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March 28, I started to root approximately 100 fig cuttings in plastic 16 ounce cups filled with moist perlite. I used dormant cuttings ranging in size from 8"-12". I was moderately successful rooting Celeste figs in previous years, so this year I was excited to get access to a wide variety of figs including Blue Celeste, Panache, Alma, Hardy Chicago, Strawberry Verte, Violette de Bordeaux, Osbourne Prolific, and Italian Golden Honey. It's been just over 3 months since I started the cuttings, and to date I have successfully rooted many cuttings. I am now in the process of transitioning the rooted cuttings from perlite to compost in plastic nursery pots to grow in the shade until they are established. The following pictures show the process:
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| Assorted fig cuttings in perlite. This picture was taken on March 28. I kept them inside my unheated garden shed until the weather warmed, then I moved them outside onto a table beneath a shady tree where they stayed for a few months. The rooting process really speeds up in warm/hot humid weather. This makes the process easy and successful in southeastern Virginia. |
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| Here is a rooted cutting of Hardy Chicago on July 7. Notice it has lush foliage. Here's where it gets tricky. Foliage growth is not necessarily a sign that the fig has rooted. Sometimes a cutting will grow leaves but not roots. This is why potting in clear plastic cups is an advantage. It's much easier to see if and when roots have grown. |
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| Check out the root growth in the bottom of the plastic cup. I decided to transition this cutting from perlite to compost in a plastic pot because of the strong root growth AND new foliage. |
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| Here's a photo of the rooted cutting after I removed it from the cup. The roots are holding the perlite together. |
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| I put a few inches of compost in the bottom of a pot and place the rooted cutting into the pot. The perlite usually crumbles apart but it's not a big deal. I like to include all the perlite from the cup because I believe it helps to transition the cutting to the new potting media. I use the inside of an old wheel barrow as my potting area. |
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| I make sure the cutting is vertical and then I add compost to the pot until it is even with the rim. I never compress the compost around the new cutting because I believe it can damage the young roots. Compost is light and fluffy and the rooted cuttings seem to respond well to it. |
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| Here is a final picture of the new Hardy Chicago fig. It's been watered and labeled. A good labeling system is very important because it's easy to get them all mixed up when you have dozens of cuttings and no labels. I also do not add any fertilizer. The compost provides sufficient nutrients for the remainder of the year. This cutting will now join the others in the shady canopy of a massive crepe myrtle. Once the fig shows strong new growth, I'll move it into a sunnier location. As long as I keep my cuttings watered, they'll grow 4-5 feet by the time October rolls around and temperatures cool down. |
Propagating new fig trees from cuttings is a fairly easy process. The hardest part is waiting! I encourage you to give it a try. Before you know it, you'll have a yard filled with fig trees.
14 comments:
Very nice, I love what you are doing with the figs and have no doubt that you will soon have a yard full of young trees. We have considered trying to grow a couple Brown Turkey figs that "might" be hardy enough to handle our colder climate, now that I see how easily you can propagate them I am even more encouraged to try my hand at growing fig trees.:)
Wow! You did a great job! Isnt this type of "hobby" interesting? We always learn so much. You have really got it together on these figs. Keep us posted.
I garden in tidewater also (Hampton- Buckroe). I have been planning on putting in a fig or two. Do you think you might have some (one or two)to sell or trade when they are ready? I follow your blog through Veggie Pack. We worked together before he retired.
Frank
Mr. H, you might also try Hardy Chicago. Frank, hello neighbor gardener. What's your e-mail address? I should be able to help you out with a few trees.
I'm also in the Tidewater area, used to have a fig shrub on Hopkins Street, but have moved on to Carrollton across the river. We just put in a Celeste fig this year which is about 4' tall with alot of foliage and many very small figs--about 1/2 the size of a hershey's kiss....I used to make fig jam and bought them every year from someone in Hampton in mid-July....Mine don't seem to be growing...and definately not ready for harvest now....any idea what the problem is? We have an irrigation system that runs every am....?? Other than tiny fruit, the tree looks healthy.
Good article in the Sunday paper! Trying figs myself. No luck. I planted a Celeste about two yrs. ago. Hasn't grown but puts out foliage and small figs. Soil wrong? Should I dig it up and pot it? Thinking about the Hardy Chicago since it does well potting. Any help would be appreciated !
Mrs. R, sounds like you are doing what you can for your fig. I would hang in there a little longer and see what happens. I still have lots of green/unripe figs on my trees, others are just now ripening. Morgan, what type of soil is your Celeste in right now? Does it get full sun? Hard to know what might be slowing the growth of your tree. You can grow any type of fig in a pot, some just grow larger than others.
I had the first fig of my life a week ago. I am totally hooked. Thursday I tracked down a small Peters Honey Fig, about a foot maybe two tall. I've transplanted it into a five gallon pot, fed it some bone meal and organic fertilizer. I'm hoping for a burst of growth this year. Something I've noticed is that people who grow figs are the most passionate growers of all. I love it that you are rooting so many!! Good luck with the figs.
Erin, potted figs also appreciate a handful of lime. Try adding some next spring. Glad you are hooked on figs. I didn't have a fresh fig until my late 20s, and now I'm trying to make up for all those lost years! Good luck with your growing.
I have a bunch of fig cuttings. just curious how long from rooting to fruit? I don't know what kind. a friend let me pick figs. they are green and turn reddish brown when ripe. pink in the middle.
Renee, in my experience it usually takes 2 years from rooting to fruit. The first year you develop roots and grow the plant, the second year you should get a few figs. But you'll really get a better crop the 3rd year after cutting. Cuttings normally require high humidity and warmer temps, so you may have trouble rooting cuttings this time of year. Good luck, let me know how it goes.
Hi, I live in the Philadelphia area zone 7. I was about to attempt to take a cutting from my Chicago Hardy and read that you feel it needs warm weather. It should be fine if we take the cutting inside, right? I had four cutting last year over the winter in my kitchen and three out of four made it. I love your point of labeling the figs. That is something we didn't do and now we are trying to figure out which fig is what?
Joann7, congrats on rooting cuttings from your Hardy Chicago fig tree. It's very rewarding to watch them grow and produce figs. I personally prefer to take cuttings in the Spring right before the fig leaves swell and develop so i don't need to worry about keeping newly rooted cuttings alive in the house during the winter. But it is definitely possible to take and root cuttings inside during the colder months. Labeling figs is also very important, particularly when you have many different varieties. It's very easy to forget which varieties are in which pots. Let me know what you decide to do!
Hi my name is Frank,
I wanna know, when you put your cutting in the perlite, do you filled up your cup with water every week, to maintained the moist for 3 months ? whats your tips ?
big thx, and btw, what they looks like this year ? :)
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