Do you keep back ups of your favorite varieties?

[Gina]

I'm finding that as I'm up-potting my figs, I am keeping 2 (and sometimes 3) of my favorite figs. I don't want to run the risk of having to obtain and start over from rooting a cutting. The ones I don't care as much about - only one. And I intend to start air-layers of those I like but only have 1 of.

Do you keep 'copies' of your favorites?

[FMD]

Yes, indeed, whenever possible. Last year I lost a maltese beauty before I could not make a copy in time. I am still feeling the pain.
Spares can also be used to share with friends.

[newnandawg]

Yes I do of my most prized trees. That is one reason I am reducing my herd to keep down the total number of plants.

[WillsC]

I don't and so far it has not bit me but i'm sure my day is coming.

[Hershell]

You wouldn't notice if one was missing unless you did inventory. And then you would say I'm glad he (lol) has my backup.

[WillsC]

Yep less stress if a friend has a backup.

[Harborseal]

I have for some and I wish I did for the rest. Especially for CdDG which I now have none of.

[Rui]

Bob,let's keep our fingers crossed

[F. Bennett]

Absolutely. The varieties I know I'll want forever, I'll make 2-3 backups. That's why I don't have many varieties, yet I have lots of trees.

[Coop]

I also have back ups. I also keep some extras just to trade or bring to one of the fig fests

[Rui]

Coop, I can't wait for Bass' fest this year. Lots of unknown Attilio Purples should be making the trip (and one of them has your name on it).
I intend to grow as many RdB plants as I can. I've never tasted it, and I only had one plant at the end of last year, but if all goes well, I will have backups for the backups of this variety.
Like you say, Gina, the so-so ones can go, but the good ones will be in the dozens, even if it means whittling it down to 10 varieties.

[zone5figger]

Part 2 of this discussion(as mentioned by Rui) would be- What varieties do you keep backups of(or wish you had)?

[Kelby]

Not really, but I should. I figure I can always get cuttings if I lose one and really want it again.

[PA Figs]

Absolutely! I have yet to loose a tree, but as I figure out the ones I like I keep a few of them not only as backup, but also to try SIP vs regular, and ensure I have some to share.

[Gina]

Rui said:
Like you say, Gina, the so-so ones can go, but the good ones will be in the dozens, even if it means whittling it down to 10 varieties.

That's part of it as well. I'd rather have 3 of a variety I really like than several different kinds - some of which are not as good to me.

However, like princes, you have to kiss a lot of figs before you find the keepers.

[Rui]

I have a lot of kissing to do...I'm at well over 150 varieties

[kubota1]

I thought I was the only crazy one. I have tons of multiples. Some of them I have 3 or more. When they are getting ripe it's nice to be able to pick bunches from your favorite varieties.

[COGardener]

Gina, I'm planning to. Not only in the event of the worst and loosing a favorite, but if it is a favorite I may want more than one! I'm to new to the hobby to have any favorites just yet, heck, I've only had one fresh fig from my own trees so far. I've had a few store bought "fresh" figs, and plenty of dried, so at this point I have no idea which will be my favorite, could be all of them!!!

[MichaelTucson]

Yes. (But not for all of them).

[Bijan]

There are a few varieties that I have growing both in Texas and Colorado. Also, there are some I have multiples of in Texas which I will (hopefully someday soon) get around to digging up or propagating then bringing to Colorado. I also have a few duplicate trees in Colorado which will be planted (again, hopefully someday soon) in Texas. I am guessing there will be more varieties not suited to Colorado than not suited for Texas, and those will be transferred accordingly.

[Rewton]

Only a few varieties are duplicated - Adriatic JH, RdB, etc. I should have duplicates for more but so far I have usually opted to collect new varieties (to trial them here) rather than duplicate varieties I already have. Space and my time is limited so I can't really try out new varieties and have lots of duplicates.

[cis4elk]

I was going to write something, but it would almost say exactly what Steve just wrote, even down to the varieties.

[Gina]

There are three that I want to make copies of this year - and the first two I have yet to taste. Battaglia Green, Maltese Falcon, and Black Triana/St Jerome.

This year my emphasis has been in moving up the keepers, plus giving away extras and 'culls'. Basically thinning the herd, in part, because of the drought, and in part to take stock of where my collection stands and where I want it to go.

[andreas-patras]

A few years ago, I had an offer I could not refuse, on selling the land that I had my fig collection. That left me with no trees… so no backups. Take my word for it, its very painful. Starting over is hard. I just found a tree today that took about 3 years of looking and had to overpay for it because it might have taken 3 more years if I passed this up.
So now if I could get you rooting fig gurus, to root my 39 MP cuttings, I would be a very happy person.
GOD knows if I try rooting them it will be a blood bath

[Mgorski]

What plant was it Adreas? I'm also curious about your MP cuttings. As is often mentioned, coir is going to make rooting those much easier. Good you were able to find coir online, and you can reuse it if you keep it clean and then heat sterilize it.

Mike in Hanover, VA

[F. Bennett]

So now if I could get you rooting fig gurus, to root my 39 MP cuttings, I would be a very happy person.
GOD knows if I try rooting them it will be a blood bath

This year, the coco coir (CocoTek) mixed with perlite has been a great combo. 4 cuttings, different varieties, all rooted in just over 2 weeks. BUT, a bigger factor was probably the location. I sat them on my microwave so they got an occasional spike of warmth. The ones sitting in my cooler basement rooted much slower and had some mold. The ones upstairs in the more comfortable environment had no mold and faster root growth. Good luck with those!

[andreas-patras]

Frank thanks for the help and info.
we dont have coir or perlite in Greece, but this year i ordered some from the internet.
i bought some greek cuttings and i will try this method and a couple of others before i tuch the MP cuttings. if they fail, i will go old school on them.
ill just stick them in the ground and pray!!!

[Gina]

What is MP?

[andreas-patras]

sorry Gina. figs from the Pons collection. (like rimadas)

[FiggieFive_0]

After last years' fungus gnat disaster, I definitely have backups. The goal is one in-ground for every (1) gal variety. So far, 14 in-ground and counting...

[paully22]

Kept a few. I ensure my buddies have them so I don't need spares.