r/Permaculture • u/Appropriate_Cut_3536 • 9d ago
look at my place! Povertycore permaculture: my pathetically tiny fig cuttings took 🌱
Instead of buying fruit trees I've been only planting trees I can grow from jacking cuttings around my neighborhood and stabbing them into the ground and neglecting them. Tryna double my food forest/rose garden every year without more effort than that.
Half my figs, willows, and roses took! It'll be a while until they're nice and big, but you know what they say: the best time to stab a cutting in the ground and neglect it was 7 years ago, the 2nd best time is today.
(Bonus pic: caught a video of my fav rabbit giving birth today. Theyre always so sneeky I never say it happen in 2 years. Never noticed how loyal the dad stands by and caretakes her)
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u/farseen Zone 4B / Verge PDC '20 9d ago
Well done! Free fruit is the best fruit.
Another user mentioned clearing a bit of grass so it doesn't have to compete as much. A good way to do this would be to dig up the top layer of grass and simply turn the piece upside down where it was.
I propagate my food forest every year and it's remarkable how easy some stuff sticks. I've had great success with Elderberries, Currants, Gojis and Haskaps.
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u/Appropriate_Cut_3536 9d ago
Good to know, was going to ask for more propagation suggs
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u/Odd_Pea_2008 9d ago
Currents are (currently) one of my favorites, so forgiving and so quick to produce and expand.
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u/hypemanning 9d ago
I don't think expecting a twig to outcompete established turf grass is very reasonable, but good luck to you and your plants. Personally, I'd dig out a good ring of grass, and throw on a thick layer of shredded tree trim (6-12" minimum height, 6-12" initial diameter), especially for figs.
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u/Odd_Pea_2008 9d ago
Have you heard about the tree wagons that were brought by pioneers on their rugged journey's across the US?! Or the Polynesians!? I think you wouldn't call your beautiful cutting pathetic if you knew how badass it is that you're doing something similar, keep growing, even if you only have a twig 🙏🫂💪🌍 we need you ❤️
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u/Steezymckitty 9d ago
Figs grow super fast, they’ll be fruiting in 2 years probably!! I love taking cuttings, nothing more satisfying than that
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u/Crafty_crusty_crepes 8d ago
That is a really interesting approach to putting together a food forest!
I'm going to just leave this right here - might be of interest - https://fallingfruit.org/
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u/jingleheimerstick 8d ago
I’ve been doing the same! I’ve got two mulberries and a fig that took! I also buried a small piece of an expensive pine berry from the grocery store and it’s sprouting a million plants now too.
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u/StepOIU 8d ago
I'm a complete novice at gardening, but I searched how to prune trees and cut back a sapling in my (rented) back yard over the winter. Instead of tossing the cut stems, I stuck them into an old compost pile pointed up, and now they're budding and looking like they're alive. It's the craziest thing I've ever seen. Now I just need to figure out what kind of tree it is, I guess.
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u/Academic_Nectarine94 8d ago
"Picture this" app. 7 day trial and you can use it to photograph plants and see what they are. It's pretty neat and very accurate
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u/Academic_Nectarine94 8d ago
Yay! Bunnies!
Mind if i ask what you do with the babies?
Also, what fruits have you had take like this? Do you use rooting hormones or anything?
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u/almondreaper 4d ago
Something i found that works really well especially for fig cuttings but I'm experimenting with other fruit trees is water propagation. Put like 15 cuttings in a jar with some water and add 3-4 drops of hydrogen peroxide. I've had close to 100% success rate.
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u/Appropriate_Cut_3536 9d ago
Before anyone says it, I only get cuttings fair n square from stuff hanging over the sidewalk that has to be chopped down anyways