Ronde de Bordeaux Cuttings all Leafing Out

hoosierquilt USDA 10A Sunset 23 Vista CA

12 years ago

I wanted to post a big thank you to Martin over here on the Fig Forum. I normally hang out over on the California, Citrus and Fruits & Orchards Forum, but I wanted to stop by here so I could post a thank you. I had tried to bid on some of Martin's Ronde de Bordeaux scionwood Ebay auctions a while back, and kept being outbid. Three times, it was so frustrating. I finally got the nerve up to send Martin a message asking if he was going to be posting another Ronde auction, and he sent me a message back telling me was actually able to send me a sort of "runner's up" auction, and I was able to finally get some Ronde scionwood (and Martin, THANK YOU for the extra 2 pieces, that was very kind of you.)

I wanted to let Martin know they are all budding and leafing out for me, and I am very excited to finally be able to add this very special fig to my small fig collection! Here's a photo of my 6 cuttings enjoying the fine S. Calif. sunshine after a significant rainstorm we had last night as well as Wednesday:

I live in "fig growing" country here in S. California. Figs grow like weeds out here with very little extra attention, so I'm hoping that all of the cuttings will make it to "adulthood". Can't see any reason why they wouldn't, as long as I protect them from the dreaded gophers. I may keep them in large pots for a year or two, until I know they have enough of a root system to withstand a gopher attack, and of course will be planted in large chicken wire baskets.

Thanks, Martin, I'm very excited. I'm new to growing (and eating) figs, but after having my first fig two years ago when we bought our home that had a very mature Panache, as well as a Flanders and a Brown Turkey, I was hooked. I just love the Panache, and look forward to the Ronde de Bordeaux, as well as a new Peter's Honey and a Violette de Bordeaux that I just planted this spring in very large patio pots. Here's a photo of those two, and they're also starting to leaf out. They should do very well, especially since my Green Man is keeping an eye on them (see if you can spy my Green Man in the photo):

Patty S.

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Comments (9)

terry_upstate_ny
12 years ago
What a beautiful garden! What type of soil did you put the cuttings in?
hoosierquilt USDA 10A Sunset 23 Vista CA
Original Author
12 years ago
Thank you, Terry, that's very kind! I have a huge yard (by S. Calif. standards, over an acre), and this is my little sitting area by the pool. The soil is EB Stone's Cactus Mix. Makes for a nice, well-draining mix. I use it for almost all my potted plants (except my blueberries). It is very reliable and performs very well for me in a lot of different situations. So tickled to see the cuttings starting to leaf out :-)

Patty S.
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noss
12 years ago
Hello Patty,

Did you plant petunias in the fig pots for a reason? Do they help keep the soil cooler?

You have a beautiful garden and it looks so peaceful and relaxing.

noss
hoosierquilt USDA 10A Sunset 23 Vista CA
Original Author
12 years ago
Acutally, yes, there is a reason, noss, good guess :-) I'm using it as a "mulch" to keep the soil a little moister (and cooler), and to provide a little pop of color. Petunias (and most other annual flowers) are not huge nutrient demanders, so they don't steal macro-nutrients much from the fig trees. It helps to keep the moisture retained in the soil, as we're fairly dry here in S. California (although the last month or two you'd not believe that, lol!) We actually get all our rain in the winter out here, it's just late in coming this year. From about April/May through November, we frequently get NO rain, and that's our warm time as well. So, growing an annual in the pot, or succulents can help screen the soil from the sun, and keep the pot a bit moister. I also usually use Osmocote 14-14-14 in my potted fruit trees and occasionally a few other fertilizers/micronutrients depending on what's growing in the pot (less for figs, more for citrus, for example).

And, my husband was asking for some pretty color in this area (nixed the succulents, which was going to be my preference). He likes to go out here and have his coffee in the mornings. So, I gave him some lovely 'Supertunia' Red petunias by Proven Winners. This is a new cultivar that is a prolific bloomer and has a trailing habit, so hopefully, they'll grow a bit more and start to trail out of the pot a bit.

Thanks for asking and thank you for your kind words. We were specifically going for relaxing in this area, looks like we did a pretty good job :-)

Patty S.
evladi7654
11 years ago
Hi ! I 'd appreciate if you could send me couple cuttings of this Ronde de Bordeaux Fig tree. I can send you some good Italian Fig tree cutting in return...
Eugene
Connecticut
evladi7654@aol.com
noss
11 years ago
Hi Patty,

I never saw your reply to me here for some reason, but thanks for elaborating upon how you use annuals to help shade the pot and soil like that. Not just for beauty, but it does make things beautiful.

:)

noss
ediblelandscaping.sc
11 years ago
Same here I have 1 unnamed varity and a few named types I can trade cuttings of in the fall. I also have rooted plants in 1 gallon pots if you have some rooted plants. Good job on the RDB plants I hope they flourish in your lovely garden.
hoosierquilt USDA 10A Sunset 23 Vista CA
Original Author
11 years ago
Sure, noss! We get creative sometimes, here in S. California, with our "mulch". I'm getting ready to remove the petunias, as they're pretty much spent, now. I'll put in about an inch of compost then top with bark mulch, now. Figs are getting bigger, now. Hopefully these trees will do well in these pots.

Patty S.
hoosierquilt USDA 10A Sunset 23 Vista CA
Original Author
11 years ago
Folks, I am fearful that I'm going to get so many requests for cuttings that I'll not have any branches left on these very young trees. So, I want to stave off any further requests by saying I'm not planning on doing cuttings for at least a year or more. Enough time to let my trees grow a wee bit.

Patty S.