Question for next year.
Most of my figs will be container grown, and then stored in the greenhouse over winter.
What I have read is to bury the pots 1/3 into the ground.
What is the "normal" progression of pot sizes,  (Ie, from rooted cuttings onward) and what do you believe to be the largest pot size required if you are putting them partially into the ground to get nutrients.

Thanks

From newly rooted cuttings into 32oz cup. When good mass of roots seen in 32oz cup, it goes into 1 gal pot.

Almost all my 1gal pots upwards are partially buried in ground. The largest pot I have used are 20 gal & they are hard to move. I prefer the larger pots sides to be buried in 2 to 3" of top soil  than in ground to facilitate ease of moving them in Fall.

I have never buried my cedar barrels. So far they have stayed out for winter. I believed their root system have gone in-ground.

Hey Robert I agree with Paul, from cup's I put my young rooted cuttings into one gallon containers , usually keep them there for 3-4 months then into the 2G for the remainder of the season depending on how vigorous it is. Generally I dont go bigger than 2G pot in the 1st year because of space issues in the winter.

You already got idea for moving up in pot size.
If you are going to move the pots back and forth, then you have to settle on pot size that you can easily move back in and out. If you are young then probably a 10-gallon pot is enough if trees are properly trimmed and root-pruned periodically. If one is in senior age category, then 7-gallon pot seem to be on the upper side of weight ((& later 5-gallon....weight depending on soil type used). I still have some trees in 5-gallon pots are are doing OK (just OK).
The 7-gallon and 5-gallon pots need holes on the side of the pot near the bottom (but on the sides for easy cutting of roots in the fall). The small size of the pot is easily compensated by the roots grazing out from the pot in search of moisture and nutrients and this may require periodically watering the pot well so water drains out of these holes to keep the outside moist. You will be surprised at the amount of the roots that go out of the pot and help the plant.
The cutting of these roots (going out through holes) increases the period between pruning of roots inside the pot but does not eliminate the need for root pruning completely.

Nelson, are you getting fruits from your 2 gallon trees?

OttawanZ5, when is a good indicator to go up to the next pot size?  Can you skip a pot size and go from a 2G to a 7G, or do Fig roots like to be tight?

Paully22, Do I understand you correctly, where you suggest that you do NOT partially bury your pots, instead you simple apply topsoil around them.  This would save considerably effort when needed to transport back inside. Are the roots using the top soil for moisture and nutrients?

!g, 2g, 5g, then to 15g or in-ground. I am contemplating making 40ish gallon containers out of 55 gallon blue-plastic, food grade drums.

Hi Robert absolutely I had atleast a dozen plants in 2G pots that fruited and ripened figs this year. Certain varieties will outgrow a 2G pot in no time I have atleast 30 plants I have to put into bigger pots next year as they already seem rootbound they will be going into 5G pots next season.

For pots bigger than 5 gal, I like to pile top soil around the bigger pots instead of digging. Very easy to move them for winterisation.

Please let me know what else you need after your recent meeting with fig friends in Toronto.

Jon,
Please remind me of your source for the 15 gallon pots. As I recall, you got them from a supplier in CA and those pots are much different (pot height >> pot diameter) from standard nursery pots (pot height ~ pot height).
JD

Torontoborn
There is really no hard and fast rule for moving into 5 or 7-gallon pots from 2 or 3-gallon pots but I will find it too early to move from 2-gallon to 7-gallon.

Also, I prefer not to bury pots when placing on south side wall and just place soil around it to cover the holes, which protects it from wind. However, everywhere else, and more so if the plants are tallish, I bury the pot 1/3 which keeps it safe from the gusts of wind toppling it.