Author: Evan Panagiotopoulos

  • Notching test was successful

    Do you know that you can induce budding in a fig tree by notching above a node? This technique is commonly used to encourage a latent or dormant bud to break and grow into a new branch or shoot. How Notching Works: For Fig Trees Specifically: Tips for Success: If you’d like to reach out…

  • Spread spent coffee grounds around your fig trees!

    Spread spent coffee grounds around your fig trees!

    I recently blogged about NPK (Ref 1, Ref 2), which stands for Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K), the three essential nutrients that are the backbone of any good fertilizer. In fact, these three numbers on a bag of fertilizer represent the percentage of each nutrient, in that exact order. For instance, a 5-5-5…

  • Yes! There will be growth in the spring!

    Yes! There will be growth in the spring!

    The title is a quote from movie Being There. Two nights ago, an online frost warning went out, and, always one to play it safe, I covered my nine planted fig trees with my concrete curing blankets. I wasn’t taking any chances, even though the temperature never dipped below 40°F—no complaints here, though! It’s always…

  • Prepping Rooted Cuttings for the Monroe Free Library Program

    Prepping Rooted Cuttings for the Monroe Free Library Program

    Yes, the moment has finally arrived! The long-awaited Fig Cultivation Program is set to bloom at the Monroe Free Library—and we’re ready to dig in (quite literally)! Each little figgy has been thoughtfully prepared: the bottom of every cup has been carefully removed, and the young plants have been gently coaxed out from their temporary…

  • Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way

    Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way

    Not too long ago, I wrote a blog post about two White Kadota fig cuttings that were generously gifted to me by a kind and thoughtful person. One of the cuttings was absolutely thriving—its growth looked fantastic—but the top node of the other one had a slightly dry appearance, which concerned me a bit. Undeterred,…

  • After Five Months Col de Dame Noir Shows Roots

    After Five Months Col de Dame Noir Shows Roots

    Good golly, Miss Molly, you sure know how to drive me absolutely bonkers! After five long months, this cutting has FINALLY rooted. Sometimes, rooting cuttings feels like watching elephants mate—it’s a slow, painstaking process, to say the least. Of course, you can never be certain what’s happening beneath the surface of the rooting medium. Maybe,…

  • The Benefits of Whitewashing Your Fig Trees

    The Benefits of Whitewashing Your Fig Trees

    Whitewashing fig trees, typically by applying a diluted white paint or a natural lime-based solution to the trunk and lower branches, provides several benefits: Prevents Sunscald – The white coating reflects sunlight, reducing the risk of sunburn on the tree’s bark, which can cause cracks, tissue damage, and increased susceptibility to pests and diseases. Regulates…

  • My Figgies Get A Gentle Introduction to the Great Outdoors

    My Figgies Get A Gentle Introduction to the Great Outdoors

    On Monday, March 10th, 2025, the forecast promised a warm 60°F day, and I knew exactly what I had to do—it was time to take all my figgies outside for their first taste of fresh air and natural sunlight. Most of them, nestled in their plastic cups, had been thriving indoors—pushing out lush green leaves,…

  • Winterizing Figs: A Mistake to Learn From

    Winterizing Figs: A Mistake to Learn From

    Why do I have time to blog about my mistakes now, yet I wasn’t paying close attention when I made them? Ach! In this post, I’ll focus on two of the eight raised beds in my garden. One contains a single fig tree—an unknown variety that I’ve labeled “Unknown Prolific.” The other holds three fig…

  • The ABCs of Growing Figs

    This ain’t no Glengarry Glen Ross plot development, but as it applies to fig cultivation I can say that you should Always Be Checking! Yes! Well, keep reading. I have a Facebook account and I have joined several local sales groups. I check Facebook periodically and I saw the following ad just a few minutes…