Simple Fig Propagation: The old Italian man way

"Bury the sucker" is what my Grandfather says. This is the old way of doing it before the internet was a thing. They would take large branches of their trees during dormancy and plant them after danger of frost. From there families were able to keep their trees from Italy alive for generations.

Zone 7A - Greater Philadelphia

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[ashtanga]

Sometimes a guy like Ross comes along and shares some wisdom from the old country. So simple. So wise.

[dalmatino]

Ross, in Croatian region of Dalmatia (right across the Adriatic sea) we propagate figs traditionaly in very similar manner.
We take approx. 45 cm long branch from tree top(this year growth), and we bury it horizontaly, leaving only max 10 cm protruding.
This work is done in february.
Simple as that, sucess rate, 100%.
Greetings from Croatia, keep on the good work.👍

[californianorma]

Love this!!! Growing up, my best friend was Italian. Her dad had what seemed like countless fruit trees in their postage stamp size backyard. Whenever I see a yard with fruit trees, I know an Italian has lived there!

[tlpmyd]

That’s the i was raised to do it from my father and uncles and grandfathers all from the other side. They still do it that way too.

[maddog]

Ross it’s like what I told you earlier. Bury the cutting three feet down in the ground. It will grow amazing and it will never die.

[nealable]

Gonna try planting my southern Turkey fig cuttings deeper and trying that..I cut it with pruning sheers and stab it a foot down ..but never though about more below surface nodes increasing root growth by big margins.. Next cuttings will try that.. Old school grandparents wisdom is golden..thanks

[jackietrinidad]

That’s funny... my landlord, who is Italian, is giving me a tree after seeing that my old one didn’t survive the winter. He did exactly that, got a cutting from his tree and plopped it in a pot and it now looks great.

[VOTETAJ]

Thank you for showing the simplest way.
I was looking for an effective way to propagate one in Las Vegas area. Going through the comments I got most of answers.

[richarddetriquet]

I remember my grandfather in New Jersey actually taking dormant fig cuttings in late November and directly planting them in his garden bed in November allowing the cutting to overwinter in the ground. Like your example he would put 3 or 4 nodes in the ground and 1 or 2 above ground. Then he'd place mulch or straw on the planting. As I remember the cuttings would leaf out in late Spring or early Summer. I've never heard anyone doing it this way today. Have you ever heard of this method?

[splash]

I think this is a well proven method of propagation, and a simple method...
Thanks for sharing this with people. Ive mentioned this way of doing it to people and they just kind of give me that look like, oh ya? Lol i dont think most people realize how easy it can be done...

[nowakevelyne]

Thank you from France. This way is so simple !

[aliciaguerra-salazar]

Its funny, my mama to did the same. I try to propagation my fig tree and searching about what cn I do and the list of material grow and more grow, moss, verticulis, perlite, hormon for grow the root, bleach for clean, plastic bags, clear cups, ok, my son said : Nahh, he did the old fashiion .

[calenlight]

awesom, no clonex, no expensive, tubs, pots, heater pads, grafting tape, grafting knives! I am going to go cut some big branches off some, wild old growth figs growing in my area and give it a try. I may have my new fig orchard sooner than I had planned for using this technique!

[melchiorsternfels]

I use at least pencil-thick cuttings with three nodes (Appr. 6-8 inches long). I put them in moist garden soil in early spring keeping only the top node outside the ground. They always root during early summer. In contrast to potted cuttings overwatering is not an issue in garden soil.

[osofu]

I am trying the 12” cuts and 8” under and 4 over the ground and so far is working with black summons fig in Tennessee

[KeikoBushnell]

If you just lay it down in the ground you will get a bunch of trees. Not necessary to stick it down into the ground or score it

[RRaucina]

I take bunches of grape vine pruning's in the early winter and bury them in a row about 2" apart. Just heel them in fine soil or sand. They ALL root without fail. I'll try figs.

[vincenza]

My very Italian Dad just passed away and before his house is put on the market, I want to bring home with me a cuttings from his fig tree...Its now last August and I live in the Northeast...Can I take branches and freeze them until early spring to bury in the ground?...Or do I bury them now?...I'm so lost to what to do...My siblings and I don't want to hold onto his fig tree...its all we have....please help!

[Cacaso]

In England I have three big fig trees and every year I make dozens 3 or 4 feet long placing wet compost round then which produce roots and sell them.
English people had no idea that this fruit can grow in this country

[ThienNguyen-egdh]

Ross! I have been watching your youtube channel. I bought some fig cuttings on Etsy and planted them in pots with a plastic bag over them to prevent drying out. It has been 100 degree in Houston. In 4-5 days, there are a lot roots above the dirt level but NO roots below the dirt level. Please help!