Here is a bit of an update on my on highly pruned trees. I have 4 sweeet cherries, all pruned to less than 7 ft tall, all started as whips 4 or 5 years ago. Last year they bloomed but no fruit due to a late frost. Here are photos with 2 of those trees now, one is blooming well and the other is almost open. The others are either blooming or almost blooming. I also have several apples, a pear, and figs, which have been pruned with a similar philosophy, but it's too early to post photos from this year's flowers or fruits. The apples and pear look like they'll also have lots of flowers. Maybe it does work. We'll see. Since there are lots of flowers now, maybe there will be lots of cherries this summer. There is still some room for more growth, I can let them get to 7 or 8 foot without a problem, but plan to continue the somewhat drastic summer pruning as we have done so far. These were from a big box store and it did not state what rootstock, other than 'semi dwarf'. I did not use to multi-trees per hole method because I was not aware of it at the time, but otherwise am doing the summer pruning as described for backyard orchard culture.

It's too late for this year. The deadline for UC Davis cuttings is December 1. Get your order in NOW for next year. You need a Fed EX number (free), but you need a credit card to link it to, so UC Davis can ship your cuttings at no cost to them. It's a bargain! You pay for shipping, but sticks don't weigh too much. I guess it depends on how many varieties you order. They sent me 3-5 of each, except for the one I was dying to have (Violet de Bordeaux). They only sent one sorry little cutting of that, but I cut it in 3 parts, and 2 are now showing leaves. They honored my entire order of 13 varieties of grape vines, 2 of olives, 2 of pomegranates, and 3 of figs aka Ficus Carica. They go to a lot of effort to send you these FREE cuttings. They cut nice straight cuttings, then they bundle them, label them, put them in plastic with damp paper towels, put them in a shipping box, print out the label, and send them to YOU! They do all that hard work for nothing. I am happy to pay for shipping! No complaints!! My big fear is that they will catch on, and start charging us :-( I'm not a fig tree collector (just a fig eater), so 3 varieties was plenty for me. I picked the 3 best tasting according to an article on their site, and I suppose that's the reason I only got one of sweet little Violet de Bordeaux! Demand!! I have already started my order for next year. My vineyard has most of my attention, so my order is just wine grape vines this year, and mostly root stock at that. I won't compete with you for figs! Suzi

Lecompte, I went to visit Sid's old site this morning to refresh my memory. Much has changed since I last visited there. FYI, as you look at the site from the road.....the fig tree that is in the front on the right side is an Italian Honey. I have had fruit from this tree and it is very good strain. The first tree in the front on the left hand side is a Brown Turkey that is very prone to splitting and bugs. The tree that is all the way in the back....on the left hand side is a Celeste. As you know, the Strawberry is located all the way in the back on the right hand side. The tree that is just in front of it towards the road.....is an unknown French fig. It has palm fingered leaves and I have never seen much fruit on this tree.....this morning there were only two figs on this tree. In front of the French fig is a Southern Brown Turkey and in front of that one is another Italian Honey....it too is an excellent fig. I ate several Strawberry figs that were not split from the recent rains.........they were excellent. This fig has a very good acid to sugar ratio which magnifies the fruit notes. The seeds are the same size and crunchy like those of a strawberry fruit. Dan

I've ordered cuttings from UCD in the past, and received what I requested. I looked over the webpage today and I don't see anything that says there unavailable to home gardeners. Here's a link to the page I'm viewing. Be aware that you won't receive cuttings until late next winter, probably February. Here is a link that might be useful: Fig Cuttings