My gardening channel is mostly about growing figs and other fruits and vegetables. I sometimes like to think of it as joining me in Figonomics 101 102 and 103. I always like to say, "The proof is in the (fig) pudding", so let's journey together and discover how to grow, care for, protect, and love your wonderful fig trees, and other fruits, berries, and vegetables. Welcome to my channel! Lou Monti
Hi Lou! These are three wonderful cultivars anyone would be proud to have. I love looking at each stage of growth until perfect ripeness, which is so important to know! Thanks for caring and sharing!!
Lou I have to respectfully disagree about inground VS containers. My container figs are tastier, larger figs, more productive and fruit sooner. Maybe because I mix my own soil from scratch I can add everything the tree needs and control the ph much easier than inground. I can monitor moister with the drip irrigation and know how much water each tree gets and shut the the water off to a tree as the figs are ripening. Flavor comes from the minerals and biology in the soil as long as I add those the figs should have flavor. If they are growing in bark or composted forest products they are not going to have the flavor of an inground tree. If one is not going to keep them happy they need to go inground. Yes you can get more harvest with less effort with trees inground over time but sometimes it can be hard to manage there size. Plus one may not have the space. if one is growing in containers they need to understand soil and have regular irrigation.
Great video do you give away fig cuttings at the end of the growing season I live in zone 9a high desert California and would love to post how your verity grow out here
Like watching your videos greatly. I am so jealous of your fig trees, they look so healthy. I live in deep south Louisiana and all of my trees have lost their leaves because of fig rust problems we have down here with all of the heat and humidity. I have 21 different trees planted at this time. They are all young and just started producing some figs this year. Watching your methods, all of them were planted "high and dry". We do have a lot of rain in our area, which causes problems. Keep making the videos and teaching us to grow better. Thanks.
@GrigoryZhuk Hi there! Well, yes and no! I gave my Nordland to a friend. He still has it planted in the ground, and I'm able to taste a few fruits of that variety every year. Northland is a large and tasty fig, but it is prone to cracking and splitting in significant rain. Planting high and dry and holding back a bit on watering Pryor to fruilt harvest helps considerably. Thanks for watching! Lou Mont
I just LOVE your videos. Always dropping that great life knowledge. Ramble on sir My favorite part: I can’t eat another fig. No more sugar. Next words: mmmmmmmmmm that was so good!! I so hope to one day say I can’t possibly eat any more figs. Hey once you start sharing your collection, I want to be in the front of that line. And geez man what are you going to do with all those persimmons. PLEASE SEND ME SOME. Overnight to dallas. It will work and you can charge me whatever you want. That fig jam looked incredible. I took like ten pictures of the fig cake recipe. Ty guys for sharing can’t wait for the jam recipe. I use all the hard figs I get on Facebook marketplace to make jam. You guys probably have nice ripe figs that barely need any sugar or syrup, if any at all. Hey when you send the persimmons, you can throw in some jam ;-)
Hi Lou, as usual thanks for sharing your experience with us!!! It's so important for new growers!!! I have some new cuttings too in the ground and I put them way too close to each other just like yours, could you explain in detail how and when to separate the roots without damaging them? Thanks!
@italianbusker3329 Hi! Well, it's certainly always best to start them further apart since it makes it so much easier to dig them up. In my case, I only need a few to give to friends as gifts, so I'm not concerned about saving every one. However, I rarely lose one because I use a special tool that I have to pound down around them to cut off the roots into a tight square. I've featured it several times in my videos. It's always better for you to plant them further apart than I do, though! Thanks for watching! Lou Monti
Hi Lou, if you’re are having problems with nematodes in the one spot, may I suggest a method that seems to work best. When you decide to put a tree in the ground, dig out a very large hole , large enough to hold 8 bags of compost to plant your fig tree in. You will see no problem with nematodes. Every year you will need to top dress the tree with 2 or 3 bags in the spring. You will see this works. I did this with a friends tree that lives in New Jersey near the shore. After a couple years having problems with other trees, he dug up all of his trees removed the dirt and used neem oil to treat for nematodes and then replanted them in compost and hasn’t had any issues since. That was about 13 years ago. Just a suggestion, for what it’s worth 😊
I started with Brown Turkey & Celeste because they were cheap & cold hardy and I can get fruits over a longer period. I have room for 3 or 4 more and I think I`m gonna try Olympian & RDB. Not sure yet. I saw a deal for 4 potted mystery varieties (their choice) for 25. My luck is two of them will be what I already have. I still don`t know exactly which types my trees are because there are differences even among the ones I have. The Celeste are tissue cultured so no fruit this year. The Brown Turkey appears to be the English variety.
Hey Lou ,I have a question ,I have a fig tree 3 years old Doree variety and it had about 50 figs on it ,it dropped them almost all 😢 because we are in a drought for the last 45 days it only rained 1 time like 20 minutes ,I watered the figs every day ,what am I doing wrong ,can it be that I wattered to much? It is still hot as hell and dry ,it wad 89 degrees and above for 45 days straight :(
@dariusrus5335 Hi Darius! Might I suggest watching my videos on watering Fig trees? There are several accurate videos on RU-vid, as well, but be on the lookout for some that I feel do misrepresent the facts. The truth is that I really can't properly diagnose your problem without having boots on the ground and being able to experience your situation first hand. As I've tried to explain in my videos, the proper watering of figs often requires a very disciplined approach. Watering your tree every day may be causing the problem. Be just as careful not to water your fig tree too much as you should too little! Lou Monti
@@loumonti10 Thank you for the answer ! I think I solved it somehow or at least made it better ,I put mulch around the tree ,and now the remaining figs stopped falling and start to get ripe ,by the way ,how are your ronde de Bordeaux figs so big? Mine are tiny but delicious..the tree isnonly 2 years old in the ground tho,I am running out of space ,my wife will castrate me 😂😂😂😂
Hi Lou and Debbie. Thank you for the fig bread recipe. I definitely would love the fig jam recipe too. Great information on fig sanitation and your dog is adorable. I like seeing the progress on the baby fig cuttings. It’s crazy how you just stick the cuttings in the ground and they grow.
Great information on maintenance and hygiene. I do not think I would have thought of this anytime soon. So kind of you to share your recipe. You guys are such a kind and loving couple and appreciate all learned information on figs and more from your videos. Thanks.
One of the many things I like about peters honey is that the honey that drips from the eye mostly prevents the ants from getting inside of it. :) Also I’m glad you advise on how and when to pick figs, especially Celeste as waiting for it to get perfectly ripe is key to enjoying it fully. Such a remarkable difference even waiting a day or two for that soft shriveled cracked skin. Then if it’s dry it is really really good. :)
Nice I just picked up 4 Chicago figs this year and hoping for a nice harvest in a few years. My tree down the shore I covered for the first time so the birds don’t get them before us
I bought a panache tiger fig last year, very healthy. I got only 5 delicious figs as it’s still young, but as I understand they should be striped yellow figs. Mine are not striped at all, mine are green. Do you know anything about panache tiger?
Hello, can I buy or trade cuttings? For this one called "Peter's Honey" because I always wanted to taste it. Cause of all the RU-vid videos like this. 😂
I always love your videos Lou-You’re a great teacher. Even the ones I listen to repeatedly, I always pick up something different. Don’t change a thing.!!!
@dbanks3156 Hi there! I don't have never had a problem with rust in my 7-A Bew Jersey location. Towards the end of the season, I regularly have a slight problem in my 7-B, Virginia location, but I have never felt that it was serious enough to take any action or to use a chemical of any kind. Rust simply has never been a major consideration of mine, and I don't think that it has ever had an effect on my harvests.Thanks for watching. Lou Monti
@@loumonti10 thanks Lou. I’m further north in 6B, I’m thinking that maybe I have an issue with mites and I just thought it was rust since people talk about that a lot on various fig forums. I’ll have to do more research. I’m only in my 2nd year growing figs but big history of it in my family (also Monti’s). Must be in the blood. Thanks again, love the channel.
Thanks for the advice, it’s been quite helpful. There’s only one fig that you grow that I have on the chopping block and that’s Brunswick. It sours pretty easily. If the weather is perfect it’s okay. You seem to like it, maybe I should try another one from a different source. 😊
@lukeott58 Hi there! I only mentioned Brunswick for the sake of mentioning it based on its well-known traits. Some are good, and others are not. I didn't recommend it, but I rather profiled it against the backdrop of my own many experiences with it, some of which have been rewarding and others not. Growing Brunswick is extremely situational, like every other fig variety, and the results are highly dependent on a large umber of important factors. Additionally, the truth is that I get very bored growing only (so called) berry figs, and I'm irresistibly attracted to many other types (like the LSU varieties for example) which capture my fascination and lead me to enjoy their unique qualities very much! Additionally, whenever I plant a fig tree, I try to plant it in a purposely selected place and under the best possible circumstances that are all designed and intended to encourage the very best potential results. Thanks for watching! Lou Monti
To love nature is a beautiful and rewarding thing. It is so magnificent like the special people we may have in our lives too. There are so many types of fruiting cultivars to appreciate. I understand your passion for Figs because they are so unique, giving and yes they are friends as well. I cherish my Fig trees as well and make sure they get what they need to be healthy. I have to continuously thank you for that knowledge as I have learned the most from you! You are a true treasure for sharing your knowledge so freely. GRAZIE MILLE!!!
Dear Lou, I’ve been a dedicated follower for a few years now, and I look forward to each and everyone of your videos. There are so many fig videos on the Internet, but only one Lou Monti. Your ardent fans came for the figs, but stay for your humanity. Today’s video is a perfect example…. Thank you for sharing the remembrance of your grandfather. When your voice broke and for a few moments we could hear nothing but the wind rustling through the leaves of the fig tree, I sensed your grandfather’s presence was with us. From your grandfather, to your father and uncles, to you, and on to us, to pass your wisdom.Thank you, Lou. I am a physician and a farmer. We grow 80 different varieties of vegetables, fruits and grains on our 300 year old working organic farm here in Long Valley, NJ: EthosFarmtoHealth.org It would give me great pleasure to host you and Deb for a visit our beautiful farm, you are always welcome here. I look forward to walking through the vegetable fields and learning more about your grandfather. Warmest Regards, Ron Weiss 201-725-6524
Never had a fig before. My Chicago hardy are on their second year up here in Southern MI. What's some other varieties you recommend for cold hardiness?
Lou I bought Peter's Honey,Ronde de Bordeaux,Dessert King,LSU Hollier,Celeste,Pastiliere,Sultane and Filaciano Bianco because of you ,now I am begging you to get the Moro di Caneva , it is superb !! I ate 6 figs today from it ,year 2 ,tight eye ,rain resistant and it grows in Northern Italy where it is hot and humid on the hills ,I got it imported directly from Italy ,couldn t be happier ,also Campaniere is in my sight I heard great things about it ,you have to get the Moro ,you will love it ,I would send you cuttings but I am in South eastern Europe zone 7b
@scottcarroll550 Hi Scott. It's amazing that you brought up the mayonnaise subject because we had dinner with our son yesterday, and he introduced his mother and me to that very mayonnaise!!! I'll give it a try with tomato. Thanks! Lol!
Now my wife "hates" you even more! I do not have a space for another tree and now i need that LSU Hollier ( and maybe a couple of other varieties). Thank you for your videos
I love your Family 😊, a healthy family around the lovely tree. Thank you for your passion for figs 🎉.My fig cutting that I just put it in the ground. I hope it will develop as strong as your figs. Your bushs look gorgeous 😍
