LSU Gold Fig
I've been wanting to add more varieties of figs to my collection, but I don't have any room for more trees in the yard. The only way I can continue to collect varieties is to graft them onto the trees I've already planted. I looked around on the internet for information on grafting figs, and found very little information. I even contacted the NAFEX fig expert Ray Givan about the best way to graft figs. He replied, "I've never had success grafting figs. Good luck." Fortunately the GCFSG expert grafter and propagator George McAfee was able to give me some pointers at the citrus program last Thursday, and Dr. Randall was kind enough to give me some cuttings from his Banana and Nagle/Mysteak figs, two varieties I've been searching for.
I decided to add the cuttings to my LSU Gold tree because it is the largest fig I have, and I think its in the best location. According to Mr. McAfee, figs can be propagated by cleft grafting, bark inlay grafting, or chip budding. He recommended I try the bark inlay method. I really like the bark inlay graft for citrus, and am comfortable with the method, but I had never attempted it with figs before. I also knew it was going to be challenging because fig wood is soft, exudes a sticky latex sap, and it very gnarled and knobby, making it really hard to find a nice straight piece for trimming symmetrically shaped scions.
I sprayed the branches with 90% alcohol to kill any mold spores, disinfected my pruners and grafting knife, and cut off three of the large branches. After I let the white sap run for a little bit, I made an initial incision into the bark along the top of one of the branches. I was happy to find the bark slipped very easily. I then did my best to cut and trim a shallow scion wedge from one of Dr. Randall's cuttings, and slid it under the bark. Finally, I wrapped the stock and scion with parafilm, and secured it in place with a rubber band. I did two of these grafts, and then attempted a cleft graft. I'll be surprised if the cleft graft takes, since I couldn't get a nice straight cut of scion wood, and I had a really hard time getting the cambium layers to line up well. Hopefully at least one of them will take. I'll know in a few weeks.
I decided to add the cuttings to my LSU Gold tree because it is the largest fig I have, and I think its in the best location. According to Mr. McAfee, figs can be propagated by cleft grafting, bark inlay grafting, or chip budding. He recommended I try the bark inlay method. I really like the bark inlay graft for citrus, and am comfortable with the method, but I had never attempted it with figs before. I also knew it was going to be challenging because fig wood is soft, exudes a sticky latex sap, and it very gnarled and knobby, making it really hard to find a nice straight piece for trimming symmetrically shaped scions.
I sprayed the branches with 90% alcohol to kill any mold spores, disinfected my pruners and grafting knife, and cut off three of the large branches. After I let the white sap run for a little bit, I made an initial incision into the bark along the top of one of the branches. I was happy to find the bark slipped very easily. I then did my best to cut and trim a shallow scion wedge from one of Dr. Randall's cuttings, and slid it under the bark. Finally, I wrapped the stock and scion with parafilm, and secured it in place with a rubber band. I did two of these grafts, and then attempted a cleft graft. I'll be surprised if the cleft graft takes, since I couldn't get a nice straight cut of scion wood, and I had a really hard time getting the cambium layers to line up well. Hopefully at least one of them will take. I'll know in a few weeks.
Cut back branches on one side.
Branch before bark inlay grafting.
3-inch incision along the top of the branch.
Banana fig scion trimmed to a narrow wedge.
Sliding the scion under the incision in the bark.
Stock and scion wrapped in parafilm.
I tried two bark inlay grafts and a cleft graft.
This experiment cost me at least 9 big figs. Hope it works.
