When Is the Best Time to Propagate Figs by Cuttings? Detailed Guide to Cutting Methods and Rooting Time

Fig, also known as Tianshengzi, is a fruit and medicinal health fruit, generally ripening in autumn and winter, and the market price is around 20 yuan per jin, so it is a bit expensive. For this reason, many people use cuttings to grow figs to increase yield. When is the best time to propagate figs by cuttings? How do you take cuttings? How long after cutting do they root?

Fig Cutting Time and Rooting Time

Because the environment and climate differ from place to place, cuttings should be taken in early spring when the plant has just begun to sprout, that is, when the daytime temperature is around 20°C. From the mother plant, select vigorous branches 1 to 3 years old that have not yet sprouted, with short internodes and a branch thickness of 1 to 1.5 cm, cut them into 30 to 50 cm long cuttings, open a furrow at a row spacing of 50 cm, insert them diagonally into the soil for two-thirds of their length, leaving the rest exposed above the soil, then fill and firm the soil, and water to keep the soil moist.

For summer cuttings, you can use semi-lignified green branches for propagation. After cutting, they root in about 1 month. After 1 year of cultivation, they can be transplanted. You can also store the cuttings in moist sand for 1 month to form callus tissue before taking cuttings.

Fig Cutting Methods

Fig branches readily produce adventitious roots, so cuttings are mostly used for propagation in production. Hardwood cuttings of figs are generally taken from March to April, when the average daily temperature reaches above 15°C. Choose fully mature one- or two-year-old branches (when the cutting diameter reaches 1.5 to 3.0 cm, the survival rate of cuttings is above 80 percent). Cut them into 15 cm long cuttings containing two to three plump buds. When cutting the cuttings, cut the upper end of the branch 1 cm away from the bud into a flat cut. Cut the lower end into a slanted cut to increase the contact surface with the soil, which helps rooting and also makes it easy to identify the top and bottom ends of the cutting, so as to avoid inserting it upside down. To promote rooting of the cuttings, soak them in clean water for 12 to 24 hours. The soaking time depends on the degree of water loss of the cuttings; if the cut is relatively fresh and green, there is less water loss, so the soaking time can be shorter, while if the cut is whitish, there is more water loss, so the soaking time can be longer. Then soak the base of the cuttings 2 to 4 cm in naphthaleneacetic acid at 200 to 800 mg per liter for 3 minutes. Take them out and dry them in the shade, then wait to insert them. When inserting, the depth into the soil should be about 1/3 of the cutting. After inserting, water and cover with grass; after they survive, pay attention to weeding and topdressing.

Propagation Methods

1. Fig propagation: division

Fig division: suckers often sprout at the root zone. In spring or autumn, dig open the surface soil, dig out the root suckers around the mother plant with their roots, and plant them separately.

2. Fig propagation: layering

This method is relatively simple, so I will not introduce it in detail; it is the same as the layering method for ordinary flowers and plants.

Key points for cuttings:

1. Selection of cuttings: choose branches 1 to 3 years old that have not yet sprouted, with short internodes, and healthy and disease-free. The length should be about 30 cm, the cut should be smooth, the knife should be sharp, and do not crush them! Before cutting, soak them in water for three to five days, after which you can insert them directly, or first bury them in moist sand for one month, then take them out and insert them.

2. Selection of soil: soil rich in fertility, sandy loam and soil with high organic matter content are best. Air and water permeability should be good.

3. Cutting process: this is about the same for all; fill with soil, make holes with a wooden stick, insert the cuttings, generally to a depth of about 2/3. Firm the soil and water thoroughly.

The cutting steps are finished, and what follows is later management: maintain a certain humidity, and do not water too frequently. Generally, they can root in about 15 days. After they are fully established, they can be transplanted. Generally, they can bear fruit the next year! Then you can eat figs you grew yourself!