severe Pruning of a young fig tree

4 months ago

We have a fig tree and I wanted to keep it as small as possible before it gets out of control as I know they can grow into massive monsters.
How would it be to simply cut off the 3 main branches at around the point I have indicated with red arrows? Would it not produce fruit next summer? I just want to keep cutting it back every year as much as possible. And if there is less fruit, then so be it. Hoping it will produce fruit long-term if given severe pruning in its early years.
The height of the tree would be around 4.5 feet (140 cm) at the level of the red arrows if cut. We live in northern Spain so it gets very hot in the summer and freezing in the winter.
I don't have much knowledge of anything surrounding gardens in general...
Thank you

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Comments (7)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
4 months ago
its yours.. do whatever you want to it...

but let me ask... why not just get rid of it... it will never FIT in that spot.. so why torture and and yourself trying to force it???? .. restricting it to 4.5 feet is extreme ....

otherwise. just go for it.. if nothing else.. you will learn how to prune... keep notes and let us know how it impacts future fruiting...

does it really FREEZE in spain... or are you using the term loosely??? .. i wouldnt expect fig to survive a freeze...

ken
vgkg Z-7 Va
4 months ago
It appears to be about 6 ft tall in the pic and personally I wouldn't prune it other than 1-2 interior branches which would open up the center to more sunshine and better air circulation a bit more. If it survives the winter (doesn't freeze down to the roots) I'd wait until next year for more pruning to keep it to your desired height.
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Sorry for the late reply....I just read your additional postings. First, before you do anything, go to YOU-TUBE and search for fig tree pruning/training/planting videos. You'll be surprised at the information that you can view. Second,...if/when you pinch out the terminal bud, at the top of the main-stem, you will encourage dormant buds to break below this point, which will then become the new branches. These branches will be trained to to grow upwards, and will increase the total height of the "tree". These new branches will also eventually be pinched back to encourage more buds to break. You'll have a nice rack of new fruiting branches in no time at all. This will be a work-in-progress, and you may not get too many figs while this training is being done to establish the basic framework of your future tree. But figs grow on new wood, so you may get a few this year....maybe. You say you are located in Missouri. Your tree should still be dormant. If it is dormant, it will not be too late to start to prune, but I would wait until the tree starts to grow for this season, and see if buds start to break along the main-stem, and to make sure your terminal bud is still alive and growing. I'd let the plant take off for at least a month, and put on some growth before pinching/pruning. Fertilize, and let the tree grow so you can see what and where to prune. You don't mention how big a pot the "tree" is growing in, but now, while the tree is still dormant, is the time to do a re-pot, using the correct, quick-draining mix. Growing figs in containers is vastly different than growing trees that are planted into the ground. Search this forum for growing figs in containers. I hope this gives you some idea about what to do when training a Fig tree. There's also plenty of prior postings on this forum about training fig trees. Once you establish the basic structure of your tree, keeping it productive and in control is very easy. Good luck. Frank
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dieseler
4 months ago
last modified: 4 months ago
Markbriscoe , your fig plant looks like it does well in your winters you must be protecting it.

Going back to your question yes you can prune it without harm at those spots you show.

Will it get fruit next season?

You will be taken off the fruiting branches but they will sprout new ones next season where you make the prune cuts. You may or may not get some ripen fruit next season depending on how early it awakens.

The following season though will be better as you will have more of a supporting canopy

to work with.

Fig plants are pretty tough and take a trimming like a bush does and will keep growing

as they ALWAYS need to be pruned if the grower wants his plant kept in check.

Martin
markbriscoe
Original Author
4 months ago
Thanks so much for your comments... I should mention that I am not wishing it to be permanently at 4.5 feet. it will grow taller than that of course but hopefully not much more than 10 - 12 feet if I can possibly help it. There are lots of fig trees around in our locality so they must be hardy enough to survive the frost. Yes in northern Spain it goes below freezing point at times.
Well, I will probably go ahead and make those 3 cuts. Its always good to clarify on forums etc with people who have more experience than I do... Thanks again
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
4 months ago
Fruiting fig trees, Ficus carica, are a lot more cold hardy than many suspect. They are certainly frost hardy as frosts are not uncommon in zone 9 and these trees flourish here. In fact, the cultivar Chicago Hardy is good to zone 6 (-10F) but may die back to the roots in a hard winter however will resprout and produce fruit the following season. So hard pruning as indicated is definitely possible but never a requirement unless one wants to keep the tree small. And that is purely a personal objective as the trees never get huge (20-25' typically) and will produce fruit without receiving any pruning attention.
vgkg Z-7 Va
4 months ago
Below is a pic of our 2 fig trees (Brown Turkey & Celeste > both fruits seem identical to me) they're about 12 ft tall and I wouldn't want them any taller. Last winter I pruned out the center limbs of both "bushes" since they seemed to have a very light crop the year before. This opened them up for more sunlight and this past year they went gang busters, best crops ever. To pick the figs up top I use a long squeeze grabber to pull over a limb which are very flexible and don't snap.

They have frozen down to the roots on 2 occasions a while back, temp dropped to 3F.
kitasei2
4 months ago
I have a Brown Turkey fig in a big container that I have struggled to overwinter here (NY zone 6b but now 7a). I haul it i to the coldest room, sink in ghe compost pile, wrap up elaborately. I have yet to have fruit. Maybe I do best to leave it in the ground?

severe Pruning of a young fig tree

Comments (7)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

vgkg Z-7 Va

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severe Pruning of a young fig tree

Comments (7)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

vgkg Z-7 Va

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dieseler

markbriscoeOriginal Author

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

vgkg Z-7 Va

kitasei2

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markbriscoe
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