This is NorthernVirginiaDi --- accidentally cut out the text from my post. Here it is. Thank you:

Hi All, I cut down my fig about a month ago because of the cold winter (last year I waited through June to cut it down and got lots of figs but none ripened before the cold weather set so I cut earlier this year!). I prefer to have one (or possibly two) main trunk. The fig is growing nicely but into more of a bush. Is there any reason to keep it in a bush? If I want just one trunk should I trim the extra shoots now to concentrate the growth in one area or wait until it is a little more developed.

Reason for bush form growing inground is for survival because of cold winters
here in our area.
Also grow in tree form in large containers in yard .
Martin

No idea. It was a gift. I agree, it looks very healthy. I'm optimistic about getting figs this year.

I would go ahead and cut all but the tallest branch now and stake it. This way, by the winter you can pot it or protect it.

Like Martin said if you leave it there, you should also leave it as a bush as it may not survive the winter otherwise.

more branches = more Figs :)

Keeping it as a bush makes it much easier to cover with a frost-cover bag. I have a mango tree I planted in the ground the day before the coldest night in a year here in northern California at 24F. Between old Christmas lights and a frost cover I kept it above 40F under there.

You've got a beautiful plant. Enjoy your figs! I'm hoping for some this fall from my Black Jack fig i planted the first week of March, and I know they can grow fast: we once had a volunteer fig go from seed to two fig fruits in the fall with the tree seven feet tall, from zero to productive all in one season.

The squirrels had planted it in just the wrong place, though, and we were reluctantly forced to cut it down. So we planted our own. A shorter, slower-growing variety.

Thank you everyone for helping me save my tree! After reading these posts I am going to keep it a bush, not a single trunk. Plus I just heard on the news yesterday that avocado trees in CA that are grown as bushes produce more fruit. This was an experiment in CA to deal with the drought conditions. After I heard the story plus all this input, I'm determined to let it continue as it is going. So glad for all the expert advice out there. Now I want to plant a mango tree!

Amaryllis, Any recommendations on variety for this area?

Where I live there's an Indian ex-pat group that charters a planeload of Alphonso mangoes from home once a year, meeting up at the airport to pick up so many cases each. Intense flavor and color, zero fiber, bruises too easily for the mass market. A friend of ours has been in that group and he was so passionate about Alphonsos, saying that they are the most sought-after mango in all of India, that that's what I planted. I bought it from Top Tropicals in Florida after the local nurseryman told me to, that he would just have to order it from someone like them himself anyway and price accordingly.

One place I read said that volcanic soils where the Alphonsos come from may play a part in their flavor; okay, so, I bought some volcanic ash and spread it around it and it at least didn't hurt it any, certainly.

My tree actually set a single fruit but at only a few months old was too young to sustain it, which is fine. But the blossoms! My goodness, lots of them, and the perfume! The honeybees loved it. They were just the most exquisite thing.

My daughter grew lemons in Vermont, hauling the pot in and out with the seasons, so if you want a mango enough you can do it.

Alphonsos grow fairly quickly to great height in the right conditions and I figure that means they'll recover quickly if they need to. (I'm going to keep mine at eight feet or so.) Mallika is a similar type mango that grows more slowly and is supposed to make a good potted tree. Less pruning to keep it to a small size.

Have fun!

Thank you! The never-ending dilemma, what to grow in limited space. Reading your description of the mangoes makes me want to try them! They sound incredible!

I grow my fig tree as a bush. At the end of hard frost I flatten the limb/trunks to ground level and cover with a cover and pile a foot of leaves on top. He survived a -12F and is growing like a bat out of hell. Bush and cover is the only way to go. Containerized plants are far to hard and time consuming if you want any quantity of great fruit.

Hardy Chicago is 7 FT wide and 8 FT deep and about 6 FT tall. He will produce between 200 to 500 figs in which 2/3 minimum will ripen before first frost

Steve

Awesome. Great suggestion. Thank you. Your tree looks beautiful!!!!