Ken, based on my experience it doesn't really matter if they touch, the trunks will eventually grow into each other. The one thing you do want to do is to make sure to allocate leaf space exclusively for the male and the female respectively, otherwise pruning becomes a mess. You will need a total area of at least 3'x8' for the bushy "head" of the two vines at the minimum. In this small of a space you will need to be pruning several times in the first half of the summer to remove all the long shoots coming way out. If you have more space than 3'x8' that would make it easier. Scott

Gftg, You can cut a branch and place it in a old one gallon milk jug and make sure you add water to it every couple of days. I would duct taped it to the trunk of the smaller tree. In addition, you can also hand pollinated with a fine art brush to ensure some fruits. You can also freeze some pollens if the trees bloom at a different time. You Can also hope for windy days and let the bees to do their job. Lastly, you can watch YouTube and learn how to bark graft. Collect your male scionwoods in late February and wrapping it with moist paper towel and place in a zip lock bag. Put the bag in the refrig until your trees leafed out some time in May then you can start grafting. Make sure you rub off all the new shoots below your graft union every couple of days until the shoots stop. This is important because you want all the nutrients go to feed the scion. Good luck. Tony

Sorry, but it's a male. Female flowers are larger and have a very prominent proto-papaya fruit within the petals. The big guy is pretty, but won't ever bear. You should buy or start a girlfriend for him.

For more info on the "weird sex life of figs" .... see http://home.planters.net/~thegivans/figsex.html..