Need a Few Members for New Fig Trial --- CLOSED

[Ognin525]

Here's the trial locations:

Who lives in Niagara falls!!!!! We should be friends......I have candy and scions 

[sc4001992]

Here's some photos of the Betty#1 cuttings that will be sent out.

[sc4001992]

Here's the last photos of the green fruits I picked off the cuttings from the mother tree.

[elouicious]

Youre a legend Kaz

[sc4001992]

I will ship out today and Friday, if you don't get a message from me about your tracking number by Friday then send me a message.

Thanks.

[K-Rimes]

Youre a legend Kaz

He really is! Thanks for these Kaz!

[sc4001992]

I'm so glad there were enough people that volunteered to trial this Betty#1 fig. I think it tastes pretty good.

I have a few other figs that I will try to compare the taste in a few days since my grafted Betty#1 has one last fig that is almost ripe.

The other figs I have ready for the test are:
- Angelito (from Thera)
- Black Manzanita (from Thera)
- Black Manzanita (mine)
- Unknow green fig (USPS)
- Brown Turkey (my large tree, always caprified fruits)
- Burgan
- Boysenberry Blush
- Blue Celeste
- Nuestra Señora del Carmen (NSDC)
- Colonel Littman’s Black Cross (CLBC)

================== Update of fruits ============
9-18-23

I tried some of these fruits above, but most were not fully ripe so could not do a fair taste test.
Instead, I will just show some of the photos I took of the figs that were ripe or overripe when I picked them. Most of these did not taste very good, probably because they were either watered down or were first time fruiting this year. Maybe next year they will taste better. Angelito and Black Manzanita was a disappointment, taste was not above average.

- Betty#1
- Unknow green fig (USPS)
- Angelito (Thera)
- Black Manzanita (Thera)
- Black Manzanita (mine)
- Brown Turkey (my large tree)

[sc4001992]

elouicious, I'm still a beginner when talking about figs. I have only tasted 10 or so different varieties even though I do have more than 70 different varieties in pots now.

I hope to start reducing the collection to under 10 varieties once I get to taste each of these varieties. I'm glad for people like Simon and others who have experience growing and tasting the varieties and sharing their summary of the best 5 or 10 varieties, that helps. I just want the fig to taste better than the Brown Turkey. Most of these top tier figs are definitely much better tasting.

[elouicious]

elouicious, I'm still a beginner when talking about figs. I have only tasted 10 or so different varieties even though I do have more than 70 different varieties in pots now.

I hope to start reducing the collection to under 10 varieties once I get to taste each of these varieties. I'm glad for people like Simon and others who have experience growing and tasting the varieties and sharing their summary of the best 5 or 10 varieties, that helps. I just want the fig to taste better than the Brown Turkey. Most of these top tier figs are definitely much better tasting.

I feel you on that-

I don't need 70 vars of figs, maybe 10-15 good ones

NissanVersa on here is currently trying to winnow a collection of ~50 down to 16 to plant so maybe I can get him to do a writeup

[johnb51]

I grew up eating Black Mission figs.  They say there are better figs, but these were always amazing to me, eating them at various stages of ripeness.

[sc4001992]

The only fig tree I had when I moved into my house was the Brown Turkey. The fruits didn't have much taste, so I never like to grow the figs until I read about all the other top varieties they have. I do have a few rootstock trees that I grafted some varieties that are on Black Mission so I might be able to taste a fruit of it soon since I do leave the lower branch on when I graft on top or main trunk.

[Fygee]

elouicious, I'm still a beginner when talking about figs. I have only tasted 10 or so different varieties even though I do have more than 70 different varieties in pots now.

I hope to start reducing the collection to under 10 varieties once I get to taste each of these varieties. I'm glad for people like Simon and others who have experience growing and tasting the varieties and sharing their summary of the best 5 or 10 varieties, that helps. I just want the fig to taste better than the Brown Turkey. Most of these top tier figs are definitely much better tasting.

Tasting better than Brown Turkey is a low bar to set for it.

I'm basing this just on the colors, but figs that are green on the outside when ripe and red on the inside tend to have a good balance of sweet and tart with a mild to strong berry flavor. What's that one like based on your own experience?

[sc4001992]

I shipped out all of the TFF members Betty#1 yesterday. Later tonight when I have time, I will send you the tracking number.

I put the label on the inside of the box.





Good Luck.

[FloridaManDan]

Thanks Kaz! The fruit looks delicious. Hope this one makes the cut for you.

[elouicious]

Received my cuttings today Kaz-

You are da man-

they are getting put in rootbuilder tree starter pots now

Cheers

[sc4001992]

Good Luck, hope they grow fast.

[Epicatt2]

Also received the 'Betty #1' cuttings today, and in fine shape.

Now one of those 'stupid questions' although not so much stupid for me or for any other novice wanting to start a fig from cuttings:

I notice that these cutting arrived wrapped.  Should that wrap be left on or removed (partially or completely) before planting the cuttings?

I've snooped around online and am guessing that any good commercial potting mix should be suitable.

I'm wanting to be successful in helping out with this fig trial.

Suggestions for starting these cuttings the best way would be welcomed.

Cheers!

Paul M.
==

[brian]

Mine arrive today, thank you.

I was planning to attempt the "fig pop" rooting method, which seems pretty much the same as my typical rooting method except leaving the top few buds uncovered.  However, as Epicatt2 asked should the parafilm be removed from the top few buds? 

[sc4001992]

Sorry, I forgot to put this message on how to root the cuttings.

Updated photo 1 & 3 above to show which fruits in the photos were caprified and which one is not.

=============== ROOTING FIG CUTTINGS =================

I purchased some fig cuttings from Profig and Brian has a good video out for summer rooting of figs.
If you haven't tried it, here's the video below that you can use to root the cuttings I send you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVpjTOkb59o​

I like to use his method when I'm not grafting my fig cuttings.​

This video is a little longer than 6 minutes, it is a good method for rooting.

================================================== =====

to answer your question on the parafilm. You would remove the parafilm from the bottom portion that will be stuck into the potting medium.

I'm going to try the Promix (expensive) since I have never used that before.

[brian]

dupe

[brian]

Thanks,  Kaz.

My summary of the linked video for summer fig rooting:
- use sterile potting soil, and pre-moisten it
- leave parafilm on the above ground wood only
- use tall skinny container (ex. treepot)
- insert cutting about halfway into soil in container
- place in shade outdoors and ignore for two months

Notable omissions: rooting hormone, scoring or re-cutting the cutting, covering the cutting/soil

I am going to re-cut the bottom and score the sides around it slightly, and place it in my greenhouse in full shade as my outside temps are now dropping below 50F at night sometimes.

[sc4001992]

Brian,

Thanks for the summary, that will work. I don't usually use the rooting hormone but if you have it, it won't hurt to use it. I use to just start them in fig pops (plastic bag) but this method should be better. I root my expensive/rare mulberry using this method.

[K-Rimes]

Cuttings arrived yesterday. I'm going to graft one and try to root the other two.

Fig cuttings wrapped in buddy tape and inserted into well draining medium = 100% rooting success for me.

[sc4001992]

thanks Kevin for the feedback.

[sc4001992]

Last photos of the Betty#1 from the parent tree. Since all the figs I have here were not ripened properly and some seemed to be not representative of the variety, I will only post the photos for comparison and not make the taste test I wanted to do.

I can show the typical weight of the Betty#1 fruits at least.