Over 80 Varieties of figs, and I still grow at scale, the Celeste Fig

[@ZonaFigs]

I have a giant Celeste in my front yard, and that's how i got started!!! About 70 varieties later😀 i love figs now. And your channel is awesome, i love your spirit and energy!!!

[@Philsfigs]

Haha I know the feeling diving into the world of figs. Thank you for the support of my videos it means a ton!

[@twhdvm]

To me, Celeste tastes like a sweet peach sprinkled with brown sugar. It’s way underrated. Love your content Phil!

[@Philsfigs]

I can imagine peach notes in the flavor profile of a celeste, especially if you let them fully ripen. Thank you so much!

[@superdave336]

The Celeste is one of the types my grandfather grew. Celeste and Brown Turkey. I'm so glad I was able to go get some cuttings from his homestead a couple of weeks back. I'm hoping they root and I'm able to grow them myself. Good video Phil. Looking forward to the video on LSU varieties later. Thanks for sharing

[@Philsfigs]

Thanks man for the support! I’m excited to chat about the LSU figs, Tiger,, Gold, Red, and Scott’s Black we’re amazing standout varieties- I’m curious how they will all be as they mature. Waiting on Hollier to give me some good fruit as well as champagne and purple. Stoked you have a Celeste! It’s a workhorse for sure!

[@RegularJohntv]

Out of all my trees, my Celeste is one of my favorites. Cool little operation you’ve got going. Good work.

[@Philsfigs]

Thank you for the kind words! Celeste to the rescue!

[@cathya44]

Celeste is indeed a great fig variety, i have one too, Great video. Thank you

[@Philsfigs]

Thank you for the kind words! Means a lot. Celeste’s are fantastic

[@keithberry366]

Another great video. I have celeste rooting in the greenhouse this winter. Very interesting about the LSU work with celeste. I have 4 of the LSU varieties rooting also. Thanks for the Friday videos.

[@Philsfigs]

Thank you for the kind words! Happy to make them for you. LSU did so well with their fig breeding program.

[@GardeningWithCoffee]

Amazing 👏🏼

[@Philsfigs]

Thank you 🙌

[@katedalzell8007]

I have a greenhouse setup similar to yours here outside Philly. I maintain it at 45-50F for my citrus trees and various tropicals. Never thought to move my cuttings process out to it. I see some of your pots have heat mats, but the one from this video does not? I purchased a few of your cuttings this year and was planning to get them started in Feb due to indoor space issues. This would be a game changer! What is your success rate in these conditions?

[@Philsfigs]

Hey! how cool is that you can grow citrus up in the philadelphia area. The bigger picture is that at night my greenhouse gets down to low 50's high 40's at night. Its generally a +/- 15 degree difference from the outside ambient temperature. Then during the day it's about 30-40 degree differential from outside air temps. when it's colder the rooting and growth of fig cuttings takes longer, I don't had a lot of inside space outside of my garage so everything roots in a slower manner. we'll get warmer days here in Feb and March to expedite everything since I'm right on the coast in Wilmington, NC zone 8b. So the key for me is getting through January and part of February. I do plan to buy more heat mats all in good time. I hope that answers your questions! Holler if you have any others and good luck propagating!

[@DeanFamilyAcres]

Found your channel last week. Great to find another semi local channel with similar growing zone. Subscribed today. Looking forward to more content. Noticed some odd audio static off and on in a few videos. Is it your mic hitting your jacket or?

[@Philsfigs]

Thank you for the support! Yea I think it may be the jacket or that it’s a budget mic - I’m looking into a few other higher quality mics at the moment to correct the issue. Thanks for the heads up! Excited to check out more of your content

[@PeterEntwistle]

Great video, Phil and Happy New Year! Glad to see I'm not the only one with plant cuttings in the fridge lol 😂. I haven't come across this variety over here. Do you know if it produces a breba crop?

[@Philsfigs]

Haha oh cuttings season can certainly take up space in the fridge! Happy New Year to you too! It's a popular one here in the Southeastern US. It doesn't have much of a breba. It will on occasion, but its really a main crop only (unifere) fig.

[@C3Voyage]

Do you need a plant certificate to sell fig cuttings or plants? I ask because I've created some vegetable varieties I'm considering selling online--seeds and possibly plants. I've created several OP lines of squash, tomato, pepper, eggplant, okra, etc. Thanks for the response. Subbed.

[@Philsfigs]

Yep, I have a certificate to sell with the state of North Carolina. I have to follow a set of rules and regulations and I am inspected every year. Each state has a different certification and rules and regulations on growing, selling, and shipping. That sounds like a really fun idea. I’m not sure all the steps for selling seeds, excited to see how it goes for you!

[@Whipporwhill]

What's the coldest zone Celeste can tolerate? Im in zone 6b & looking for great flavor with cold hardiness. I have a brown turkey, which I grow in a large pot & move inside each winter, which is a pain! Lol It has not produced well, either. I'd like a hardy fig to plant in-ground. Great videos! Thank you!😊

[@Philsfigs]

You can grow your Celeste in 6b depending where you’re tree is located. Find a south wall of your home. It may grow more like a shrub if unprotected if that’s ok with you?! It will still look pretty. If you want to protect it you can wrap it in the winter for protection so I will grow more like a tree shape. I get it, It can be tough to schlep trees in pots in and out every winter my parents do it in 6b with 4 trees. Having a hardy fig live along a sunny protected part of your home will give it thermal radiant heat from the home. I’ve been so impressed with Celeste but I get nervous about dieback for a fig for zones below 7a if it’s in an unprotected space.

[@Whipporwhill]

@@Philsfigs OK, thank you! I think it's worth a try here! 🌿

[@Philsfigs]

@@Whipporwhillawesome !

[@Chris-bx4vk]

Do you grow this much Celeste bc it sells well or bc you like it that much? I feel like smith or any LSU variety should be spread more, no?

[@Philsfigs]

I sell Celeste for few reasons mentioned in the episode, but I agree with you, Smith and LSU varieties should be absolutely spread more! Need to get their numbers up as well, but Celeste is right there with these high end varieties that do well in southeastern humid climates. Smith hasn't been a huge fan of the cold which made it a little less user friendly, and I'm only a few years in on my LSU varieties. Stand outs like Tiger, Hollier, Scott's Black, etc. will definitely be in the line up in the future and are available to customers now on my website (although I'm almost out or out of a lot of varieties). come spring and summer I'll have rooted trees available.

[@ChristinesBackyardGarden]

Hi Phil! Another great video. How old is your Celeste tree? The celeste cuttings I got from you are doing wonderful. As a matter of fact, all the cuttings are doing great! I have 100% rooting, and all have some leaves. Does the LSU Hollier have lineage from the Celeste? The LSU Hollier has the most growth out of all my cuttings.

[@Philsfigs]

Thank you! I am not sure how old my large Celeste fig is, but I'm sure its well over 10 years old and maybe 15 years? SO great to hear about your cuttings! Glad they're taking off well! LSU Hollier does have celeste in it's parent lineage and is a great fig hands down. Enjoy!

[@ChristinesBackyardGarden]

@@Philsfigs Thank you!

[@Philsfigs]

Of Course! @@ChristinesBackyardGarden

[@marcosepulveda6041]

Ouch 😵, I'm starting with brown turkey and black mission 😂😂😂

[@Philsfigs]

haha all good!!! always room for more!

[@dvssayer5621]

Hello! Can you tell me how big your greenhouse is? Just curious what your working with...im trying to grow figs too.over in pacific northwest I guess people bring them inside in winter🤷‍♂️ I have 9 trees 5 in ground, and I'm keeping the rest in pots!

[@Philsfigs]

Hi, It's the Harbor Freight 10ftx12ftx10ft greenhouse. I love it and it has all the space I need (although we can always use more haha) Sounds like a beautiful part of the country. I know of a few people that have varieties in the PNW! Excited for you. what growing zone are you in?

[@dvssayer5621]

8b 😊 im having an 8x10 shed built next week and it has good window light, so im hoping to stick potted figs in there. I have some sticks in good dirt in a 75⁰ place but I can't tell if its doing anything! I'd like to get a celest too.

[@Philsfigs]

@@dvssayer5621 Sounds like you're on the right path! Sometimes figs take a bit to wake up and you'll want them to produce roots first then push out new growth. Celeste should be available on my website so take a look and reach out with any more questions!

[@عبداللهالرشود-ش4ف]

How long can the cuttings be kept in the freezer?

[@Philsfigs]

When properly bagged and wrapped in plastic wrap I have kept fig cuttings for 3+ months in the refrigerator. Keep them in the refrigerator, you don't want your fig cuttings to freeze in the freezer. Hope that helps!

[@jackhart1883]

Looking for a Smith tree or cuttings

[@Philsfigs]

I have cuttings if you're interested, check out my website.

[@larawines4875]

How long does it take to develop roots in these conditions?

[@Philsfigs]

depends on the fig but for Celeste figs or a typical cutting It takes about 8-10 weeks to grow roots and put out leaf growth.

[@Whipporwhill]

Why are only some of the cuttings taped off at the top?

[@Philsfigs]

Some of the cuttings are terminal buds and they hold moisture quite well, vs. when I snip a cutting with an exposed cut. Ill then cover the end with parafilm tape to hold in moisture due to the exposed cut.

[@Whipporwhill]

@@Philsfigs Makes sense, thank you! I'm learning a lot from your vids. 🙂

[@Philsfigs]

Thank you!@@Whipporwhill means the a lot to hear that!

[@JakeWhipp]

Phil, how often to you water your cuttings after propagating them?

[@Philsfigs]

Hey Jake - it depends, but it’s more of a misting than a true watering. As cuttings they need moisture and humidity but verrry little water to root and prevent rotting out. I mist every day or so if needed as the greenhouse can get warm and cause evaporation but for watering the moisture stays in those longer pots longer.

[@JakeWhipp]

@ thank you sir!