Many varieties will be available through SeedSavers

Here is a link that might be useful: Seedsavers

Are trades discouraged on this forum or are we just trying to support SSE? I want to be a good forum citizen and all. Is there an advantage to using SSE? I searched the site and downloaded the calendar but could not find figs.

mrhappy,
Trading is quite acceptable -- so is soliciting for donations as you were doing. To see what SSE has to offer, you have to become a member and wait for the catalog that comes out sometime (usually) in January. Members list what seed and scion varieties they have to offer. Jon (pit.) offers a number of fig scions there as well as rooted ones through his website.

mr Happy, I wondered the same thing. Didn't have any luck asking for cuttings. I couldn't find anything about figs on Seedsavers. There are many reputable people selling figs. I personally don't like to wait long, so I usually go through other routes.

italiangirl74,
I don't like to wait either. While I am not wealthy money is not as big a concern as getting a "true" variety or a piece of history that means something to someone. I've read about figs grown at Mount Vernon or Monticello - how wonderful it would be to have some of that wood?! There are less fabulous but just as interesting stories about how a fig was found growing by somebodies grandpas abandoned barn. The kind of fig tree that was brought to the US by an immigrant or the figs a grandpa (now) used to eat at his grandparents house when he was a child. You can't buy easily that kind of thing. It can typically only be shared. I'll buy what I can't trade for short term but I'll always look for ways to upgrade to heirloom varieties and those I can't find otherwise.
Richard

mrhappy,

Its nice to hear that you enjoy the history and the story behind a fig. I myself not only like to eat figs, but I like to just be around them. I was raised around figs. My family in Italy had a fig orchard, olives, almonds, grapes, capers and a variety of others which were our livelihood. Believe it or not, I grow all of those here at my home in Pennsylvania. Everything comes in for the winter of course but the point is, The figs were more like a family members to us. I enjoy them, they take me to a special place. I have a story about some fig cuttings i have recently obtained. My cousin from Italy, who now lives in Florida, just sent me a few weeks ago a couple cuttings from her fig tree that she brought with her from our town in Italy. These figs are so precious to me because they are a part of my families farm back in Italy.Now they are here in America with me. I rooted them in a bag, they rooted great, now they are getting lovely leaves on them. I was just absolutely excited they took for me, these are special to me. I have other figs of course, I tend to stay with Italian varieties, the others are just as great, but the story and history of my new figs are worth talking about. Not many people can say they are still holding a fig tree or trees that has been across an ocean and been in the family for generations. Anyway, I tend to ramble about things I am passionate about. I would probably when they get older send you a cutting because you would appreciate it all the more. Ciao, Maggie

Maggie,
Thank you for sharing that story. How do those almonds do up in PA? Do they produce nuts? What part of Italy is your family from? It is kind of interesting that the coat of arms for Italy has what appears to be a fig branch crossed by an olive branch.

Although I enjoy them, figs are new to me. When I was a kid we would sit under the apple trees and eat until we couldn't walk. Those trees are gone but I can still collect some of the plants from childhood that remind me of those times - things like elderberry (easy) and persimmon (a little more difficult). The figs will be things that possibly my grandkids can remember later.
Richard

I have had no luck procuring cuttings on SSE. SSE exchange has plenty of high quality products that can be ordered without actually joining.

If you want to obtain ficus caria scion using SSE you will need to pay $35 in order to get the listing of those individuals who offer scion. If available from the individual listed in the SSE book, the scion will be shipped for a nominal fee. Unfortunately I have not had any luck procuring scion through SSE and basically donated $35.00. If you only want fig scion from SSE I would pass.

Ciao MrHappy,
The almonds do fine as long as they stay warm. I have to think back to our coat of arms, but I think It is an Olive branch and either a beech or Oak branch. The fig should have been in their with the Abundance of figs there. We didn't have apple trees, but when I was young in Pennsylvania, right after we came, we were the only ones on the block ( The rest mostly pennsylvania dutch ) who had fig tree. They grew Apples. You could usually tell where an Italian family lived because there was a fig tree in our yards. I thought it was funny how the others grew horseradish and other things. Elderberries as you mentioned and lots of blueberries. There was an Irish family who had big gooseberry bushes. They were the only ones. I also forgot our Pomegranates that we had in the farm in Italy. I guess I forgot, we didn't have to many just maybe a dozen small trees or so. We come from a village called Castel Frentano, in the province of Chieti, The Abruzzo region of Southern Italy. Ciao, Maggie
P.S. Try willis orchard for some good fig trees, they are not seasonal senders either, they will mail anytime. Check it out at Willis Orchard.com Don't know about winter but all through the rest of the year. Very nice people.

IMHO, if you're intentions are 'trading' cuttings then sharing what you have to offer for a trade will produce more replies.

Atleast, that's what I did last yr and I did well with some of the regulars here.

Also timing is everything, not sure about your region but here in NNJ the leaves are just now (past week) dropping off so most ppl (Ive noticed) dont even talk about trading until their trees go dormant.

I, personally, began pruning a few of my inground and potted trees last Sunday. I currently have 2 varieties available for trade:

1- I named this one after my father (Guy's, since no one's been able to ID it for me), appears to be similiar to Sal's but Im certain its not cuz the leaf looks very different, fruit looks similiar tho...
My father planted this for me when I first bought my home.
I have atleast 2 freezer bags worth of cuttings!

2- Hardy Chicago (Hartmanns)...
I only have approximately 15 thin cuttings of this variety.

I might have more after this weekend, since Im hoping to winterize my potted trees if they need it.

Johsnvmf, I ordered 30-40 varieties from the SSE Yearbook last year, and made several new fig friends in the process.

italiangirl74,
It sounds like a walk down your street (when you were growing up) would have been like walking past a buffet! I put on two pounds just reading your post.

I was in Houston today and noticed that one neighborhood had citrus, figs, and 1 persimmon. If I could have just stopped to talk...

Thanks for the tip on Willis - I'll check them.

mrhappy

fortisi876,
I didn't get the growth I expected from my figs this year so I don't have fig cuttings to trade. That is why I offered postage - I considered offering postage+ but did not want to offend the members. I do have non-fig items to trade - these include chiltepin (birdseye) peppers and some no name horseradish root cuttings. The chiltepin plants won't travel well so the trade would be pepper pods. If someone was serious about overwintering the pepper plants I would try shipping some of the volunteers.

I am hoping (and working) to have cuttings for trade next year. Thank you for responding to my post if you have any interest in horseradish or some hot peppers let me know.
mrhappy

pitangadiego, My experience may have been different since I am not an established contributor listed in the SSE catalog and you are. As you know many listed contributors indicate within the catalog that they will not send plant material to folks who have paid their $35 but are not listed within the catalog itself. Since Mr. Happy would likely be in the same position I wanted to let him know.

Additionally, I wanted to make Mr. Happy know that I think he has the right approach in finding the specific plant material he is looking for. I have received 12 different cuttings/scion through this forum that I couldn't acquire through SSE or other sources.

Like Mr. Happy my collection continues to grow and I will be in a postion next year to share with my new found friends on this forum.

MrHappy,

That neighborhood in Houston may have had some fig tree varieties you wanted? Next time you are there, step out and chat with those people with the trees. They could probably tell you which variety they are growing. Are the trees dormant in Texas? If so, you could ask those people to give you some cuttings to beging to clone the tree. I have found very good success rates just stopping and knocking on peoples door to chat and talk to them about various plants they have. Most people are nice and willing to talk. Ciao, Maggie

johnsvmf,
thank you. It does seem a bit difficult to get started with material other than the BT that local dedicated nurseries have or the potentially mis-marked varieties that Home Depot or Lowes might have. I have picked up what was marked as Kadota and Celeste. I will post pics next season when I successfully defend the fruit from the glutton squirrels. The figs on both trees were small and light colored. All my leaves have dropped but leaves of both are 3 lobed. The lobes of the "Kadota" were less defined that those of the "Celeste". The flesh of both figs was brownish rather than redish as best I could tell from the half-eaten fruits. One was lighter than the other but I can't remember which.
A little background on what happened to my figs may be appropriate here. I had 2 small trees with 2 main stems from single trunks. There are a hand full of 6" long almost 1/4" diameter "branches" on them. There may have been 20 figs between the 2 trees. I looked at the trees everday as I am a type A nerd. One day when I went to look at the figs all but a few half eaten ones were gone. I have blamed the loss on squirrels but in all honesty I did not see squirrels eat the figs. Where I live we have many squirrels, opossums, raccoons and birds - who knows it may have been a conspiracy.... ;) Birds took many of my blueberries and blackberries also.
I have come to terms with the loss and have decided that I will be building frames to hang nets from for next year. I'm considering using 3/4" PVC for the frams and building in watering functionality to the frame.
mrhappy

mrhappy, you probably know of this free source of ficus caria scion but please look at UC Davis Nat'l Clonal Germplasm Rep -Tree Fruit web-site http://www.ars.usda.gov/Main/docs.htm?docid=12146

UC Davis has about 140 varieties of ficus caria. Several varieties that you indicated that you want are offered.

Within the web-page there is a request form that you complete and return to them. UC Davis will ship the scion, if available to you in late February or early March.

I received 10 types of cuttings last February with 3 cuttings per type (some varieties less) and I successfully rooting at least 1 cutting per type.

I am only a novice collector and have found the contributions of the other fig forum members extremely beneficial.

Mr Happy,

I might be able to supply the Alma cuttings. A neighbor of mine has agreed to let me prune his tree. I don't know how much he is going to let me prune, so cuttings may be slim pickings. Depending in what area of Austin you are, I might be able to deliver them to you around Xmas time.

I picked a few of the figs from this tree last year and it has excellent flavor.

~james

bjs496,
I appreciate your offer. I'm in RR and I'm willing to drive to your part of town. I'd also help with the pruning if you need help.
Richard

The tree is in Houston. I've been waiting to take cuttings from the tree until it goes dormant. Currently, as with most trees in Houston, it is putting out new growth.

My brother lives near Granger. I will be there between Xmas and NYE, and can bring them with me.

~james

mr happy- shoot me an email, Ill be happy to get your collection going.

fortisi876@yahoo.com

fortisi876,
I had missed your follow-up. You have mail and I am excited. Thank you,
mrhappy