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Clarification on pruning in short season climate

I am confused as to how to prune my trees in my short season climate. I have read that I should remove all breba so I can get main crop, but I have also read that I should choose cultivars that have a good breba and not try to get a main season crop. I have also heard to prune after 6 new leaves on a branch so the main season will ripen. I am sooo confused.

The reason I am asking now is that I am wondering if I should prune my figs while dormant and trade the cuttings. This will eliminate my breba, correct?

i'm no expert,
but I think of the figs you have, all but King are best for main crop.
King, desert king is a breba crop, so do not do any pruning of it now.
For the rest, the pruning after 5 or 6 leaves is done in spring/ early summer to encourage formation of main crop figs,
so the plant does not put on a lot of new growth, but grows figs instead. pruning these other trees now for shape should not advesly
affect next years main crop.
others might have better advice.

Unless you are growing a breba-only variety, like "Desert King" you will probably want to pinch off all breba, and only allow main-crop figs to develop.  You are in Zone 5b.  Try growing early ripening varieties, and forget those varieties that need hot, sunny, dry climates and require long seasons to ripen figs.  Prune to establish the basic framework of branches, then pinch to control growth and direct energy into ripening just main-crop figs.  Stop all fert's. by mid July, at the very latest.  If you use organics, there will be enough residual fert's left in the medium to carry figs over until dormancy.

Follow pinching instructions in reply #2, and stay away from high nitrogen fertilizers which delay onset of main-crop figs.  If you can, you could try pushing and extending the season by doing the 'fig shuffle', both in the Spring and Fall.  You may get a few weeks more growing time by doing the "in at night, and out during the days".  I doubt you are growing grounded trees in 5b, so the shuffle might be an alternative for late croppers.  It may just get you some ripe figs instead of "almost ripe" before onset of dormancy.

Make sure your containers are large enough to support root growth, and restrict water at the roots as figs ripen.  Don't forget the top dressing of granular limestone.  Figs hate acidic mediums.

Good luck, and good growing.


Frank

I'm glad for the clarification on Desert King. Do the scion/cuttings need to be a certain diameter in order to root?

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