Planting a Fig Orchard in the Pacific Northwest Ep. 5 | Tip Pruning Figs for Faster Fruit Production

These trees have been in ground for 1 year now and it's time for an update. Since planting this fig orchard, I've learned a lot. I've got something really cool to show you. My tip pruning experiment has worked out fantastic and I'll definitely be implementing this technique in my orchard in future years for faster fruit production, here in our Pacific Northwest fig orchard.
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[@briananders7358]

Just an observation, which you mentioned. Looks like the ones that get that early sun do significantly better than the ones that are shaded. I concur it may be worth clearing some more trees.

[@suegentry2913]

My thoughts too. The whole orchard seems to be in the shade.

[@MikeKincaid79]

It's not as shady as it looks. I filmed this fairly early in the morning. When the sun clears the trees, it beats down on them all day. Still, the figs would love every extra drop of sunshine I'm sure.

[@suegentry2913]

@@MikeKincaid79 Exactly! Love all the varieties you are experimenting with. Pushing the boundaries of plants is the only way we can survive here in the Pacific Northwest ☺️

[@donc7349]

@@MikeKincaid79 You could place some big stones around the trees and build a little stone wall on the north side of the trees.

[@zaviahopethomas-woundedsou9848]

In my experience with in-ground figs, When you cut them back drastically you will not get fruit the following year but, the tree will take off like a rapidly growing weed! I have had two fig trees in the ground for 12 years and this has been consistent.

[@MikeKincaid79]

Good to know! Thanks for sharing your experience.

[@michellewelch6013]

I think that must depend on the location of growing and the tree variety. My friend cut back her in ground brown turkey fig severely last year. It sits in full sun and was at least 20 ft tall and quite bushy, now 15 ft and much less dense after a fall harvest and cut back. This tree is probably 30 yrs old. We picked a large quantity of fruits last month as usual, but the fruit size is definitely smaller. I observed a second round of fruits growing already. We are Central Valley of California. Hot long summer growing season and exceptionally dry and warm last winter with a few frosts cold enough to kill my tomato seedlings in early April.

[@kicknadeadcat]

PA zone 7a. Cut back All 16 first year trees to about 4 ft. They also had some die back from there. They all fruited except Celeste. All that tree wanted to do was grow shoots. The most fruit was a Portuguese dark around 50. Others were in the 20 to 30 range. The latest to fruit was violette de Bordeaux. About 25 fruit. It started mid sept. And went into Nov.

[@donnaikin7397]

Awesome video again, I really enjoy and learn so much from watching you and your videos!!! Please keep making your video content. 👍👏👌🥰

[@MikeKincaid79]

I'll keep filming as long as you keep watching!

[@donnaikin7397]

@@MikeKincaid79 done deal

[@Athabina]

A suggestion for you to perhaps cover your smallest in ground figs with an upside down pot of 10 or 15 galloon size which will shelter them from wind and also trap heat from the ground; I do that with my newly planted figs in the planters and they seem to survive the winters here in Victoria which sometimes get pretty cold like last year

[@MikeKincaid79]

Thanks for the tip John. I've been thinking about doing that with 5 gallon buckets with a few holes in them.

[@bosquebear1]

I like the idea but be careful with black buckets... I think I cooked some yuccas that I covered with black pots. You might consider filling the bucket with straw and choose a different color. You might also think of some kind of mouse poison when you cover the plants with straw to keep them from girdling your trees.

[@Athabina]

@@bosquebear1 i meant to do this in the winter to protect from cold

[@bosquebear1]

@@Athabina mine burnt here in the winter on one of our wild swings in the spring on unusually hot weather between unusually cold. Was too cold to remove the bucket and too hot to leave it

[@emsstew5143]

Thanks John both of my fig trees expired during the cold spell😪

[@marschlosser4540]

Hey, chico! Your bourgeoise and others might need black plastic mulch to bear. One thing I do is pull lower leaves off (leaf prune) to make the trees think something is feeding. Then they set figs. We got 3.5 inches or rain+hail a few nights ago. Played nasty with the kumquat, chopped down red amaranth, and much of the garden looks like Jason wandered thru with a chainsaw. But the figs only lost some leaves. Now it's all bouncing back. We have gotten 16.39 inches of rain since last 31 Oct. Major bounty, yo.

[@MikeKincaid79]

That’s half the annual rain we get but a massive amount for you. I’m jealous of your fig growing weather right now.

[@PlantObsessed]

Yes, do it for the fig people!!!

[@MikeKincaid79]

Got a fig tasting video coming out hopefully this week!

[@Athabina]

I would also say get two or three more Dessert Kings; they will likely be your number 1 producer when mature

[@MikeKincaid79]

I am so looking forward to tasting that one for the first time. I hear so much good about it.

[@davidbutton8497]

Nice buddy. Your kicking Goals. ❤️😳😳

[@soonzach4017]

Wow. I am coming over for the fruits.

[@MikeKincaid79]

I can't wait to have an orchard full of fruit!

[@eastcoastwatch672]

Thank you Mike for all the tutorials you’ve made for us to learn about starting and caring for plants. I’ve taken cuttings and propagated many plants and even air laying of trees with great success. Now I got the bug and have to move from a gated community without a place to have a hoop house so I’m hiding plants here and hiding them there. It’s gives great satisfaction and solace to the point of lowering my blood pressure, lol Thanks again

[@MikeKincaid79]

It all sounds good to me as long as you get to keep growing and it makes you healthier!

[@zaviahopethomas-woundedsou9848]

Tip pruning forces the main crop figs to ripen. I usually do it on the 4th of July and also I remove all the tiny figs that are too small to ripen (less than 1/2 inch in diameter). I have also found if I cover the tree with clear plastic with lots of holes in it around the beginning of September it helps them ripen too. They need the heat we struggle to get here.

[@MikeKincaid79]

It sure is working well on this Ronde de Bordeaux tree. I'm thinking about experimenting with putting a huge clear plastic water tote over a tree in the late winter (one of those 275 gallon totes with holes in it) to give it a head start and see how it goes.

[@zaviahopethomas-woundedsou9848]

@@MikeKincaid79 That sounds like a great idea!

[@living6a916]

Good morning

[@MikeKincaid79]

Morning

[@ksowter101]

Mike- Really enjoy your enthusiastic and informative videos-! I've learned a lot from you! I got my 1st fig about 7 years ago- and now have 15 planted and producing- 7 varieties-- What works for me- In zone 7B-Raleigh,nc- some suggestions that may help some of your readers- I mulch the base with 3" of hardwood during the growing season, and to prevent frost kill will then cover with 6" of leaves in the fall - We seldom get winter temps in the teens for a few nights here- As you noted- Chicago Hardy might be the best choice to try for those in colder regions - I started one this year from a 10" cutting sold in the spring from a local Lowes- and it is an amazingly fast grower- I pinched the lead growth early to promote side branching- it is now 5' tall and already has a lot of figs developing- - I find that figs become much more vigorous and productive once planted in the ground versus kept in containers. I'm tip layering- (into pots) as well as air layering - and figs root so easily with this method. Warning- Fig sap is caustic- so pruning etc should be done with rubber gloves and long sleeved shirts- and don't get it in your eyes! The Chicago Hardy Fig from 8" - now 4 months old in a raised bed 36" - daily drip irrigation [img]i.imgur.com/aYnPYgE.png[/img] [img]i.imgur.com/evoFtE2.png[/img] Some of my established Figs will put on 6+ feet of new growth a year- which will make harvesting with a ladder necessary- and potentially unsafe- and impractical - instead, I try to grow/train my figs in a vase shape - and I cut out the center growth for air circulation and more sun- encourages the side branches - and cut out most of the suckers from the roots. (I root a few new plants by rooting a few of the suckers- air layering or pot layering and pinch the tip at 24" to encourage branching- ) To control/Train the growth- I prune the figs back each year-keeping the main plant vase shaped, and cut out the center. Most are at 5-6' and now very wide- and some will put on 5-6' of new growth - you can walk in the center- but - you must keep 3-4 nodes on the branch from this year's growth to get figs on next years growth- I also will bend a developing branch to be more horizontal versus upright - by tying it to some surveyors plastic ribbon to a wooden stake in the ground- - You can do so many methods with figs, and no harm done- - Ideally I'm trying to get a vase shape- open center- and even now I think I'll try to keep the main branches pruned back to an even lower 4'-5' height- A step ladder is still needed to reach figs higher on the new growth!- If in doubt, prune 1/2 the plant this year- and the remainder next year- [img]i.imgur.com/D7Blf6u.jpeg[/img] [img]i.imgur.com/CKpaLwW.jpeg[/img] Nothing quite like getting that fig that is at peak ripeness! The problem I have is the ants, yellow jackets, and hornets all are willing to dine on the partially ripened figs several days before "peak" ripeness- fig drooping-an easy & economical solution to protect the figs from being partially devoured before you can harvest are Organza bags - Mesh bags with a drawstring- Slip it over the fig and pull the drawstring tight to the fig stem- a 3" x4" bag will work with smaller fig varieties- 1-2" , but a 4" x 6" bag is needed for the larger figs that get 2.5-3.5 inches- like Texas or Okidata - Quite inexpensive- and you can bag a few figs on each branch in sequence, and when you harvest the fully ripe fig, take the bag off and cover the higher growing fig- It has worked really well for me - I had a relative that used to cover her figs with pieces of old nylon stockings- So far, I also have not seen any bird damage - where the figs are bagged- You can find 100 bags 4x4 for $8 - $9 for the larger bags ... on amazon - also washable and reuseable.... [img]i.imgur.com/qKCJFuH.jpeg[/img] And - I tried to cleft and bud graft several different varieties of figs onto different plants- but I did not properly wrap and refrigerate the scion wood- and perhaps my timing was too early- I'd like to have 1 tree with multiple varieties- a next year's project- Apologies for being so long winded- Hope some of the readers find something useful! I look forward to catching up on your videos! Thanks!

[@MikeKincaid79]

I'm finding the same thing. My figs are much more vigorous in ground once they get growing. My I258 is now putting on tremendous growth, much more than it ever did in a pot. My plan for winter protection and mulch has been to use the leaves from the trees once they get some size but they need to produce more growth and leaves first. That's why I originally used the hay to give them a good start. Love all the pics and it sounds like you've got exactly what I'm trying to get to. Thanks for the post!

[@mariohernandez-wg6fb]

Beautiful Mike !!!!!!! .........

[@MikeKincaid79]

Thanks Mario!

[@camicri4263]

Hi Mike! Nice figs! I had to leave mine behind and I don't know if mom took any cuttings. Unfortunately, I can't rely much on her anymore. I have a lot of fruit and nut trees that I need to buy and plant..... Like 10 years ago😂😞 I really don't know which are doing well in Georgia. Not much. I planted peach tree a few years back and was a disaster, I had to cut it down. Apricot, apples, mulberry, quincy and plum didn't do anything. I was going to cut them but since I moved, I left them. Persimmon did good and figs. The blackberries, and blueberries were ok. The blackberries though, did not care much for the variety. Well, I wish you lived close by to come help.... So overwhelming!

[@MikeKincaid79]

If I lived close by, I'd definitely come help. You have a lot on your hands. Take it easy and enjoy the ride. Don't get in over your head.

[@camicri4263]

I know you would! I can't take it to easy Mike, I am 60! I would like to enjoy some fruits! I left fruit trees in many places and other are enjoying it now I would like some too!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

They sleep, they creep, they leap 😀 100% correct. Last year was your planting year. This year is your establishment year. I predict next year will be your growth year, and Year 4 will be the big harvesting year. Though…I bet you’ll get some harvests next year on the strongest trees! For what it’s worth, I wouldn’t hack them back to the ground. I would wait the winter, cut off whatever growth died back in the spring, then reserve the 1 or 2 strongest trunks and remove everything else. Then, I would head the trunks at 18 inches. That way, you’ll get a chalice shape at 18 inches above ground and concentrate all the energy into 1 or 2 main trunks. Your trees are losing a lot of energy to sucker growth, so it is delaying fruiting. In your short summers, concentrating energy into 1-2 trunks and eliminating all suckers will be important, I think.

[@MikeKincaid79]

That's the goal eventually, just trying to get them started. I'd love to eventually have an orchard filled with short multibranched trees that come off of 2 or 3 trunks. Will see if the winters allow that here as they mature.

[@khmergreen]

You get real with figs now.

[@theoverworkedgardener5648]

Alrighty now about time mike

[@MikeKincaid79]

Haha, I really need to get that video of the rooted log for you.

[@theoverworkedgardener5648]

Promises promises lol

[@EpicEquestriann]

Hi Mike! New subscriber here - found your channel yesterday when I was looking for fig propagation videos. I wanted to share my experience with my own Violet De Bordeaux fig. I bought mine last year, in a 7.5 gallon pot, the plant was roughly 18” tall. I planted it in April in my flower bed of all places. It took off! By fall it had about 60 figs that never ripened, and was about 6’ tall! Now I’m in Virginia(zone 7a) and the snowstorms in early January (the one that left people stranded on 95 for days) actually killed the majority of my fig. I was devastated, but cut it back to the ground and hoped for the best. It came back stronger than before, no figs on it this year, but it is about 7.5-8 feet tall currently. Cutting yours back may prove to be a worthwhile experiment! Best of luck.

[@MikeKincaid79]

Wow! Sounds very promising. I appreciate you sharing your experience with this variety. Love hearing real experiences from people and I appreciate you telling me your zone and area of the country. So helpful!

[@Athabina]

I think VdB is supposed to produce a breba crop so I wouldnt cut it back too much except for some of the suckers. I recently planted three of my rooted cuttings of White Madeira, Smith and Figo Preto which were all in 5 gallon pots since March or April and had roots circling in each pot. They are now planted in platners which have PVC hoops and plastic covers here in Victoria

[@MikeKincaid79]

I appreciate all your info. It's good to hear what's working for others in the same general part of the world.

[@lobe2032]

Cutting those figs back makes me nervous, I leave mine alone and they know how to act better than I do, but that is just me. Mine are black mission and they have fruit on the woody part not the new growth, and brown turkey fig they die back every year to the ground, it looks like, but in reality they are just really relaxed. Loved your video and keep sending them.

[@MikeKincaid79]

Makes me nervous too, haha. We'll see how I feel come winter.

[@Paul-Coburn]

Good looking fig orchard my friend.

[@MikeKincaid79]

Thanks Paul! We’ll see how it performs over the next few years.

[@troypriddythr]

im a big fan of rejuvenation pruning.....i have several i did that to in my greenhouse and got 10- 15 foot of growth from it.... whole new healthy tree

[@MikeKincaid79]

I may do it this winter to all of them. My Italian 258 died to the ground and the new growth on it is amazingly robust. I’m becoming a fan of it too

[@arabellalunkes4532]

The travesty of someone saying that Brown Turkey aren’t amazing figs! I LOVE them!!! Yes, I haven’t tried many varieties, but I haven’t found any sweeter fig than my delicious BTs!

[@richardletell4062]

DID YOU SEE THAT SNAKE ? 11:39....... from Reshard the Cajun

[@MikeKincaid79]

Yep! Those little Garter snakes are all over the place around here. My wife jumps out of her skin every time she sees one, haha.

[@purewonka]

You need to grow Chicago Hardy. Delicious fig, and it will work in your climate.

[@MikeKincaid79]

Got one! Just waiting for it to fruit. Been in the ground 3 years and nothing yet.

[@purewonka]

@@MikeKincaid79 A neighbor gave me a cutting from his Chicago hardy - a big branch. I just planted it in the ground the same day he cut it. It's four years later, and the fig tree is enormous. It's my largest producer and fastest grower. I'm in South Carolina. In late July, August and into September I will be in fig heaven. It's covered with figs. Eaten fully ripened straight from the tree, they taste like strawberry jam. I've already enjoyed the breba crop. I drape big rubber snakes in my fig trees to scare birds and other fig-loving animals away from my trees. It works but you have to move them around occasionally to keep the birds and other animals flummoxed.

[@MikeKincaid79]

That’s great to hear. Looking forward to my tree producing eventually.

[@FlomatonFamous]

Enjoyed the video, thanks for sharing.

[@adamcnessesq]

Vdb took 3 years in ground to start producing for me. 8b South Carolina.

[@MikeKincaid79]

Good to know. I'm sure that others will be like that too. I'm giving them all at least 3 years (maybe 4 or 5) to see what they'll do before judging them.

[@kicknadeadcat]

I don’t want to sound like sound kind of fig snob, I probably will but every tree I’ve ever grown in pots reach that size in 5 months. 90% fruit the first season. By the end of the first summer they reach from 4 ft to 6 ft in pots. In the ground they get 6 to 8 ft. I’m in SE PA. Zone 7a Very short growing season. Maybe 160 days. It has to be what you are feeding it or not feeding it. I hate seeing people struggle. And I realize you don’t think you are but you are. These trees just want to grow. I stuck a Figo Preto cutting directly in my veg garden on late August. It was 6 ins when I repotted it in a 3 gal early October. It now has three thick branches and 18ins tall with a ton of leaves. I just sold it today for $60. My belief they are not getting the nutrients they require. I have a second year VDB that grew 7 ft with 27 fruit with minimal protection and died almost to the ground. I watch your channel all the time would like to see you have success. I has to be lack of soil biology. Another thing in your orchard, some of those varieties should stay in pots. My two cents.

[@MikeKincaid79]

Thanks for the 2 cents. I consider it all. The soil biology is definitely lacking after moving all that dirt with a bulldozer and “killing” the soil. I knew it would take time. This year was better than last and I think it’s only going to get better with time. I agree with you about some of the varieties but I’ve got good reasons for planting them all. Really curious to see how they do over the long haul.

[@matthewkizziahcuzia...gott9632]

Maybe individual greenhouse for each sensitive tree in the field. Just for the winter and early spring.

[@MikeKincaid79]

I'm thinking about doing this with white 5 gallon buckets for trees like the Martinenca Rimada and Black Madeira.

[@matthewkizziahcuzia...gott9632]

@@MikeKincaid79 just to help get them started. Once they get some good roots set and a good mulch layer going they will be fine

[@alveygardens]

We are in zone 6b southern indiana. We have 9 fig trees in ground as of today. I will be planting in ground another 50 this year. And we do winter protection meaning a hard prune to about 18” and then fill a 25 gallon pot w dry leaves and flip on top of each tree. Seems to be the best way to secure survival of all the trees. And to get lots of cuttings. But only 1 year old cuttings, so not very lignified and no guarantee of rooting. I have about 40 brown turkey cuttings I took off my trees this year and trying to root. Nothing yet except 1 I started in nov. So taking about 4 months for them to root. Lol

[@MikeKincaid79]

Really cool idea for overwintering them. Reading your post makes me believe that I should eventually get some nice figs growing on my trees, being 2 zones higher (8b). I've seen a lot of people back east, in the colder zones, do very well with their in ground figs if they treat them right. Good luck with yours.

[@alveygardens]

@@MikeKincaid79 You undoubtedly will. Especially if you select some early fruiting varieties. I have olympian, chicago hardy, VDB and brown turkey as my very first trees and I harvested fruit off all of them.

[@michellewelch6013]

Wow, tip pruning is new to me. Interesting. I bought a fig two years ago labeled brown turkey but the figs are green when. Ripe. My brown turkeys from local tree cuttings clearly show the difference. Why do nurseries have such a time labeling their plants correctly? So frustrating! No idea what I have or if I want to keep it.

[@andielliott7721]

I think I have a similar problem. Two Chicago Hardys...yet different leaf patterns.

[@MikeKincaid79]

Yes, that is very frustrating when that happens. With figs, I think it's best to get into the community of growers and start sourcing from people who are into the hobby. You have a better chance of success that way. Mistakes can still be made but fewer.

[@MikeKincaid79]

If you haven't seen it yet, here's the video of cleaning up the orchard. It's a timelapse of weed eating and mowing the overgrown grass: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpPKlqNjeqiEic0 Enjoy your weekend!

[@1Kent]

We had 90 days of April (sounds like a movie title) that really sucked! I hope September is nice. I don't think I've ever eaten a fig.

[@MikeKincaid79]

Yeah, the spring was terrible for figs this year, sure was good for the rhododendrons though, lol.

[@1Kent]

@@MikeKincaid79 Weeds!😆😂

[@lonnieclifton3883]

I Would Let Them Grow.

[@MikeKincaid79]

Thanks for the vote. I may do different things with each tree, depending on how they grow. For some reason, some of the trees aren't putting on nice growth on the old wood but are putting up beautiful growth from the ground. Other figs are producing nice growth from the old wood. Maybe it will all correct over time as they mature more. My original plan was to have tree and let them grow bigger.

[@tonyzarzecki5408]

Try pinching to force fruit to grow, it worked for me,.

[@MikeKincaid79]

I did it this year, and showed it in this video.

[@EmporerBlock]

Just ate the first fig off of my desert king today, over in enumclaw where it reached 15 feet in 4 years. Has around 40 to 50 figs on it this year, second crop has already set but they don't seem to ripen.

[@MikeKincaid79]

That’s great to hear from a western Wa. Local. Thanks for that. I’ve heard a lot of good about the Desert King and I’m looking forward to tasting the figs.

[@Athabina]

I found that with my RdB it puts out too many branches so I remove some and pinch all the growth tips which then produce figs; I'm hoping to have several ripen later this month

[@MikeKincaid79]

That RDB is growing fast. I definitely want to prune back to just a few branches. This tip pruning is working wonders so far and I'm also hoping for some figs by end of August.

[@martamajeczka4649]

Cudowne rosliny ☀️🌻🤗💋

[@dariusrus5335]

We need update 2024

[@cnjhendricks]

@11:37 organic mouse control

[@purewonka]

Fig leaves are edible, too.

[@MikeKincaid79]

I didn’t know that.

[@jim70ful]

Awesome Job Mike. My wife loves figs. But here in Ohio just outside of Cleveland zone 6 not to sure if a Fig tree will make it.

[@MikeKincaid79]

You'd definitely have to protect it through the winter. I wonder if the Hardy Chicago variety would do well there. It's known to die back to the ground every year in cold areas and then regrow and fruit in the summer.

[@vyhoang8805]

Hi Mike, thank you for all the videos and your knowledge . I have learned a lot from you and I have question can we propagation peony by cutting not devided tuber ? Thank you so much . God bless you

[@MikeKincaid79]

I've never tried it but I do get that question a lot so I'm going to have to experiment with it.

[@vyhoang8805]

@@MikeKincaid79 thank you

[@theoverworkedgardener5648]

I still don't know why the Chicago fig is dying at my house every winter almost. Ain't no Chicago here. Lol we're way warmer than that.

[@MikeKincaid79]

I really think they need a few years to develop and get a large root system and thick stem. Or you could plant a small one and then protect it with something makeshift for the first few winters.

[@theoverworkedgardener5648]

Yeah apparently but once I get this other one in the ground I think it'll take off.

[@justin1730]

11:39 Is that a snake by the base of the fig tree? I have not seen a snake in W Washington yet.

[@MikeKincaid79]

Yes, lol. There are garder snakes everywhere in this part of the state. No venomous snakes though. These little guys are harmless and can be picked up. My wife jumps out of her shoes every time she sees them, haha.

[@prinses999tube]

Hey Mike, if you want good production from your figs, they should at least get 7 hours of full sunshine (not filtered, not shaded, but full sun). That is the bare minimum to get any noteworthy crop. The more sun (warmth), the more figs you get. If it is important to you to get a good crop, I would chop / half the trees that are blocking te sun.

[@MikeKincaid79]

They get about 9 hours here. This was filmed early in the morning before the sun fully rose.

[@orionsector]

Im in 8B also, a bit south of Seattle. I was under the impression that our zone was safe for figs in winter. Im just getting into figs and hav e 10 potted plants, so this somewhat concerns me...

[@MikeKincaid79]

Don't be too concerned. I've been growing figs for about 6 years now and have only lost 2, maybe 3 of them over the years due to extreme cold weather. I've even left potted figs out in the snow and they grew the following spring. Once they get established, they will do very well. There's a lady who lives in Spanaway, Wa. who has a Black Mission fig tree that is large and produces many figs every year. They just need to get past the first few years of getting established.

[@eastcoastwatch672]

Mike, do rooted Hydrangeas & hardy Hibiscus clippings need to be overwintered the first winter in zone 5? Thanks, Kent

[@MikeKincaid79]

I'd definitely consider protecting them in zone 5. That could me just bringing them into a shed or unheated garage most of the time. I don't have personal experience with zone 5 though so take that with a grain of salt. I do know some fig growers that do just fine in Canada, bringing their fig trees into a garage in the winter.

[@chompers11]

You dont have deer issues over there? I'm just nw of you out by hood canal, the deer love the baby leaves

[@MikeKincaid79]

We've got tons of deer but they aren't bothering my figs at all. Last year they nibbled on a couple leaves but that's all. They didn't even eat any figs.

[@emsstew5143]

Do you cover them up when it gets cold😃

[@MikeKincaid79]

No, I don't, although some of the varieties would probably benefit from that.

[@hughphillips67Mustang]

I can't find a video in your list about garden phlox, purple sage, or black eyed Susan's. Do you have videos and I'm over looking them?

[@MikeKincaid79]

Nothing on those but I can see I'm going to have to get on it.

[@dvssayer5621]

Im in pnw too and ive got nine trees so far got a few figs last yr off desert kings but ive got them in ground. Just bought some more and since all the fig channels keep theirs in pots i guess ill try pots! After 3 yrs not that many fruits? Do you fertilize? They are beautiful.

[@MikeKincaid79]

I do fertilize, but I've also noticed that they don't fruit as early in the ground. The Desert King should produce hundreds of them for you once it's established and growing well as a tree but it takes some time. Any plant in a pot will usually produce fruit, veg, or bloom sooner due to the restricted roots and probably increased warmth around the root zone, but nothing beats the taste of natural grown figs in ground. It's a trade off. You can always do both, I do.

[@Ellerard]

Another great video Mike! Certainly one of my favorite gardening channels on the YT. If you ever get a chance check out Third Time Around Ranch, thats my Moms YT channel and she has a homestead that she Vlogs on! Might be something you'd like!😁

[@MikeKincaid79]

Thanks, I'll definitely check it out!

[@ikhwanmuslim8334]

Hai brother mike, love your ochard. How do u feed your in ground fig tree?

[@MikeKincaid79]

I use a standard slow release fertilizer once in the spring.

[@bowler8]

Do you have any fig cuttings?

[@MikeKincaid79]

I'm sure I'll have some this fall.

[@SuddenEden]

Hi Mike. Where can I purchase a Del Sen Jaume Gran cutting? Thank you.

[@MikeKincaid79]

Not sure. I don't have that one. I did see some of those cuttings mentioned recently in one of the Facebook groups but I honestly can't remember which one. I'd start by scouring the Facebook goups and hooking up with a reliable seller or seeing what's available on FigBid. Good luck

[@Manatus22]

I just bought a house and a fig bush/ after it was cut ( tree) is about 7 ft from my house 50-50 sun/ shade. Leave there or transplant? Any thoughts?

[@MikeKincaid79]

Figs do best in full sun but that being said, if you just moved there, wait and see what it does for a year before moving it. If it's really well established, it may pump out large amounts of figs for you. I'd hate to see you destroy a good thing. If you want to move it, then get some cuttings this winter and start new plants. Get those planted out on your property where you want them and when they've established, cut the old one down. That's my take on it anyway, for what it's worth.

[@bettinaripperger4159]

Why do you have hay/straw around the trees ?

[@MikeKincaid79]

I wanted to give them protection, keep the soil around the figs moist, allow the hay to break down over time and feed the soil, and also create a separation between grass and tree beds.

[@ivek255]

Hi random question wher to buy 5-10liter pots online in europe?? All i can find are tooo expencive and untrusty tnx.

[@MikeKincaid79]

I find mine used. I go to nurseries that are closing, Facebook marketplace, craigslist, offer up, etc.

[@Manatus22]

So how tall are u going to grow them? Do figs do single trunk or only bush?

[@MikeKincaid79]

They'll do whatever you want them too. Figs are so malleable and you can prune them to your specifications. I'm going to leave mine smaller for now.

[@jamiekins938]

Out of all the fruits and plants, you could grow and I can't imagine being interested in FIGS. I don't even like figs that much? What do you want them for just to eat or use in cooking? I don't understand. Are they expensive to sell or something?

[@MikeKincaid79]

All of the above and then some.

[@jamiekins938]

@@MikeKincaid79 I had a friend once that grew Kiwis because he could make so much money from there. I think he said he could make a dollar for each one lol. Roses will always be my first love in the garden.

[@ChocolateMelanin]

I repotted my dog tree today & the leaves have wilted a bit. Will the tree be ok ?

[@MikeKincaid79]

Sounds like transplant shock. Water thoroughly and give it a few days to recover.

[@wildlife74]

Hey Mike I’m new to the fig thing I got a Fig that was going to be put in the bin I was given it when I asked so I planted in the ground this was last year say about October.I took off the small bits of dead wood branches and there was no green but a creamy white colour inside and a small white dot in the centre do you think this tree is dead ?? I put feed and has plenty of water but no new growth since Thanks I seen your videos there cool

[@MikeKincaid79]

I wish I could tell you but I need more info than that. Are you in the Southern hemisphere and entering spring? Getting any new growth? If it's dead above ground, give it time to see if new growth comes up from down below.

[@wildlife74]

@@MikeKincaid79 Hi Mike I’m in east of London uk we are now in early autumn No new growth since last autumn about October 2022 there was green in the tree that I saved from being put in bin but now where there was green it’s a creamy white colour with a white dot that’s what I saw when I taken off the dry dead bits yesterday Cheers mate

[@user-ug7mn1vn4h]

Can cuttings be planted in summer?

[@MikeKincaid79]

Yes, fig cuttings can be taken any time of year and there are different techniques you can try. You can take hardwood cuttings from further down the branch (just strip all the leaves off), or you can take green cuttings and use a humidity dome.

[@user-ug7mn1vn4h]

@@MikeKincaid79 thanks

[@bmarcelf]

did anyone see the snake 🐍 at 11:38?

[@MikeKincaid79]

There he is

[@ehawthorneii]

Mike i live in Graham. Do you sell fig plants locally?

[@MikeKincaid79]

Not officially yet but I do have a couple I could let go of like Maltese Beauty, JH Adriatic, Strawberry Verte. What are you looking for?

[@ehawthorneii]

@@MikeKincaid79 any of those figs will do. Preferably one that attracts deer and elk

[@patriciap4952]

What is your zone?

[@MikeKincaid79]

8b

[@davecphotographyuk]

Are you sure that's a Brown Turkey, the leaves don't look like Brown Turkey... I could be wrong though so take that with a grain of salt.

[@MikeKincaid79]

I'm as sure as the guy was who sold it to me, lol. I got figs on it a couple years ago and all signs point to Brown Turkey. The leaves on all my trees are a little odd in the beginning of the season or when they're first trying to push out new growth.

[@davecphotographyuk]

@@MikeKincaid79 Yeah, i'm probably wrong

[@jackturner4917]

Mike, I like you. We all like you. Stop growing figs in the Pacific NW. They aren’t meant to grow there. Square pegs into round holes. If you must, incorporate known and proven varieties that do well in your area. This is an unhealthy monoculture of shockingly little production. You are pouring a lot of resources into this.

[@MikeKincaid79]

Yeah but who else will? I’m only kidding, but I do get your point. I think about this all the time and wonder if I’m getting off track a little bit I can always alter course. The truth is that the majority of the work is done and now I just want to give them a few more years to see what happens. If varieties end up not producing or doing well at all, I’ll replace them with other trees. This year I’ve been considering the possibility of putting more apples, peaches, plums, and other trees that might do well here. The good news is that the orchard is built. Thanks for hanging in there with me.