I've seen this done a few times by other members and thought I would give it a try.  Pleaching, I think I've heard it referred to as.  I had extra plants and with Figs on every windowsill in the house I have to do something since Winter won't release it's hold on us.

The three varieties:  Hollier, Sal's Corleone, Desert King.  A light Fig, Dark fig, and Breba fig.  I just hope they grow similarly.

Enjoy.

I look forward to seeing the end result, and everything in between! 

I don't know anything about those varieties, but creative pruning should help overcome any growth disparities.

Plan on in-ground or potted?

Well done!  Can't wait to see how it comes out.

Looks like a great job!

Mr. Foster....

Visual proof of the braiding process.  You can throw them in the ground for faster fusing, and rapid growth.  The more leaves, the faster they'll fuse together.  Keep braiding the tops as the trees elongate, and become taller.

Very nice job...and nice to see.  Keep the photos coming to document the progress.

Frank
Bronx,NYC

Nice job. I do this in fall with some of my extra plants.
It's fun to figure out which figs should go together.
(3) 1 gallon figs will fit perfectly into a 7 gallon container for pleaching and you don't have to cut up the roots too much or clean up too much dirt mess.
These make excellent gifts and people just love the braided look.
One fault of this system; if you use varieties with very different growth rates it requires a lot of pruning and loss of energy to keep the "pleach" even.

Thanks for posting, great pictures. How large (tall) are you planning to maintain these trees?
Please keep us updated on its progress.

I'll make sure to continue the post for sure.   How tall I plan on continuing the braid depends on the growth rate of each of the three varieties.  If one slows to a crawl and the other shoot up, I'll have a decision to make.    I plan on putting it in a pot and then planting the pot in the ground for easy Fall removal.

Bob,  Proud to have your Desert King there in the braid. And also proud to have BLB's Sal's is in there too.  

Dan

Fantastic!

  

As promised.  This was taken today.  The three trees in the braid are growing fine.  Only issue is that my Sal's Corleone figs blew up as they ripened.  Maybe not the best variety to have used.

Enjoy

   That's clever. Very attractive. 

Oh what a unique idea!  I have got to try this.  Thanks for sharing this.  =)

Love it!

dfoster:

BRAVO!  Great way to grow at least three different figs in one hole.  As the individual trunks keep getting thicker the cambium layers will start to fuse into one, composite-trunk.  The tops can be trained into a nice rack of branches, which will bear different figs.  Great job.

Also, using three or more of the same variety will ensure the same ripening and growing characteristics, but you will sacrifice the novelty aspect of the training, and braiding efforts.  But still, it's a good way to increase the yield of your favorite fig without wasting too much space for individual trees.  Braid and train, three, four, or five, e.g. "Col de Dames" together....and you got yourself a tree!

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By the way....why can't Apples, Pears, Pawpaws, etc. be grown the same way?  All these trees need pollinators for better yields, so plant different trees in the same hole, and braid/plait/pleach them.  Why nurseries don't use this method instead of grafting to "create" trees bearing different varieties on the same tree, is beyond me.  I think braiding is easier than grafting.

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Check out "Arborsculpture" web-sites for other ideas for using plants and trees. 


"As the twig is bent, so grows the tree"


Frank

Very nice work!  Well done!

Nice work. Thanks for sharing. I think I'll try one too.

A bud graft is fairly easy to perform on apples, plus you can get the rootstock that you like that performs well for the varieties you wish to graft.  

Very nice trees, thanks for sharing.

Best,
Tam

Makes a nice conversation piece.

bump on old thread.  Would love to see pic of your braid now.

I plan on braiding as well.  I've got three considerations to take account of:

1.  Cold hardy (as I'm in zone 6B)
2.  Fig color (would like a dark and light braided tree)
3.  Constant harvest (would like it to provide an early, mid-season and late harvest)

Below are my choices for the braided trees.  Please let me know if you have any concerns regarding the choices.

Light Fig Braid:
1. Early - Desert King
2. Mid - Improved Celeste
3. Late - Col de Dame Blanc

Dark Fig Braid:
1. Early - Marseilles Black
2. Mid - Ronde de Bordeaux
3. Late - Kathleen Black

I personally think it would be better to have 3 different colored or shaded figs on the same tree - more striking, more fun :)

I keep trying to remember to update this post. I will next week when I return from vacation.

dfoster-

Would love to see some photos of the trees as they are now.  I'm sure others would to.  Very interesting to see pleached/plaited figs.  I can see that the individual stems are starting to fatten up.

I have some plans to braid some tissue-cultured "Olympian" and "Black Mission" ....but I have to wait for them to grow long enough to be braided.

Good luck with your tri-fig, "patio tree".


Frank

Imagine what you could get on Ebay for that baby?  Let's start at $500.  Any bids?

Good job!

Suzi