Category: The Fig Tree Guy
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Think Spring
Have you ever watched how birds build their nests? It’s a fascinating and meticulous process, as they gather twigs, grass, and other materials to create a safe haven for their eggs and young. Every spring, robins visit our property and carefully construct their nests in the trees and bushes. They seem to have an instinctive…
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Little Cutting is Growing Up
I wish I could go back in time and use a transparent to-go cup. I know it has grown some roots, but now I can’t see the progress because the pot I chose isn’t ideal for rooting cuttings. Ach! That said, the branch is showing a lot of healthy progress, and I’m so glad I…
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Always Wash the Cuttings First
It makes no difference whether you purchased the cuttings or they are your own—you must wash them before proceeding.I use an old toothbrush, water, and a little dishwashing soap. You can imagine the rest: I brush them thoroughly, rinse them with water, and then set them on a dry paper towel to air dry.Don’t skip…
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My Newest Acquisition: Pastilliere
Good golly, Miss Molly! Look at the first cutting—just look at it! It’s HUGE! This is the thickest cutting I’ve ever purchased. There was a tiny fracture at the bottom, but I trimmed it with my pruners. I washed them with cold water and dish soap, then brushed them with a toothbrush. I added a…
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IT’S ALIVE! IT’S ALIVE!
My first blog post was about a fig cutting that I almost tossed onto the compost pile because it was just too small. Well, look at it now! It’s grown a tiny leaf and is alive and well. It took nine days for this leaf to emerge, and the cutting was in water for about…
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Double Cup When Rooting Fig Cuttings
While winterizing a friend’s fig tree, I pruned several suckers with established roots. I separated and immediately processed them upon returning home to prevent the roots from drying out. For each cutting, I used two same-sized plastic cups, poking holes in one and placing it inside the other to catch excess water. After adding potting…
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Pruned a Neighbor’s Fig Tree
This morning I pruned a neighbor’s fig tree. I’ve been pruning this tree for several years and my neighbor lets me keep the cuttings. As you can see this fig bush has grown quite a lot this year. I brought the branches home, cut them to root them, and although I haven’t counted them, there…
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Battery Operated Pruner
On November 20th, I posted about my new RYOBI pruner. While using it earlier today, I heard a rattling sound coming from inside it. I returned it to Home Depot of Newburgh, and they replaced it. Upon testing the new one at home, I found no unusual sounds. Phew! Please use my contact form to…
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Green Fig Preserves
What do you do with all of end-of-season green figs? Don’t throw them out! I have an easy-to-follow recipe that will use these green figs and turn them into something delicious. You can find this recipe on my YouTube Channel. Please use my contact form to contact me privately. Subscribe to receive blog updates by…
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Processing a few Magnolia Cuttings
In its first year, my Magnolia/Brunswick fig tree produced 19 sweet, dormant cuttings, most of which were very thick and full of energy. To prepare the cuttings, simply wash them with clean water, scrub them with a brush, and dry them with paper towels. After that, I mark the top of each cutting with ‘MAG’…