If you want a thicker trunk, top the tree. Nip the top to keep it from growing taller.

I am certainly no expert, but I'll tell you what happened with me. First fig purchased from Gurney's online last year. It arrived about 7" high, and I put it in a pot. It came with a small dowel type stake. The pot is about a 3 gallon pot, and I put it in our vineyard on the drip system.

I read in this forum that at 5 or 6 leaves, you should pinch the growth. So I did. By doing that, a few new branches formed with more leaves. No figs. Not one. End of last year, it was 2 feet tall.

This year, it's second year, when it came out of dormancy, it aggressively grew more leaves and shoots, and I did what I did before. Pinched after 5 leaves formed per branch. Wow! I have 6 figs, and a bunch more on the way (I can see little figgies just starting), and the tree is fat and spicy and 3 feet tall!!

Good luck to you!
Suzi

Al, I want to know the answer. Seems to me that thicker trunks also seem to weather our cold better.

Al, what you are describing is the moment! he he.

Cold-hardiness (absent the effects of culture) is permanent and genetically predetermined, but that doesn't mean there isn't a sliding scale where genetics have a bearing. As trees pass through their growth phases (embryonic, juvenile, intermediate, and sexually mature) they become more resistant to cold and the injuries it causes. We can see this in the fact that young trees often need more protection from extremes of cold than their older counterparts. Since thicker trunks are a product of age and maturity, it's sound reasoning when you link thicker trunks to a greater degree of hardiness.

"Al, what you are describing is the moment!" ??

Al

OK, lets just keep it simple. You want figs? Pinch at 4-5 leaves!! It is what it is!
Suzi

The moment,

M = F*D,

where M (N*m) is the moment, F is the force (N), and D is the distance (m). Them physics nutbags call this a torque.

The same reason a cheater pipe works better than a regular wrench for them stubborn bolts.

What Al describes is true. The trunk will thicken faster if the tree is not topped. However to properly answer your question you should decide first whether you want your tree to take a tree form or a bush form. There is no right answer as far as that goes its simply a matter of personal preference.

In his first post he wonders when he gets figs. He needs to pinch! JMHO!

..... but pinching inhibits an increase in trunk caliper and contributes to flopping over, which was his primary concern. ("How can I stimulate growth such that the trunk gets thicker?")

Things aren't always as simple as they seem, or as simple as we would like them to be.

Al

I thank all of you for the posts to my questions. I understand the physics of the responces and I will try to post some photos this weekend. Its true that my primary concern is the tree flopping over and right now I have it tied up to a stake. It would be great if you can tell from the photos what kind of tree I have. Its great to know that I have a well of people to go to when I have questions and get such good and quick responces. Thanks again

Tony

Hi Tony,
post pictures of fruit in and out (cut in half )and what you think is the most common leaf on the plant when the time comes.
Perhaps someone might be able to identify it.
Martin