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erin_g_gw

Long time no post!

18 years ago

Well, it's been a while, and most of you may not remember me. I lived on the east coast, and had a MASSIVE move to the west coast about 9 months ago. At the time, I had accumulated over 30 varieties of fig trees and cuttings. But the move came on so suddenly (husband is in the military) that all I could do was to carefully pack all the pots in the back end of the moving truck(s) and pray for the best. It was a seven day trip - ugh, glad it's over - and happened in 100+ degree weather the further west we came. By the time we pulled up to our newly purchased home, I had lost many of my figs to heat and fungus. (no I did not cover them, it was just dang hot). Seven survived, five of which had roots fully established, and the other two were cuttings that barely were hanging on. Talk about heart break!!!! UGH!!! I did shed a few tears, unfortunately.

So, now I'm here in southern California, and just pulled all the huge pots out into the sunshine where the little green figs can ripen. But I can't help but be saddened at my loss - I worked so hard and took such good care of all those cuttings. To top it off, I missed the deadline to order cuttings from UCDavis.

Anyway, I will put my request out here to anyone who has extra cuttings they wouldn't mind letting me purchase since I have none to trade at this time. I have tons of empty pots! :( All but one of the 20-something varieties I ordered from UCDavis last year, died in the move, (if only I had known, I would have waited just one more year). Sadly, I traded most of my extras....and all but one of those died as well.

George, the Malta Red-type you gave me is doing beautifully - it's the only one that made it! I thought the Negronne was gonna make it, but it too kicked the bucket. I think I've lost your email, but I wanted to know how the ones I traded with you were doing? Hopefully you've had better luck than myself! ;)

Anyways, I have over an acre of land with LOTS of plans for figs, to involve espalier and overwintering protection. I'm just in the beginning stages of what will likely be a several year project...nothing is cheap about trying to grow things in the desert!! No plans for moving for many, many years, so I need fig friends badly!! :) Please email me, anyone...I would love to aquire at least what I had before, and will have many cuttings in the future that i can share, I'm sure of it!

~ Erin

Comments (11)

  • 18 years ago

    Erin,
    Do you want only named varieties? I have several cuttings I can send but I don't know what they are. One came from Portugual, another is from a friend's backyard who says it's a very sweet white fig, and I have a bunch of mixed cuttings from Home Depot trees...2 dark varieties and one light. I don't know what they are but am told they are very flavorful.
    Sue

    Here is a link that might be useful: Purple Portuguese fig

  • 18 years ago

    Sue,

    Oh sure!! Absolutely! Sometimes the best ones are the ones which came from a friend, a parking lot, a field, or on a vacation in another country! Let me know how much and I will send a check to you. Just include labels of what you DO know about them so I can at least give them nicknames (i.e. - Sue's Portugal, Sue's friend's white, Sue's Home Depot, etc.) Perhaps later we can identify them! Feel free to email me at emusicmommy@yahoo.com

  • 18 years ago

    Sure, Erin I can help you get re-established (fig-wise that
    is). Expect a private email from me to clarify what you
    actually have/need. Make sure your GW/FF email is current.
    There is still just enough time left this year to get you
    fig-cutting-rooting busy.ar). May also share some of my UCD
    stuff, same you gave me, did not make it, and re-ordered.
    George (NJ).

  • 18 years ago

    Erin,

    I haven't gotten my UCD order, yet. There are a couple I ordered which I have already gotten from other sources. If UCD sends them, I can forward them to you. I also have extra 'Alma' and an unknown green fig cuttings.

    My email is listed on the email page of my profile.

    ~james

  • 18 years ago

    Oh awesome everyone! I will be more than happy to pay for shipping, your trouble, etc.

    Currently, I have:

    Mission - two trees
    Beall
    Patrick's Supergiant
    Italian White (TyTy's - not sure exactly what this is in relation to UCD list)
    Unknown green fig from a church
    George's red type

    If what you have isn't on this list, I'll welcome it with open arms!

    What I lost:

    Conadria
    Excel
    Violette De Bordeaux
    Kadota 1 (UCD)
    Monstruese
    Osborn Prolific
    King
    UCD - (UCR 228-20) Enderud
    UCD - (UCR 271-1) Saleeb
    Pastilliere
    Col de Dame
    Giant Amber
    Sal's
    Negronne
    Black Madiera
    Bournabat
    Castle Kennedy
    Flanders
    Panachee
    St. Jean
    Brown Turkey
    - and the extras I received from George

    George, I'm so very sorry none of them made it. I hope it wasn't anything I did wrong, but I do think that in the future, I will likely refridgerate them in baggies first and let them root before sticking them in soil. Perhaps this is where I went wrong as it seems many of the varieties were more "stubborn" than others to take root. Then add the long, hot truck ride, and well....the rest is history.

    Thanks everyone! :)

  • 18 years ago

    hey erin , by chance would you be able to make me a cutting of patricks super giant or georges red, and i mthink i can send you a sals 1 yr old and an unknown green cutting.

    kevin

  • 18 years ago

    James,

    Absolutely! Sounds great! Just email me what I owe you, and I'll get it to you asap.

    Kevin,

    My Patrick's is still somewhat small and all the branches are too short to cut. HOWEVER, I have a feeling that it will take off this year. Would you be willing to wait until next spring? If you can remember to remind me, I'll snag a cutting for you. As far as the Sal's, I have a few others that are sending me Sal's, BUT, I read that there are a couple of different "versions" of it? Is your Sal's the same as George's? Anyway, the "George's red" was really his unknown #8, St. Jean type from Malta...I don't know how I got my info confused. That one is still small as well, and there's nothing to cut from it yet. We can always make plans for next year though, because I plan on being around here for many years to come! Just let me know! :)

    Erin

  • 18 years ago

    no problem erin , sounds good about next year, and im not sure what sals i have but this summer ill find out for sure

  • 18 years ago

    Erin,

    I would be more than happy to send you a selection of cuttings. See the attached site for an idea of what I have available. Send me a note offline, with a mailing address, and I will take the cuttings and get them out ASAP (I am coming up on the time they normally break dormancy.) As an alternative, I would be happy to start air-layers of some this spring and send you plants.

    Don't worry about the $ ... let's focus on restoring your collection :^).

    Let me know which method you prefer,
    -Steve

    Here is a link that might be useful: Steve's Figs ...

  • 18 years ago

    Just a quick thanks to everyone again for all your generosity! I will take some pictures soon and post them, and if anyone happens to run across (or if you know of anyone) that has the real big Greek and Italian figs, or know the UCD number of such, please keep me in mind!

    Happy Easter!
    ~Erin

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