you are going to bring in wasp. Check the figs. You do not want to bring in the fly but you also do not want to bring in indosepsis. Let me know what you your plans are. I may be able to help more.
 
GoodFriendMike said:
If you have the wasp in your area there is no need to grow a Capri. But a couple established Capri don't hurt.
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That was what I was thinking too... There's a few small parks and drainage creeks with wild plants very nearby. I guess I could "easily" root a few male cuttings, grow them for a bit, and then "let them go free". IF (...) they would be populated with wasps, everyone in the area would share in the benefits; lots of people have figs as ornamental plants around here.
 
TorontoJoe said:
:LOL: On first glance I thought you meant Home Depot was selling these trees. I was scratching my head until I looked at the pics.

@Schoenie - You're in a good place for information on this... We have an entire section on the main menu that's dedicated to caprifgs on the main menu... Mike is the man in this realm.

There's a ton of info there already, but I think starting a thread that takes us through your learning journey on this would be very helpful to yourself and others.

I don't get to play in wasp country except when I'm in Italy... And at the time of year when I am there, they've finished doing their thing.
Click to expand...

I actually asked the person at Home Depot's Garden Center if they sell figs, but he told me that at this particular location, they haven't had them for years :eek:. Same for Lowe's, only a mile away.

Thank you for connecting me with the caprifig pope (Mike). I do believe that there's a LOT of knowledge on here, and I'm very happy with the opportunity to tap into that!

I'm truly sorry for hijacking this "Welcome... everyone" thread! Is there a way for one of the moderators to "transplant" this discussion to a more appropriate thread? Some sort of "grafting" in the IT sense of the word... :giggle:
 
Schoenie said:
I actually asked the person at Home Depot's Garden Center if they sell figs, but he told me that at this particular location, they haven't had them for years :eek:. Same for Lowe's, only a mile away.

Thank you for connecting me with the caprifig pope (Mike). I do believe that there's a LOT of knowledge on here, and I'm very happy with the opportunity to tap into that!

I'm truly sorry for hijacking this "Welcome... everyone" thread! Is there a way for one of the moderators to "transplant" this discussion to a more appropriate thread? Some sort of "grafting" in the IT sense of the word... :giggle:
Click to expand...

Don’t sweat it. It’s a bit tough to move only parts. I’m not too worried about it. See you over in one of the content sections soon! 🙂
 
GoodFriendMike said:
@Schoenie If you have the wasp and your figs are ripening. Why worry about a Capri? But if your figs are not getting pollinated or you are getting very little pollination. Then adding a Capri may help. If you are going to bring in wasp. Check the figs. You do not want to bring in the fly but you also do not want to bring in indosepsis. Let me know what you your plans are. I may be able to help more.
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@GoodFriendMike

I don't know if "I" have the fig wasp in my neighborhood. My understanding is that the females are attracted to the flowers, and can come in from miles away, but... here in the city, things might get confusing for them in terms of chemical signaling as there's quite a bit of smog (not in the least place because of San Jose airport which is nearby). I only started this year (I'm currently rooting my first batch, and it seems to be working: plenty of roots after 3 weeks!) so I don't have any observational data yet. And even if I would have figs, I would not be able to tell whether they have been caprified or not...

My reasoning right now is strictly of the "why not?" / "if it won't help, it won't harm" type. In all honesty, I don't even know whether the "Home Depot tree" would be a smart parent tree to use... Am I right in assuming that persistence is only relevant in case one wishes to cross figs? If you know of an alternative, more suitable male parent tree close to where I live, I will gladly take your advise and switch to that one. Thus far, this is the only caprifig I have available. I must say... It DOES look very healthy...

"Manually" introducing wasps might be something to contemplate about at a later stage...
 
Schoenie said:
@GoodFriendMike

I don't know if "I" have the fig wasp in my neighborhood. My understanding is that the females are attracted to the flowers, and can come in from miles away, but... here in the city, things might get confusing for them in terms of chemical signaling as there's quite a bit of smog (not in the least place because of San Jose airport which is nearby). I only started this year (I'm currently rooting my first batch, and it seems to be working: plenty of roots after 3 weeks!) so I don't have any observational data yet. And even if I would have figs, I would not be able to tell whether they have been caprified or not...

My reasoning right now is strictly of the "why not?" / "if it won't help, it won't harm" type. In all honesty, I don't even know whether the "Home Depot tree" would be a smart parent tree to use... Am I right in assuming that persistence is only relevant in case one wishes to cross figs? If you know of an alternative, more suitable male parent tree close to where I live, I will gladly take your advise and switch to that one. Thus far, this is the only caprifig I have available. I must say... It DOES look very healthy...

"Manually" introducing wasps might be something to contemplate about at a later stage...
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I do understand the "Why not". And you are almost correct. Persistent Capri are onle needed in areas that do not have the wasp. As they will ripen there crops without the wasp. When breeding. They are only needed if you are breeding for areas without the wasp. As far as your Home Depot Capri. You did right by removing the figs from the cutting's. And if the tree has figs all year long. That is all you need. Just remember. Do not prune your Capri. You can do a little after a few years. But you need old and new wood as some crops grow from last years growth and some from this years growth just like female figs that produce breba. Your tree may take a few years before it is ready to support the wasp. Good thing is. Wasp are not far from you.
 
Hey Joe, I remember emailing you through some sort of blog and you responded way back in the day. I must have asked a ridiculous question about figs but you still respectfully answered. Next thing you know 5 years later I’m still chit chatting about figs on forums and now this one. Crazy!! So thank you my Sicilian friend.
 
Vitooch1 said:
Hey Joe, I remember emailing you through some sort of blog and you responded way back in the day. I must have asked a ridiculous question about figs but you still respectfully answered. Next thing you know 5 years later I’m still chit chatting about figs on forums and now this one. Crazy!! So thank you my Sicilian friend.
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Fratello.... tu sei uno di buoni. Rispetto
 
GoodFriendMike said:
I do understand the "Why not". And you are almost correct. Persistent Capri are onle needed in areas that do not have the wasp. As they will ripen there crops without the wasp. When breeding. They are only needed if you are breeding for areas without the wasp. As far as your Home Depot Capri. You did right by removing the figs from the cutting's. And if the tree has figs all year long. That is all you need. Just remember. Do not prune your Capri. You can do a little after a few years. But you need old and new wood as some crops grow from last years growth and some from this years growth just like female figs that produce breba. Your tree may take a few years before it is ready to support the wasp. Good thing is. Wasp are not far from you.
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Thank you for offering your considerations, @GoodFriendMike. Much appreciated, points taken, and learned something along the way!

If it's OK with you, I have one additional question right now: On some nursery sites, I saw different varieties of caprifigs cuttings offered (often for $5 or less). I do get the persistent versus non-persistent point you make, and can imagine that in some cases, this makes a huge difference). But for the rest... Would the variety merely matter in terms of zone-compatibility, or are there other important factors to consider?

Thank you for your time!
 
Schoenie said:
Thank you for offering your considerations, @GoodFriendMike. Much appreciated, points taken, and learned something along the way!

If it's OK with you, I have one additional question right now: On some nursery sites, I saw different varieties of caprifigs cuttings offered (often for $5 or less). I do get the persistent versus non-persistent point you make, and can imagine that in some cases, this makes a huge difference). But for the rest... Would the variety merely matter in terms of zone-compatibility, or are there other important factors to consider?

Thank you for your time!
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You can ask me a question anytime. There are many factors when choosing a Capri. Especially for the wasp. Which is what you seem to be looking for. Does it produce 3 crops? Do the crops over lap? Size of the figs. How much pollen is there in the profichi. I can go on.
 
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