Announcement: Fig Cuttings for Sale

Here is the link to the sale: https://www.figbid.com/Browse?Seller=rossraddi

For the 5th consecutive year I am very happy to announce that the fig cutting sale has started. I would like to thank everyone in advance who is participating in the sale. It's a special time of the year for me as I feel really good about spreading the special genetics I've acquired over the years to people like yourselves. There's no better gift than giving someone the ability to grow their own food and especially something as special as the fig. At some point we will be doing a giveaway here on the blog, so stay tuned for that!

In regards to selling cuttings, here's a quick heart to heart:

I have been very pleased with the quality that I am offering. Especially in the last two years. This year we had a drought and the quality is better than ever, but just in general the majority of the wood you'll be buying is from very healthy in ground trees. This creates a lot of advantages when trying to establish your own tree. The cuttings have huge amounts of carbohydrates stored within and they aren't riddled with Fig Moisaic Virus (FMV).

I've been trying my hardest over the last 8 years to find the best figs. Just know that what I decide to plant in the ground and eventually sell is from the best of what's out there. I've in the past and still continue to avoid selling cuttings from genetics that really shouldn't be perpetuated. For instance, I planted figs like White Marseilles, the Godfather and Barbillone in the ground years ago. Nowadays they are some of my best figs, but they get no love and so typically if I have it planted in the ground, there's a good reason (even if it's not exactly meant for my climate). I also strive to find healthier sources and better performing sources of the same fig. Take Azores Dark as an example. I am of course a champion of fig tree preservation, but there's no point in selling something that no one will enjoy. A well ripened fig in the right climate should get you hooked on this fruit for life. Don't be afraid to reach out and ask me for a variety recommendation based on your general location.

I've become a much better salesman, marketer and customer service representative. It wasn't always like that. Like everything regarding the fig trees I am doing this with no help. It's truly an unbelievable amount of work that's involved and if I didn't love it, you bet I wouldn't be doing it.

I want you all to succeed. As my late Italian Grandfather (who got me into figs) frequently said, "you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink." Please try and take my advice below in regards to rooting. Ask questions! One of the best pieces of advice is to start slow. If you're new or experienced, do a test run of your method and environment. Try and root something affordable first. If all else fails, try and do some rooting outside in the spring! There's actually nothing simpler and easier than just sticking them in the ground. They will have no problem lasting in your crisper drawer until May if stored correctly. I do it every year.

DETAILS OF THE SALE

PLEASE READ EVERYTHING CAREFULLY:

The photo of the cuttings in the listing is an example of what you will receive from this particular variety and in most cases, is not the actual set of cuttings you will receive. When hitting the "Buy it Now" button, you are buying 1 set of 3 cuttings. 95% of the cuttings will be 12 inches or more in length and can be cut in half for potentially double the amount of trees. That's 36+ inches of wood. See the photo of the cuttings for any differences in size, caliper and lignification. The varieties' genetics is the determining factor for those differences. The cuttings will arrive in two layers of plastic that is partially sealed to allow for optimal storage and can last stored this way in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator for up to a year.

Rooting Instructions: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxY197EqTn6jNCmYVsautMbqaxPYjAXq7

It is highly recommended that you wrap the tops of the cuttings with Parafilm or Buddy Tape. This way you can avoid the unnecessary step of using a humidity dome. I would also avoid up potting or disturbing the tree while it's still in the beginning of the rooting process. Invest in high quality lighting, make sure your rooting environment is preferably 75-80F and keep the soil moisture consistently moist. Not wet and not dry. For thicker cuttings, I suggest that you pre-root them. Either wrap them in moist sphagnum moss or moist paper and place them in a plastic bag. Position them in a warm place until you see root initials and then pot them.

I will ship to anywhere in the US on Mondays through UPS Ground unless there is a PO Box attached to your account. In that case, I'll be using USPS Priority mail. Tracking will automatically be sent to the email address attached to your PayPal account. If you have a special request regarding any preferences, please notify me prior to shipment, so I can try to make that a possibility. Thank you & feel free to ask me any questions about the varieties. Each variety has a specific location that they're better suited for.

Once again, a link to the sale: https://www.figbid.com/Listing/Browse?Seller=rossraddi

Thank you everyone!