Saturday, July 13, 2013

Hazelnut trees. Nine months later.

Hazelnut volunteer
 These are the Hazezlnut trees I moved last fall.  The 2 named varieties, larger trees, didn't grow much.  Ennis has a fair number of ripening hazelnuts.  Butler has one or two   The volunteer hazelnut tree grew like gangbusters, sturdy and fast.  It's over 6 foot tall.
Ripening Hazelnuts

Hazelnuts.  Butler and Ennis.

Carini Fig. Planted in-ground.

Carini fig
This is one of the Carini fig trees.   I started them from cuttings this winter.  I planted it in-ground today.  Most of the cuttings will remain in containers until Fall or Spring.  This start is knee-high.  I planted in the native soil, mulched with an ince of home made compost, then mulched with home made grass straw.    Watered deeply.

Since this grew nicely, but the growth looks like it will harden off before Winter, I think it's OK to plant it in ground.   This location is South of the house.  Full sun. There is room for a row of about 6 fig trees.  So far the row has a Sal's, Petite negri, and 2 other starts.  I plan to move those starts out, and replace with a Smith, Atreano, and Champagne.  Plan subject to change as seasons pass.

Novel Fig Morpholigies. Hardy Chicago.

 The Hardy Chicago has a number of oddly shaped figs this year.  Here are a few I found.  Probably no effect on taste, so I'll leave them on the tree to ripen.



Petite negri fig looks promising.

Petite negri
This may be the best crop yet from Petite negri fig.  The branches are loaded.  The quadripedal squirrel guard is standing guard.
Petite negri

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Rooting Refrigerated Fig Cuttings.

Celeste fig cuttings

Fig cuttings, paper towel / plastic bag method
I found these Celeste cuttings in the fridge.  Maybe there since March.   I don't need any more fig starts.  I don't know what I would do with more. 

Any way, I think I'll see if they grow.

I made one -inch incision in each of the small ones, and 3 1-inch incisions in the large cutting.

They were dipped 10 seconds each in dip'n'gro at 1:5 dilution.  Then wrapped in moist paper towel.

Now in plastic bag at room temp.

If they are going to grow, I should know in a couple of weeks.  Maybe 3 or 4 weeks.