Preparing Fig Cuttings | Start to Finish for Over-Winter Rooting

[@paneofrealitychannel8204]

I loved the video. Our Brown Turkeys are also some of the best producers and this video was EXACTLY what I was searching for here on KZbin. Thanks so much! Excellent work. My goal is to produce at least 100 fig trees per year going into the ground in and around our small town.

[@twiggshomestead6497]

Wow! Thanks a ton! Keep me updated on that project. I plan to root a ton of figs as well. Maybe I can donate some to your cause!

[@paneofrealitychannel8204]

@@twiggshomestead6497 - Nice, but I tell you there are so many local sources. There used to be huge numbers of fig trees, two in every yard, and so the culture of sharing is deeply engrained. After the bad hurricane in the mid 50's, the deep freezes of the 70's and then hurricanes Rita and Laura it seemed like our local figs had almost died out. What also happened was that all of the urban growth was in newer areas of the cities. The older neighborhoods began to fall into disrepair and the new areas just didn't plant fig, or pear trees and the era of having fruit trees growing everywhere slowly slipped from everybody's mind. When we decided to begin propagating, we didn't even know what type of fig trees we used to have. I discovered that if you look closely, particularly in the older neighborhoods, there are still some very old (and dying) trees tucked away mostly not producing. We began asking if we could take cuttings and we have not had a single negative response. I also found that there were many abandoned lots with very old fig trees. Cuttings from them were there for the taking. Almost all of these cuttings are either Celest or Brown Turkey and all of them are multi decade acclimated to the soil and climate. So far, that has provided us an unlimited resource of cuttings. It's all very nostalgic lol - My wife and I separately, along with both of our parents, have so many memories of the vast abundance of ripe fruit throughout the neighborhoods where we grew up. We are hoping to do our part to restore as much of it as possible. We rely on your hard work and knowledge. Thank you again!

[@twiggshomestead6497]

@@paneofrealitychannel8204 I will be happy to do my part!

[@masterelectrician9999]

Thank you from Canada 🇨🇦

[@twiggshomestead6497]

I'm glad you enjoyed!

[@wk4240]

Excellent video. By the way, you can also plug them right in a bucket of sand, out in the open, and let them sit over the Winter. NOTE: With a heating mat, rooting may happen too soon, and you'll be forced to keep the newly rooted cuttings alive until Spring (preferably after your last frost) before planting them outside.

[@billperkins5768]

Great video

[@ZonaFigs]

Great job!!! I love it

[@kriswhite1344]

First time here...looking forward to seeing this process

[@osvaldocontrerassr.7589]

Good video great information

[@charliebartolotta3571]

Kindly explain what you do with the cuts stored in the refrigerator. Thanks,

[@twiggshomestead6497]

Check out my recent video on winterizing fig cuttings. I have an entire segment at the end on how I prepare the cuttings for the refrigerator. In summary, I put them in the drawer and wait until the weather is warm enough to root them outdoors.

[@baneverything5580]

Two years in a row in central Louisiana we had zero degree temperature...and last year in mid December it happened and it had been very warm before. My new 6 inch Brown Turkey tree I bought online came with a dead tip so it branched and has several 2 1/2 to 3 ft branches and bunches of shorter ones. So if I want cuttings I gotta get them before that happens again but my tree is still very green, healthy and growing. I have no rooting hormone...just potting soil that my tomatoes hate. I managed to save it from the extreme heat emergency and three month drought with a mulch of old potting soil, grass clipping, leaves, and pine straw, and kept it watered and fed. It didn`t start growing until mid July. My soil is hard packed (like concrete) red dirt mixed with gravel. It took me three days to dig a one ft hole. I put old chicken manure from a pen I found here in it. It`s on a small mound and I`m gonna keep adding soil as it grows and I just placed cardboard boxes and more pine straw and sunflower seed hulls from the bird feeder all around it. After I put grass clippings/straw I sprinkle some potting mix over it in small amounts.

[@BigPeter1313]

Doing some cuttings this year with my 3 Brown Turkey "bushes" and hoping for 85% survival over the winter in NW Georgia (Zone 7B). 2 years ago we had about 2 weeks of freezing weather every night and some of the days. Last year it looked like something may have gotten to the roots as I lost 1/2 of the live wood. Finally got around to cleaning up the whole mess and pruning as we have freezing weather coming in again and I want to get a bunch of mulch down. Your video gave me some great ideas and I've already started a bucket of water for some of the cuttings, sand for some others, plastic wrap for the fridge cuttings, and coconut coir for the rest. Might even throw some in a bucket with potting soil to see what happens. What are your thoughts on using diluted StarSan on the fridge cuttings to kill of micro-critters??

[@twiggshomestead6497]

I say give it a try! In the name of science! Run a control using just water and run a diluted test. Sounds like fun! Good luck, check back in with an update.

[@nexxogen]

You got the brepa part wrong. Brebas grow on last year's wood, while those figs on the top of your tree that formed on this-years's wood are called "main crop".

[@twiggshomestead6497]

Right I think I mixed the two up. Thanks for the good catch! In my state, I rarely get anything from the main crop.

[@graftingtechniques4392]

Nice, thanks for sharing

[@sportssmallenginerepairfis3650]

Great info explained very well plus subscribed and clicked all notifications so I don't miss anything Thanks

[@twiggshomestead6497]

Thank you!!!

[@moo1388]

If you pop off the leaf node with your fingernail or gently with pruners knife Etc Roots will also come out of the leaf node if it is buried in soil so you don't just get that bottom rooting you get every thing under the soil to root as well

[@twiggshomestead6497]

Very cool! Thanks for the comment. I am going to make a new video on this topic soon. I will try it out!

[@drzenkobilas7770]

@@twiggshomestead6497 It is like Ina May Gaskin reviving the technique to make episiotomy obsolete in her KZbin video 'Reducing the fear of birth in US culture' at 15 minutes shows 'skin tissue explanation' technique of the plastic surgeons being applied to aid birth, with no damage to baby or mum, so helping to keep antibiotics working for future generations. Wikipedia United Kingdom 'Perineal Massage' if you are interested or have friends who would benefit. I love figs but live in England, so only have figs on spring growth, the season being too short to ripen fruit on the summer growth. KZbin video 1976 'How to ripen figs in Canada' her trims back to the stump only leaving last year's shoots so they fruit next year and removes the second years growth that had fruit this year, and in this way has a manageable tree/bush for easy harvesting.

[@chrisbell9576]

Great video. I'd like to give it a try.

[@bosquebear1]

Great video... leaf scar is the word for where the leaf was attached to the stem.

[@twiggshomestead6497]

Thank you!! That's going to come up in a new video soon

[@PiaAladdin]

Great video! I learned so much! I would love a few of your cuttings of your fig tree. How do I get them? I live in Maryland.

[@jwilsonbb5684]

where is the follow up video?

[@twiggshomestead6497]

Check the channel! More of an evolution than a follow up

[@tonyzarzecki5408]

Great tree, lost 11plants past winter, would love a couple cuttings.

[@twiggshomestead6497]

Ping me again near the fall and I will send some out to you!

[@guidogencarelli4242]

Hi I’m upstate New York I like your video I love to have couple of your cutting

[@Ray-k3j]

from Ray in Fla, you didn’t water the play sand at all? should the play sand be damp when you stick the cuttings in the plastic totes

[@twiggshomestead6497]

I admit I did fail. I have newer videos with successes but I am still learning. Doing it publicly. Thanks for stopping by!

[@youssefgad9740]

Hi Mike I am very happy to find someone live in my state so I did subscribe and like , I like to growing fruit trees in my backyard so I did propagation for some brown turky cutting and I used everything you use like a gel and heat Matt let see Thank you for video If you have some cutting send it to me If don’t mind

[@twiggshomestead6497]

Hey there! Awesome! I'm glad to have a fellow New Jerseyan subscribed to the channel! I'd love to send you some cuttings! Email me at [e-mail]

[@giancarlodorazio4940]

Thank you for sharing your experience. Do you water the sand after the cuttings are in it? If yes, how often should the sand be watered? Is it necessary to put the container in another container and cover it to maintain an higher humidity percentage than the environment?

[@twiggshomestead6497]

Yes you will definitely want to make sure the sand is damn. Not wet. Not dry.

[@redeaglegaray6139]

Hello my name is Hector. Thank you for offer the cutting of fig tree. Do you still have some? I really would like some.

[@DanielPerillo-h6d]

Great video! A couple questions: would it be best to put in dark so leaves dont start too fast? Also what about a cover for a humidity dome? Thanks!

[@twiggshomestead6497]

Yes to both! Let the roots develop first. I would honestly suggest getting the cuttings started later in the winter almost early spring so you can bring them outside with the season. It can be a pain in the butt to keep the plants alive and active in the cooler weather. All depends on where you live and how much attention you want to dedicate. Good luck and cheers!

[@AbidAli-bv2gl]

Yes, I like it

[@Sam-ko1lo]

Hey, enjoyed the video. Was wondering if you are sending out cuttings this winter?

[@twiggshomestead6497]

Yes I am! Just let me know your address and I will send you some :)

[@jacknanuq6119]

15 months later. how are things and how did they grow?

[@twiggshomestead6497]

Things went alright. Some did not make it, but others stayed in their dormant state due to cold temps in an unheated greenhouse. I still use this method with some changes. I don't do it in the greenhouse, I now do it in my basement and I start around the end of Feb early March. They do not need light to root and the basement has more consistent temps. The hard part of doing this in the winter is, after 6 weeks when they are full rooted and growing leaves, you have to keep them alive all winter with lights and heat... Not ideal when looking ahead at 3 months of freezing weather. Still a super fun project and experiment! I suggest trying it out and learning lessons to apply and make you a better figger!

[@Ray-k3j]

Did you apply water to the sand and did you water them during the winter? Ray in fla

[@twiggshomestead6497]

On this particular video which is a few years old at this point, I did not and the cuttings didn’t do great. I have future videos where I do a better job. Check them out and let me know what you think!

[@bestcrossroad]

Oh Lord, so beautiful cuttings! Yes pls. I would like a couple to propagate. Will gladly pay for shipping and cost of the cuttings too! Liked & subscribed!

[@twiggshomestead6497]

Awesome! Send me an email at [e-mail] and we will figure out the best way to get you some cuttings!

[@bestcrossroad]

@@twiggshomestead6497 thank you! ✅ done.

[@kfwbcodfrontlinecrossfires4683]

Do you have a video of the cuttings in the sand after wintering in the GH

[@twiggshomestead6497]

I dont, in short, not many made it but some did root! But they didnt show signs of rooting until end of winter so I am not sure it was worth the time. Can probably get better results inside near a window using the same method. Just too cold in the winter, even in the greenhouse.

[@JJr-ce3vv]

Any followup? Did you get good results?

[@twiggshomestead6497]

Not on this round but yes check the channel for future updates. I’ve gotten better and changed my methods a bit. Still a work in progress though.

[@dien2no423]

do you water over the winter or leave the play sand dry?

[@twiggshomestead6497]

I did water a little bit and kept the sand slightly damp on the dry side but this method should be done inside where temps are warmer and consistent.

[@davidgalofaro490]

Just found you. I’m in NJ too. Wayne. Can I possibly get a bunch of cutting?

[@twiggshomestead6497]

@@davidgalofaro490 email me. [e-mail]

[@jacknanuq6119]

new subscriber, great video . How are the cuttings doing?

[@twiggshomestead6497]

All good. I made a new batch. check out my newest video!

[@asmatwazir368]

Hi , sir how can I get these cuttings in December. I am from Pakistan 🇵🇰

[@twiggshomestead6497]

Hello! I cannot send them internationally. They do not allow it.

[@goodbuys5191]

What kind of fig?Intrested in 2 cuttings.

[@twiggshomestead6497]

Cold hardy brown turkey. Email me at [e-mail]

[@stabach5]

Would love a cutting of yours. How to pay shipping?

[@ashleyfrancis7376]

I really liked your video 7 would welcome 3 cuttings if you could ship it to Ashley,32 Bulbourne Rd Toronto Ontario,M9V3N4 Canada.

[@JustinHayes-ds3nl]

I need some fig cuttings

[@twiggshomestead6497]

Email me at [e-mail] and we’ll get you hooked up!

[@audreyjantzen2107]

I live in New Jersey and have a huge fig tree in my yard. I'm 68 years old and Handicapped and can no longer trim it myself. How would I go about getting someone to come and prune it for me? Also would love to try growing additional fig trees from my cuttings but need help with it.I have quite a few people who would love to have fig trees for mine but I cannot do it. Is there anybody in the area who would be able to come and help me with the fig tree?.

[@twiggshomestead6497]

Hey there! I would love to help you out. Email me at [e-mail]

[@Girrrrrrrrrrrrrl66]

Just propagated three today. Let's see what happens

[@twiggshomestead6497]

Awesome! Good luck!!

[@figginfool9537]

Do you know the variety? Also, thats the first time I have seen that method. what kind of success does that method have?

[@twiggshomestead6497]

Cold Hardy Brown Turkey. This is my first time doing this over winter but I get well over 50% using this method in the early spring just before the buds begin to open. It could take up to 4-6 weeks normally, I’m going to let these sit for 4 months like this over winter, periodically looking for progress, and check back in around April/ May.

[@obrdskymmo]

Hi Mike, I’m also in NJ (6B). Do you recommend the sand and heat mat method? Or fridge? I have some cuttings from a neighbors tree that I’d like to plant in spring.

[@LesDeplorables]

Hey are you going to have some cuttings this fall?

[@twiggshomestead6497]

Hey there! Yes, I will take a ton of cuttings this late fall and I plan to store them in the bag again. I don't think trying to root them out early winter is the best bet although it can be done with great care.

[@TiaSeverino]

I would love a fig cutting if you still have any available

[@dovinhgardenfarm]

Bạn có loại kích rễ tốt đấy

[@spenc62]

I would love a cutting

[@twiggshomestead6497]

Thanks for the interest! This video is a few years old at this point and now I sell cuttings at a very affordable price. Reach out to [e-mail] for more info.

[@georgehalburian268]

I liked i. When do I water and feed them puppy thanks

[@georgehalburian268]

I’m in calif.

[@twiggshomestead6497]

I stick my finger in the sand up to my finger nail, if the sand is dry, I water it until water drips out of the bottom. Depending on the temperature it could be every 2 or 3 days

[@johnthompkins6362]

I just saw your video today and I like the way you explain what ur doing & btw congratulations on ur getting married. Keep The Lord Jesus in ur marriage and it will work out for a lifetime. May God Bless you and your wife. You said that u would be glad to send us some fig cuttings if we just pay for the shipping. I didn't see anyway to contact you other than here. I'm very interested in getting more fig trees. I have only got 1 now its just a couple years old and I got my 1st fig off of it thus yr. I'm trying to turn my yard into a food forest. So if u can still send me any cuttings. Please let me know how I can contact you. Thanks for the video

[@twiggshomestead6497]

@@johnthompkins6362 I'd love to send you some cuttings and share the love of the fig!😄 Let's work out the details private, just send me an email at [e-mail]

[@C3Voyage]

Don't see a follow up. They all fail?

[@twiggshomestead6497]

Some. Others stayed dormant and opened up in true spring. I failed to keep moist enough and temps just got too cold even with bottom heat. Check out some of my more recent fig related videos. Many many more to come as I build out the fig tree orchard!

[@pangea1967]

NO WATER?

[@larawines4875]

How did these do?

[@kqdwills]

Those cuttings didn't make it over the winter that way. That's why he didn't make a follow-up clip. The cuttings' tops dried up if you let them go unprotected like that. You can do this method if it's close to last frost in your area with a plastic dome to promote humidity for the cuttings ' tops. In the winter in cold states, you'd have to do this inside, or wrap cuttings with moist paper towels in zip locks and keep them in the fridge until a month before the last frost. If you use heat matt in the winter then you'll have to prepare to keep them alive the whole winter with artificial lighting and heat after potting them up.

[@twiggshomestead6497]

Not amazing but I made some mistakes after the video in keeping the sand damn enough and also adding a top to keep humidity in would have helped. Fun experiment though! Check out some of my more recent fig related videos

[@larawines4875]

⁠well I started a batch a few weeks ago. I used play sand in a covered tote where I measured temperature and humidity. Just this morning I pulled the plug on it. There were ZERO signs of roots showing and the cuttings looked like they were beginning to deteriorate.

[@kqdwills]

@@larawines4875 Play sand can't always work well. Play sand is good for drainage, but it can not keep the moisture in the mix well at all time, and also doesn't have the air trapped inside for the roots to " breath", comparing to other materials like " peatmoss or coco coir. Play sand works with the help of a heat matt in the summer time, given your cuttings are fresh and full of energy and the tops are protected with adequate moisture, and the fig's varieties should not be too hard to root. Black mission, Brown turkey, Celeste, Alma, .... are some fig varieties that are easier to root. Some fig varieties like Black madeira, Del Sen Jaume Gran, Figo Preto... the fig cuttings are expensive, even more than the cost of the trees, not only because they are hard to find varieties , the taste way better than the common figs, but also because they are harder to root. The health state of the fig cuttings also play a role. Brown turkey is one of the easiest fig varieties to propagate, and the cuttings in this clip were still fresh and healthy, but they failed to root, because this method has some draw backs. I'm rooting 2 varieties now. It's been over 2 weeks, and 90% black mission have new foliage and growing. The other ones just showing some signs of life, just because I used foam cups which is blocked away the periodic heat matt's warmness. It's my first time rooting figs and I could have turned on the heat matt all the time, but I was afraid it would get too hot, so I didn't, until when I bought the thermostat last week. I used perlite, peatmoss and a bit potting mix. Shouldn't have used PM because it has more bacteria from the rot manure, so the chance for cuttings getting rotted is greater.. I still have over 10 cuttings of Olympian and white adriatic that I keep in the fridge until Feb ( l live in zone 8b). You can check out the fig rooting method in YT channel Korean gardener. That is the one very effective method to root fig cuttings. The method on channel Dolce fig using coco coir is quite good too. They are professional fig growers.

[@claudiaengland6716]

I’d love one n happy to pay for shipping.

[@twiggshomestead6497]

Unfortunately this video is from a few years ago. I will soon have a website up to order from!

[@beautiful4est]

I would cut every single branch close to the ground and graft it with better tasting varieties :))

[@twiggshomestead6497]

that sounds like a great video idea! I will begin growing a new tree with plans to do this. I just brought 5 new varieties to the homestead :D

[@beautiful4est]

@@twiggshomestead6497 wow, I can't wait to see how is going :D

[@HurtHomestead]

Are you sending out any fig tree this year for free? 😅

[@twiggshomestead6497]

Not for free anymore. I’ve built a small business out of this and until they give me free energy, I’ll need some money to keep the lights on. Lol anyway email me [e-mail] and I’ll get you a very fair price for some great cuttings.

[@figsinisrael1043]

Nice video and explanation! But I've always done better with coco coir or a mixture of perlite and vermiculite.

[@thevagrowinggardener1898]

Hey new friend here! I’d be interested in some cuttings if they’re still available! I just started growing figs! What kind of fig tree is it?

[@twiggshomestead6497]

Hey! Sorry for the delay in response, Ive been swamped with a home reno project that kind of took me away from my garden and youtube for a couple of months. Email me at [e-mail]

[@nickcastano1222]

Nice video thank you. can you send me some cuttings?

[@twiggshomestead6497]

Yes I can, email me at [e-mail]

[@vonries]

Thanks for the offer, but I already have a brown turkey fig. If you were giving away an Italian 258, I'd say yes please.

[@twiggshomestead6497]

Well stick around! Im planning on ordering a dozen or so more varieties. The offer will still stand :)

[@stanislausbalzer9811]

Hi i love the video and I would like you to send me some of the cuttings im watching you from Namibia Africa

[@twiggshomestead6497]

I am sorry, I cannot send them internationally. Customs wont allow it. Thank you for enjoying the video though!

[@rehanarahman6672]

Hi my name is Rehana Rahman and I live in California Tracy I love figs love the way you explain in details I will be very happy if you send me few cuttings if you still have them I have started to grow some thanks

[@twiggshomestead6497]

Great! Send me an email at [e-mail]. We will work out the shipping info there.

[@ElodiaCain]

I would love a couple of cuttings or as many as you care to "get rid of." My brown turkey actually froze and I'm in Texas!!!

[@twiggshomestead6497]

Okay! Its actually just about that time of year again. The fig tree is going to be dormant here in the next month or so and I will be taking cuttings again! Email me @ [e-mail] I will get you hooked up with a nice handful to try and root this coming spring.

[@Ray-k3j]

Yes, I’d love a cutting or two. I love your video’s there easy to follow. Ray montanarelli, 1758 weeping elm circle, port Orange Fla 32128. Let me know what the delivery charge is , thank you. Please let me know what other kinds you will have ready for sale for spring potting. Ray

[@agwo581]

Sending you my email, “Hi” i want some cuttings of these figs. No pressure. If you can❤ plssss. I am new to fig planting but i loved figs. Will send money for whataever it cost. Thanks