Taking a fig cutting

[Simpo Two]

There's a fig tree, about 10 feet high and wide, which I'd like to take a cutting from or propagate in some way. Variety is probably Brown Turkey if that makes a difference.

I'm not much good at gardening so hoped somebody here would have the answer

[elanfan]

I think it is probably the wrong time of year to be doing this unless you have somewhere that is permanently warm and light. Probably worth googling what type of soil/compost they like and then buy some. Also buy some 'rooting compound' from a garden centre. Prepare your pot trim off a cutting and cut it at angle, dip the end in rooting compound and plant. Keep moist but not soaking.

Not a guarantee but worth a try.

[Bonefish Blues]

Take cutting during growing season, bob in one of the clear gel mediums http://www.garden4less.co.uk/gel2root-propagation-...

Dead easy with figs.

[FlossyThePig]

You can take hardwood cuttings when the plant is dormant (i.e. after all the leaves have dropped off) in late autumn. If you are lucky you may be able to take semi ripe cuttings now.

The RHS is the place to visit for all things horticultural.

In this country figs like a South facing wall and should have their roots restricted. I planted one in an old cold water expansion tank buried in the ground. Still no figs to eat yet.

[Simpo Two]

Thanks folks - it's tomorrow morning or never.

So it seems to be:

Cut off a shoot and stick it in a pot of medium.

The current tree had an interesting birth. About 15 years ago it was very small, in a pot, and I fired an air pistol at the pot from about 30 feet. The pellet went through the pot and right through the stem, cutting the top off... a 'pellet cutting' if you like! The top somehow survived and made it to the current tree. But tomorrow the house is being handed over and I'd like a cutting for old times sake.

[anonymous-user]

Do it with a shotgun this time, then you'll have more opportunity for at least one of the cuttings to work. HTH x

[jeff m2]

You need two cuttings.
You will not get figs with only one tree, unless of course someone within a couple of miles has another one.

As stated earlier they root very easily.

[Simpo Two]

Well I took three cuttings on Friday, about 5" from each of three growing tips, pulled off the lower 1-2 leaves to reduce water loss and stuck the lower 3" or so into potting compost. I then pushed the spare leaves + petiole into the compost as well, just in case. There was still quite a lot of leaf area on the cuttings so I made a little enclosure from sticks and cling film to try to keep the humidity up. (I hope any plasticizers in the cling film won't have a deleterious effect).

Two days on and the leaves are limp, but I suppose that was to be expected. Not sure if I should remove more leaves; maybe the shock will do more harm than good.

So now it's just a waiting game; the cuttings are in a west-facing window but don't get direct sun.

Didn't realise they needed a pollinator though.

[Bonefish Blues]

jeff m2 said:

You need two cuttings.
You will not get figs with only one tree, unless of course someone within a couple of miles has another one.

As stated earlier they root very easily.

Figs are self pollinating except for a single variety that yours ain't (Smyrna).

...having schlepped around the internet for a moment or two longer, there are also some cultivars (not sold in our climes) which need a specific type of Mediterranean wasp to assist in their fertilisation.

[jeff m2]

Bonefish Blues said:

jeff m2 said:

You need two cuttings.
You will not get figs with only one tree, unless of course someone within a couple of miles has another one.

As stated earlier they root very easily.

Figs are self pollinating except for a single variety that yours ain't (Smyrna).

...having schlepped around the internet for a moment or two longer, there are also some cultivars (not sold in our climes) which need a specific type of Mediterranean wasp to assist in their fertilisation.

My apologies for any false info, I was told by the "giver" of my two seven week old black figs I needed two. He has about thirty trees, I just assumed he was correct. I shall google

Here's a pic, I just repotted one from it's i gallon pot as its roots had appeared out the bottom.
It actually has mini figs on it.

[Simpo Two]

Hi Jeff,

As you seem to be an expert on this, what do you think of my cuttings? I'm concerned they might just wilt away and die... or do they look normal for 3 days in?



Should I cut off more leaves?

[Bonefish Blues]

(Much) Too much foliage

[Simpo Two]

OK, have cut a few off.

However some of the leaves are the petiole-only cuttings (which I doubt will work but worth a go).

Or should I cut all the leaves off and just leave a stick? Or doesn't it matter now?

[Bonefish Blues]

Ah, I see now you say, I thought you'd taken cuttings the size of small bushes!

I've taken harder wood cuttings the times I've done it, yours look a little green still, but I'd take all but the small top leaves off to reduce transpiration and see what happens.

Alternatively follow the RHS method on this in a month or so: http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/profile.aspx?p...

[jeff m2]

Bonefish Blues said:

I've taken harder wood cuttings the times I've done it, yours look a little green still, but I'd take all but the small top leaves off to reduce transpiration and see what happens.

Agree with that, when I got mine they just had two leaves.
If you look at the pic you can see that my subsequent leaves got larger as it rooted.

My friend is not exactly a RHS type guy, he did mine in manure, straw and soil

[Simpo Two]

Thanks - I've cut all but the tiniest leaves off now. Hope they didn't suck too much water out of the stem part; we shall see... I thought they might provide some energy, so it was transpiration vs energy...


Seems like 'hardwood cutting' means 'from a bit lower down'. The terminology is not very good!