I have a Desert King fig in ground (second year) that is putting out lots of main crop figs for it's size (about 15, maybe 20?). In order to make the tree branch, I pruned the new growth when it was about a foot long, and since then it grew several more branches. It seems that pruning encourages fig growth. So here's my two questions:

1. We don't get the wasp here, so probably none will ripen. So I'm tempted to remove the figs to give the tree more energy. But I remember reading that someone remove all the main figs on the Desert King and then the following year there were no brebas. What's the strategy?

2. Is the summer pruning (remove tip after 5-6 leaves) the best technique for keeping the Desert King small and bushy? I would love to grow the tree with multiple trunks, but mine has already a main one, I'm not sure I'm comfortable cutting everything off close to the ground and hope it will sprout from the roots next spring.

I would leave the figs on. At this stage it is best to slow down growth and getting the tree ready for winterisation. These DK main crop figs will never ripen and will fall off on their on. DK is a breba fig tree only.

DK has a tendency to sucker. Hence you can still have a bush.

I pinch my DK almost at every 6 leaves. This will force branching as well as keeping tree as low as possible. By the 5th or 6th year, the pinching benefits will give you hundreds of figs.

I also have a question about desert king main crop.
mine has had a couple on now for about 2 months, and has just in the last week or so started to make more main crop. My question is with consideration of next years production of breba as well as overall health of the plant, How late into the season should I let it produce the main crop figs? when, if at all, should I start removing the new main crop?

Thanks
Grant
Z5b

I let mine stay on and they eventually drop on their own. For looks, sometimes in Jan. I take a stick & knock them off. Herman2 have recommended leaving the main crop figs on before. I cannot remember exactly the reasons he gave. My tree is an outdoor tree. Winter temp does goes down to -8*C here. Windchill can be up to -15*C. Such cold conditions usually last about 5 to 7 days. The biggest threat actually comes from sudden cold snaps in Oct or a sudden warming trend in Jan/Feb followed by a cold snap. This will do most damage to tree limbs.

Thanks Paully,
I remember Herman2's post. the reason he gave was that where the main crop grow this year, is where next years breba will form, and the main need to reach a certain stage of maturity for the breba to form. I am concerned about taxing the strength and vitality of the plant. It is still realatively young, aquired last year from Adriano, it was about a foot high, now about 4 feet. I only have about 2 and half months max till  first frost so am concerned about plant wasting energy on main, at cost of its long term vitality.  It is potted and will be coming inside until i get a few cuttings rooted, then I will be planting it in ground at the south facing wall, with winter protection.
Any ways.... I have read on the forum of peoples figs dying because of having too many figs on too soon, too late into the season, and just wondering about the DK since it needs the main crop to mature to a certain extent to produce next years breba.   While I want figs next year, I also want to keep the tree happy.
Thanks again.

Grant
z5b

Grant -- I believe with the figs on, the tree will harden up on its wood. Without the figs, its energy would likely be diverted to green growth that would be susceptible to sudden cold damage. I had a real bad experience like 3 seasons ago during 1st week Oct. when we were hit with a sudden cold snap. I rather go for "hardening" than growth at this time of the season. That is just my opinion. As of now,  I am slowing down growth with less watering & no fertilizer. Come early spring when you see it budding, start fertilizing and it should take off nicely.

Well, I experimented one year by removing the DK main crop as they appeared and did not get breba the next year. Now I can't say for sure if I did not get breba because I pinched off the main crop or because of some other reason.
This year I am not pinching off any of the main crop and there is heavy main crop (that is not supposed to ripen here). If I did get a decent breba crop next year then it will verify what Herman said in an earlier post i.e.     " Ottawan: Do not pinch off main crop on Desert King. It needs those fig flower to grow and fall by them-self. When they fall out,at every spot,a new fruit bud will form,wich will be your next year breba.If you brake them young you might disrupt the cycle,and have no breba fruits at all next year. H2"

Thanks Paully, and Ottawan,
So I will just leave all main that form right to dormancy, then take them off for winter storage.

Grant
Z5b