Black Madeira KK Fig Tree Unboxing and a Tour of My Humble Fig Collection 

Glad to send some motivation your way! Isn't gardening fun? There are endless possibilities and learning experiences every time I step out into the garden or nursery area. I'll get you those cuttings, just remind me in the winter when they're ready to send.

Thanks for your encouraging words. I love putting these videos out and glad they get you excited about gardening. By the way, you can plant a fig too and just keep it pruned small!

There's so many to collect, it's crazy!

It's starting to put on leaves out in the hoop house and they're looking nice. I'm getting excited to see what it does this year!

Great idea, Casey!

Never thought it would be true but I'm determined to find out!

Glad to share my experience and help other gardeners. It truly does work and the best part is, it's FREE!!!

Mike Kincaid ηβνμ

can you share the link to the youtubu chanel and seller you buy it from

Don't worry about it Nick, it's doing great! I'm super stoked about getting this one from ya cause I knew I was getting great genetics and potential after seeing your large KK. Thanks again for sending it!

Almost forgot to ask you, how do I get this little guy through the winter? We don't get as cold as you but on occasion the temps get down into the teens. Should it be in my 60 degree house or just in my pump house where I can keep it just above freezing. My hoop house isn't heated so it gets really cold in there. Any ideas?

I would definitely keep it above freezing at all times!

Could I order cutting PA?

Would like to have a black Madera myself. But being in SC the old home places with the figs that are around them the old barn still homesteads getting a piece of each one of them is a treasure think about it.

Thanks Michelle. It's gardening pals like you that keep me cranking these videos out. I keep bragging about the zucchini but I just can't help it, the plant seems to put on 6 inches of growth every day!

That's a great idea since it seems to be hard to find information on that topic. Thanks!

No problem, happy to share! Stay warm as you head into winter.

That's great James! It's crazy how easy they root when you do nothing with them and just forget about them in a corner somewhere. Good job on the fertilizer :)

Glad to hear it's working for you. These trays are essential for keeping water at the roots of the figs through the summer. They've been a lifesaver for me.

It's a lot of fun isn't it!

I'll keep an eye on the blade, thanks.

Sounds like you're going to be busy soon. Those figs grow fast! Thanks for uplifing comment and have fun with your cuttings!

Thanks for watching! I'm also in zone 8b and my figs got through a winter that touched 12 degrees. They were in pots and in the hoop house if that helps you figure anything out.

He was a pretty cool dude

That's funny, exactly the same reason I went after Nick's KK. I saw how big his was and it looked so good. I knew if I could get those genetics that it would have the same potential. I'll bet Nick gets harassed all the time by people wanting his Black Madeira KK, haha. I'll post more videos of it in the future when it puts more growth on. It actually has a little fig starting to form now!

Actually when I got mine, it had couple of Figlets :p ... I debated on plucking it to let the plant grow, but ended up removing and since then picked few more. Very Prolific at a very tender age. Anyway, my plan is to let it grow this year as much summer weather I have left (Georgia 7b), and maybe resist the temptation until next year. Until then, just stare at others youtube video and watch them gorge on their BM :-D

That rooster needs a show of his own.

I love that fig! Mine actually got down to 12 degrees one year and bounced back just fine. It was sitting between the hoophouse and a pole barn so maybe the protection from wind helped.

Awesome, thanks a lot! I've been looking for this info and having a heck of a time finding it online. The low end temps you give really help as I had no idea what these figs would take. Based on what you're saying, I think I'll let my figs stay in the hoop house until it freezes so they get acclimated to the cold and then put them in my pump house where I can turn on a heat lamp to keep the temps just above freezing. Thanks again, I appreciate it. Also, I've love to get some hardy Chicago cuttings, I'll pay for them and the shipping when the time is right.

By the way Mike, if you read what I posted on Ross's video, fig hardiness can be greatly affected if, for instance, your figs are enjoying 70 degree weather, and then "an alberta clipper" or other arctic outbreak comes rushing down the Frasier River valley and hits Seattle with temperatures in the 20's, forget the hardiness in the teens. You're absolutely right......they have to get acclimated to the cold for hardiness to increase.

It gets loaded with fruit but nothing ripe yet. I think I may need to put it in the ground and cover with a greenhouse to get it to ripen in my area. but I'll do an update when it leaves out this summer.

Sounds like great mulch

Thanks Stephen, looking forward to getting some fruit next year!

Thanks, I'll have to check it out!

It's been fun and addicting so far! Looking forward to tasting that black madeira fig!

Yeah, they never ripened this year.

Yeah, I thought about that and maybe I should have but it was a pretty green piece of wood and not sure if it would have done anything. You down in Australia? Wish I was headed into spring again!

Mike Kincaid - well you have all the cuttings you want now off the mother plant, looking healthy now. Yep down in Aus

That would be cool. Not sure if I can grow them in my climate but I'll look into it.

I like the comparison between plants and babies, very true. Thanks for the insight and have a fantastic day!

thank you

Thanks Matt! I love our area of the country. Such a great place for gardeners.

Awesome!

These trees are in 7 gallon pots still and growing well. I really need to get them in the ground. I'll do some videos on them as the new growth starts.

Yep, I put that one in the ground. It flourished once it got in soil. Can’t wait to see what it does this year.

Hey Tanya, I know how bad it hurts to want one of these and not have it, lol. Have you tried Ebay, I bought one straight from 'KK' last winter for about $200 on Ebay. I'd be careful about buying the cuttings because I've heard they're hard to root and you can spend a lot on them. You'd be pretty bummed out if you spent a lot of money and none of them took. Be patient and if I can get some to root then maybe we can work something out.

Mike Kincaid you are right that would be a very sad day if none of the cuttings rooted...well then I will wait for you to try to root one? Just don’t forget about me :) please My email is tmesheryakov@gmail.com

@@MikeKincaid79 .. I found Kremp Florist selling the Black Madeira KK branch sticks for $25 plus S/H or the plant if available. They will start to sell it in October to April. I don't know if they are reliable because they said they would substitute if they would run out of the merchandise you want. Can you please add me too. So... maybe we can see how we can work it out. I heard it's getting harder to get it. I will delete my email in a few days. You can email me at Prettysure2see@gmail.com. I don't mind waiting. Thanks. 😏. P.S. I heard the White Madeira is delicious too. But I would like a red interior.

The origin of the plant. Both are Black Madeira but one form comes from UC Davis (which is said to be heavily affected by FMV and doesn't grow well), and the other comes from a guy with the Ebay seller 'KK' who originally go his from a reliable fig growing named Jon of Encanto Farms. The fig from KK grows very strong and healthy and vigorous. And that's the story! So most fig people seek out the 'KK' Black Madeira. I can say that I have 2 'KK' Black Madeira's and they seem to be very healthy and while I just picked up one of them straight from 'KK' on Ebay last fall and haven't seen it going through a growing season yet, it looks very healthy. The other I picked up the year before from a trusted fig guy who has a RU-vid channel, PA Figs, and he got his from 'KK'. That one grew very well last summer and was vigorous and healthy. I've never grown one from UC Davis so I can't personally speak to that. Hope that helps clear up all the mud that plagues the fig world, lol.

Mike Kincaid thanks for the explanation. Very clear info and great to know the story. Appreciate!

Yep, sure did.

I’ll make some available once my tree puts on more growth.

It'll be next year before I do. I'm sold out for the winter on BM KK.

Thanks. Will check back next winter

Thank you David!

Glad you enjoy the channel! Hard to say exactly the problem. I do know that figs need a constant supply of water through the summer. When I don't water as much during the heat of the summer, the leaves turn yellow and get that rusty look to them and the trees stop growing. That's why I like to use the saucers to keep a constant supply of moisture to them. Good luck! By the way, I spent 6 months in Aviano, Italy back in 1998 when I was in the Navy. It was such a beautiful place. It was very warm in the summer and it would rain really hard once a day, every day, but then the sun would come back out again. Everything seemed to grow really well there.

Not in this situation. They've been soaking up the water almost daily.

Great! Let us know how they turn out.

Hi Mike, how can I buy kk fig tree/ cutting from you. Thanks!

Haha, I love the support group idea. We'll have to make it a closed group so people aren't embarrassed to join but I'll bet they show up in droves.

Little and often.. Is fine... but once i get started its hard to stop !

@@aberdonianwanger LOL

Good for you on getting the KK! I'm just trying to figure out how I'm going to overwinter mine now. Yeah, I'd be open to having you come down but Spring would be better, not much going on right now.

Let me know your method for overwintering, don't want to risk losing the Black Madeira, or any other of my varieties for that matter. Also, I'll get back in touch in the spring about a visit.

Sounds good Chris. For now, I just moved my figs into the hoop house. No cold protection there but it buffers from fast temp fluctuations. If it gets below 20 I may move the black madeira into my pump house with a heat lamp.

Great stuff, glad I discovered it for myself.

Thanks! I use finely ground fir tree bark.

Best stuff on Earth

Great idea, thanks Derek. I may have a hard time pinching them though, they look so cool growing on the plant.

Ha! Yeah, I die a little every time. I just tell myself next year's brebas will be worth it.

Good point, that's if I can keep myself from taking all the new wood as cuttings in the winter, haha! These poor figs don't stand a chance.

They sucked up tons of water during the growing season, I was filling the self watering trays almost daily. I wouldn't keep so much water around the pots in the winter. I've been selling rooted fig cuttings through the winter but don't currently have anything for sale. Next winter I'll start up with selling again.

We recently purchased a home with 4 acres and wide assortment of fruit, nut trees and 4 different fig trees. It's been a learning experience for sure but what I have learned figs at least for me are very forgiving. We live in Alabama now and the first year the state experienced a drought and the following enormous amount of rain. The area is extremely humid during spring and summer months. Through all the different weather conditions our figs have produced large amounts with no issues. Bugs and critters are a constant problem but it never seems to bother the fig trees. Hopefully you had good success with your fig tree if you did purchase it. Hope my information helped. Best of luck!

Through the summer I watered about 6 times a month (about every 5 days) whether or not the pans were dry because it coincided with my work schedule. The pans always had a little water in them. I would highly recommend them.

Thanks, Rory! It's still in a container. I really need to clear a section of my property for a fig orchard.

The guy it was actually named after, Keith "KK", just had one posted on Ebay and it may still be there. He sells them occasionally through the year.

Can I still buy a cutting in May and start it up in a pot or is it better to do over winter.

The cuttings are taken from dormant wood that is fully lignified. If you live in a colder region and the plant hasn't started to actively grow then you can still take cuttings but you don't want to use new growth from this year. By the way, KK, was actually selling live 1 gallon plants, not cuttings.

yes

Thank you, and yes, it's fir tree bark that's finely ground. Just landscaping mulch.

Yes, I'll list some this fall/winter on Ebay or Figbid.

I just contacted him on his RU-vid channel, Pa Figs

They might be dead. I would expect to see new growth or roots by now. You can set them aside and just wait to see what happens. Sometimes you'll get growth a year after you stuck the cuttings.

If I had enough cutting material I would, lol. It's still getting established in the ground.

I'm glad you stumbled upon it too. I don't have any cuttings for sale at this time but possibly next year. Thanks for asking.

Mike Kincaid Thank you so much for replying. I would definitely be a customer. What would it take for me to be first on your list lol jk should I reach out or are going to when they’re available?

Yeah, the guy that send it is a really good guy and he apologized. I was just so thrilled to get the genetics and knew that it would regrow. But that's why I made the video on packaging plants.

I've sold a few in the past. I suppose I could sell them again. Maybe I'll do a giveaway!

@@MikeKincaid79 yay

I bought this from a private seller. If you're interested in figs, check out Figbid.com and you'll find tons of nice figs for sale from reputable people.

I explained it in the video. There was a guy with the Ebay seller name of KK and he was selling black madeira plants and cuttings that turned out to be a really well growing strain. It became known as the black madeira KK. You can read about it all over the forums and fig people seek it out.

It's in a few videos but nothing specific on this particular plant. Would you like to see it now?

Mike Kincaid hell YES!!!!

I'll put something together but it's winter so no leaves, lol.

Mike Kincaid yeah I just realized, I’ll wait till spring if u want , I also sent an email to Nick at PA fig too- I’m in Pittsburgh. Thanks Happy thanksgiving

I didn't get it from a nursery but from an individual collector so he may or may not have one available. The best thing to do is check on figbid or Ebay on a regular basis and you will see them for sale.

I'll be selling them on FigBid eventually. My user name is rhodymike.

In the fig world, different strains are sometimes identified by the person who brings it to market. A guy named Keith Karusky brought this particular strain of Black Madeira to market, which is known for it's exceptionally robust growth.

Whatever I have available. Lately, I've been using a mixture of composted cow manure mixed with wood shavings and fine bark.

Haven't had one yet but when I do I'll post a video for sure.

If I can get them to root, yes!

Please contact me and we could exchange emails - I live in Oregon - Are you on Ourfigs? - I am Netstars on the forum

Really like your enthusiasm and I am subscribed to your RU-vid channel

Thanks! Best way to get contact me is through Facebook. I check messages there just about every morning. Facebook: facebook.com/kincaidsnursery

Fresh urine is great, old urine is nasty😜

I now have 2 Black Madeira plants that originated from KK but they need to put on more size to get good cuttings so I'll have them available next fall.

Mike Kincaid ok i ll look forward for it

figaholics.com - they sell cuttings of his 350 varieties of figs.

They're 16 inches in diameter and 2 inches deep.

Thanks, you guys are what make me great!

I'll be working on rooting some soon but it will be later in the summer before they're ready.

At times but I don't currently have any for sale.

Would you keep me in mind when you do?

Never seen it, never heard of it, but now you've got me interested. I'll have to do some hunting too.

@@MikeKincaid79 it’s light yellow with green stripes and people say it taste 👅 like raspberry supper cute out with the guns and start hunting I seen people on eBay or figbid selling them tiger fig panache it’s name 😎

Eventually

Thanks for the warning.

Not yet but eventually.

Thank you for responding let me know please, i am in houston tx

Somewhere around there.

Yeah, my dog kills the grass too but for some reason I have no problem at all. I drink a lot of water though.

PA Figs

I agree with you 100%. I'm new to figs (had them about a year) and learning more every day. It would be nice if a black madeira was a black madeira but somehow things got gummed up in the works and I'm not sure where or when that happened. What I'm after is a vigorous and healthy black madeira and the Ebay seller "KK" seems to have that so I purchased from him. The fig world isn't coming to me, I'm coming into it so I sit back and try to make sense of it but in the end my goal is to have healthy vigorous plants. So if that means buying a black madeira from KK and not UCD then that's what I'm doing. Although it sounds ridiculous, having certain figs from certain sources also gives your fig more "street cred" if you want to sell them later. As funny as it sounds, I've chosen to just play the game.

Well I'm glad someone is just as confused as I am. Thanks for the response!

HakunaMatata the problem in the fig hobby is there are imposters, fakes, and scams everywhere. The issue with the UCD variety is that it is heavily infected with FMV, a fig virus, which causes it to be an extremely frail and slow growing strain of Black Madeira.

Well, I'm pretty sure I'm on the right track. Last spring I bought that BM KK from you and it's doing great by the way, can't wait to see it leaf out this spring. This past fall I bought a BM KK straight from KK on Ebay just because I saw it and couldn't help it, haha. Should be fun to watch them both grow and compare. By the way, I researched that col de dame gris from herman and saw what you were talking about in the forums but when I went back to Ebay and looked at his pics, they look identical to a true CDDG as far as I can tell. What gives? Could the soil and temp play a part in this and who is the ultimate decider on these matters.

Mike Kincaid possibly. There is also the thought that maybe he has 2 different trees? In the end, only you can decide if you are happy with your new tree.

I'll be selling live plants this winter.

I so want to get a Black Madeira KK! How can I buy one from you when you are ready? :) I just received a Black Madeira tree from Just Fruits and Exotics but I think that is probably from the UC Davis variety. I'd love to grow both and compare.

Got the Smith and Col de Dame Gris and I still think the BMKK is the one to have.

I'm sure there are a whole lot of things I don't know.

Mike, the same can be said about all of us. I find myself learning something new every day. And I travel a lot during the summer so I've managed to sample a lot of figs, mangoes, bananas, papayas, and other fruit from all around the world that many people don't get the chance to try. And thankfully, I will be planting a lot of them on a land in Dolan Springs. I mean, up until a year ago I had never heard of the Nam Wa banana but now it has become one of my favorites and i am looking forward to growing them. And then there are the Hawaiian bananas. And don't even get me started on dates. If you like dates and you get to the Middle East you might be in date heaven. But figs. Well, they are my weakness. I had tried them twenty years ago and they did nothing for me. But then, I was visiting a friend's farm and he had twenty types of figs and I just happen to visit him when some of his fig trees were ripening. He hand me a few turkey figs. I bit into one and I thought I was eating pure candy. It was the sweetest thing I had ever tasted. And the second one, which was from Syria, I think, have blood red flesh and it was sweeter than the first. And this is where my love affair with the fig started. Anyway, did you get your fig cutting from the guy in PA that NPR wrote an article about? www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2012/08/22/159750471/meet-a-man-on-a-mission-to-save-rare-and-unusual-figs

No, I actually got the whole plant from a guy named Nick that runs the channel PA Figs. It's a beautiful little plant and I'm looking forward to seeing how well it grows next year now that it's getting established. I'm from Phoenix, AZ originally. I'll bet you can grow a lot of nice tropical fruits in Dolan Springs if you have a good water source.

Yes, I do have a good water source but, I know that you are aware that the secret, or one of the best secrets to growing healthy fruit and vegetables is wood chips. Or wood chip mulch. Yes, that guy from the state of Washington has started a whole new movement for permaculture and doing things a bit differently. But wood chips are awesome because they retain water so well and release it to the trees as needed.

Whoa, that’s awesome, lol. I saw cadaver cakes and thought maybe you work in a funeral home, haha.

@@MikeKincaid79 I am a soon to be Mortician but it's just my gamer tag lol.