Hello again all.  Posted this over at gardenweb but in case any of you have any thoughts I thought I'd try here too.

Here is a picture of my tree (below links). It is only budding from the top of the 5 main branches that you can see all coming from the main stump. They're all also about the same height.

So what do I want? Well, I am planting in the ground in a couple of weeks (zone 7) and I want the biggest well producing tree I can create. Space is not an issue. So my question is, what is the best way to prune this tree?

I had an Alma that I planted last June that looked like your tree, no limbs, on the shoots, I didn't prune it any, now it has new limbs EVERYWHERE :)
 
If it was mine I'd let it grow this year!
 
Cecil (PS I'm a newbie) too.

I am not going to tell you how to prune.
It looks to me that the top branch is completely dead, as is the next branch top half.
Is it me or the picture?
Slightly scratch the bark with your thumb nail and check for green (alive)

Not sure why you would start a post with "I'm not going to tell you how to prune".  Doesn't sound very friendly.  And the tree is fine.  The top branch you mention clearly has green in the pic.  Not sure what your post was all about.  Just looking for advice.

Hi  fishacura,

Please no offense  meant (either/both ways).

>> I am not going to tell you how to prune.
You already had posted a similar message on the GW/FF
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/fig/msg0418192626937.html?8
with a very good answer from our good 'Dr. Science', aka Tapla (Al); and
I would never (maybe!) second guess him!

All I was questioning, was if  any  branches are really dead,  as I honestly saw
them as such, and  responding for your 'advice'. Hope I am wrong, but if I am
right, it may throw off your pruning options.

Did you dare scratch the bark as I mentioned?

Ballpark answer; do nothing, and grow your fig as a bush.

George(NJ).
P.S. I double clicked on your pics,  a new window was generated, with a
+  (enlarge) option for more details...

Thanks!  Oh...okay.  So many people out here (not this site but so many others) always seem to spout off so it's nice to see I simply misunderstood.  Nope...all the branches are fine and are beginning to bud from both the top and over the past 24 hours I am seeing other buds along the branches.  I suppose I think of them as "trees"  because of the big (well, at least in the case of my italian family members) trunks.  But they are "bush" like in the sense that there are many branches and leaves all over as opposed to say a maple tree with one main trunk.