Earliest figs from cuttings?

[SarinaP]

As a newbie, I'm watching all of my rooted cuttings like a hawk. For all of you with more experience: what was the earliest you ever got a fig from a rooted cutting? I have high hopes for a few that I had to pinch off figlets from this winter.

Thanks in advance--post pictures!

[WillsC]

Granted I am in a warmer climate but cuttings started in the winter and well cared for and fed probably 80%? will produce figs the first year. Some will grow up to 6' tall and have dozens of figs that first summer.

[quackmaster]

Wills nailed it, I've seen first year cuttings grow 6' and put out a couple dozen figs. On the other hand I've seen first year cuttings only grow an inch, lol. For the most part they usually fall somewhere in the middle for me, lol.

[SarinaP]

Wowwwww! That's great news!

[Rewton]

Sarina, in our area most first year figs will produce a small number of fruit by the end of the season. However, these usually are not anyway near as good as they will be in subsequent years and they slow down the growth of the plant and root system. So you have to ask yourself if it is worth ripening a handful of mediocre figs if it slows down the growth of the plant. What I typically do is allow one (or maybe two) figs to stay on the plant and remove all others. There are some figs (maybe 1/3) that will not set fruit at all the first year, or if they do it is too late for them to ripen.

[SarinaP]

Sounds like a good plan--when I get to that bridge, I'll definitely cross it with plant growth vs. fruit quantity in mind. I'm doing the same with my peach tree--last year had a ton of good fruit, this year will be keeping about 20 peaches on to see if I can get great fruit.

[Rafaelissimmo]

I agree 100% with Steve's advice.

[Levar]

I couldn't agree more about this. I ripened too many fruits with first year cuttings a while back and now I'm still waiting for the sizes of my JH Adriatics, RdBs, Strawberry Vertes, etc. to catch up to their ages. And no, the first year's fruits were not worth it. The difference a year makes is unbelievable.

I generally keep one fruit on only one or two of the cuttings and allow that single fruit to ripen just to see if I have what I was expecting.

[don_sanders]

3 of 7 first year cuttings fruited for me last year. Probably about 15-20 each and about 5-6ft tall. The other 4 had similar vegetative growth but no sign of figs.

[fitzski]

In my limited experience, the figs from first year trees have not been very good but i don't have a very long growing season. Now I usually remove all figs for the slower growing new fig trees so they push their energy into growing vs fig production and ripening.

Although I missed a few last year and tried some figs from first year fig trees and they were bland. The figs from 2+ yr old trees were much better.

Good Luck!

[Jamie0507]

Another great post Sarina! I've been wondering whether or not I should pinch the new figlets growing on my Malta Black.. There are only 2 so far but they seem to be growing fatter every day! Now the fig tree itself has not put on any growth at all since the appearance of the figlets and it was one of my most vigorous growers before the appearance of those little figs! Ughh! Decisions decisions! Lol! I don't have a duplicate of this particular variety so this is a tough one for me 😱

[SarinaP]

In that case, I might punch off all but 1.... But I'm impatient.

[Jamie0507]

That's a good compromise! I just really want to make sure I get to taste at least one fresh fig this season lol! Then again it is really early yet, I'm sure at least a few of my trees will ripen fresh figs for me

[Harborseal]

Fertilize it more to see if it resumes growth. If not then pinch away.

[Jamie0507]

Okay.. I just had to take a pic of it.. it's so incredibly cute and it could very well be the first fresh fig I ever taste! I took your advice Bob and added some osmocote plus today in hopes of getting the tree itself growing again

[Dave]

Good Job Jamie another A+

[Jamie0507]

Sweet! Gotta keep those A+'s coming! Lol

[SarinaP]

So cute!!!!!

[Dave]

I moved this cutting from the coir to the pro mix about 3 weeks ago and already she is producing figs "Sucrette"

[SarinaP]

Holy cannoli! That's one good looking plant!

[JohnnyK]

Looks good Dave. That is one beautiful baby you have there.

[Dave]

thanks ..... I have to thank Gardencrochet for the great cuttings

[Gardencrochet]

Dave, That's a gorgeous Sucrette fig tree you got growing there! Congratulations!

[bigmike]

Overall I feel like everyone's info has proved correct in my case. I pinched off three first year figs from Atreano, and this year it looks like a horde of figs! Vigorous tree growth as well! I failed to do the same for an unk calderwood ( I ate two ripened figs in its first year) and it looks like I started it a few months ago. The only thing I disagree with was flavor. The unk calderwood rocked even though it was first year! Of course, it could be a fluke, climate or whatever If I had a do-over I would remove the figs in favor of growth. BTW both are being grown in containers.

[eboone]

I gave a first year Unk Calderwood plant(some think is LSU Tiger) to my wife's aunt in FL last summer and she was eating figs she raved about into December. Mine of course grew more slowly here in PA and did not produce figs, but has taken off this year.

[bigmike]

That's great to know! I have a Florida friend who I just sent Celeste to. Hoping to start some fig fever I will have to propagate calderwood to send his way!

[hstark]

What a timely great thread!!! I was wondering exactly the same thing. The figs I bought on 5/12/16 were all newly rooted cuttings, some are showing figs already (exactly 1 month)! I couldn't even believe it when I looked today. They are really small plants, one is only 8" tall, and it's pushing a teeny fig. So far, only 1 fig is showing on 3 plants (Alma, O'Rourke, Celeste - now I know why they are so loved), but it looks like more buds are coming on. I will pinch them all off except 1 to see what the fruit looks like if more form. I don't mind a small delay in growth because of 1 fig, I hope they all make 1 fig!!!

Thanks for the good advice about pinching the rest!

[Prochain_Purlieu]

So 5 years later this thread continues to provide useful information. I pruned 6 fruits off two rooted cuttings back in January (So Cal Desert)...and low and behold I have a new fig on two VIGOROUS potted 7 month olds! I will pinch and allow them to continue growing to fig 50% next year and see where we're at! Great info and THANKS.