Fig propagation

[Kerry]

there is quite a sizeable fig plant in the grounds of where i work.
years ago it used to be the orchard of the 'big house', now all demolished.
anyway, my question is: can i take a cutting or somehow propagate this?
the site is being redeveloped and will next year be completely flattened. seems such a waste to lose it completely.
there are baby figs on it at the moment, but they never ripen, the site is somewhat overgrown.
any advice welcome.
:)

[Kerry]

[cleo]

Propagation:
Fig trees are readily propagated by dormant hardwood cuttings, but budding or grafting also has been used to topwork a tree to a better variety. To propagate a fig tree by hardwood cutting, after the trees has lost its leaves (preferably at the end of December at the latest), select 8 to 12 inches shoots (20 to 30 cm), and bury them so that only a few node are out of the ground. By the end of the following year they should be established. They can take a while before building a decent root system. and the fact that they have green, apparently thriving leaves should not fool you.

Copied from a google search.

Good luck-Stephan

[Kerry]

thankyou Stephan, it looks like a good time to give it a go then....
another question (or two) if i may- what about placing the cutting in a (deepish) pot- as i've a bit of a lack of spare ground- and if so, mix in some perlite?
i guess it doesn't need heat if you can put cuttings in the ground ordinarily.
and since i will be at work-best to keep cutting in water until i get home??  what do you reckon?
i think i'll take plenty of cuttings to give it a good chance!

[carloso]

hello

late i know but i read some where that to restrict there roots as this then makes the plant concentrate on producing fruit instead of bushing out further !!

http://www.easyfruit.co.uk/figs/

use this it hs all the info there

all the best

carl

[Kerry]

thankyou for that carloso-it is an interesting site.
update: all the cuttings are sitting in the greenhouse in a compost mixed with perlite. i don't know if they're going to root, i keep telling them to hurry up! they do all look green though, and some have just the slightest swelling of buds, so fingers crossed...............perhaps after reading that last link i could give one of the pots some bottom heat, and leave the other to see what happens?

[silvie]

Have only done it by layering.  Always works though.