OK a little back round I acquired this as a small rooted cutting from Bass last season about 6-8 inches as you can see it grew well and even set a few fruit but they did not hang on as plant was immature.
It is now 52 inches tall from top of pot and is stating to leaf out very early stage as it just broke dormancy a few weeks ago. 
It has grown like a whip with only the 3 branches as you see at top and a little side shoot.
My question to the more experienced is should I just cut it down to about 18-24 inches as this is just starting the season and it should not set it back to far I don't think. or just let it go for this season and chop it next winter.
Also keep in mind I'm in FL and will have 80's into Dec.
I also plan to put this in ground either way this season. So if I chop should I wait till it starts to bud out again before putting in ground
Thanks in advance

IGONORE the tree in the big blue pot the Panache is in a small 3 gal pot in front
 
SAL

Only what i would do you get many opinions im sure.
If mine i would nip it too my final size especially if it looks like a whip.
Even in my area it would have plenty of time to branch out .
After nipping you will get more shoots at the area of snip its all how you want it to look and branch out high up at that point as well as down lower.

I think at this stage of breaking dormancy you would cause it to bleed to death by cuttings down the main stems. You should've done this earlier. I think you should wait till Fall now.

That just my input.

Good luck

Sal, how about air layering it. Could be done now.

Just be patient, eventually it should 'bloom' up.

If you want it short, and more bush-like, lop it off. It will ooze some sap, but will be fine. If you want a tree shape, let it grow to the height that you want lateral branches to form at, then prune off the tip.

You could air-layer the top down to the point at which you were going to lop it off. You will have a 2nd plant, and new branches will form below the point at which y0u girdle it for the air layer - maybe best of both worlds.

Jon,

I remember a few years ago I cut one of my fig tree from the main stem and it would not stop oozing the sap. I started to freak out thinking it was going to bleed to death.
I tried everything till finally I hit the cut part with a blow torch to stop it from oozing.

Are you saying in the future to not worry about this happening and it will eventually stop on its' own and put my fears to rest?

Thanks

This was it 5 days ago so you can see the leaves started forming at a pretty rapid pace I think

Don't make me drive down south and cut your tree ! 
You can cut it at any point it ain't going to hurt it.
Just like when i cut my right during middle of season to get ripe figs, cut mine in dormant stage to sell scion, cut mine when they wake up cause not happy the way it looks etc.
Sure it will leak no big a deal.
It wont bleed to death and if it seeps a lot of latex that makes you feel unconfortable stick some dirty on it .
Works for me.

As for tree shape cut it when it grows to your desired height.
A whip will keep growing like a whip.
Want me to cut it ?
 ; )
 

Not to confuse everyone.

My main concern is cutting the main stem. That's the main artery, The blood flow/line.

As for the branches, I cut them all the time.

But,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,That's just me.

Nurseries chop vertical growth all the time when trimming trees into a "whip", and they grow back just fine.  Another shoot will take over the vertical growth OR you'll simply aid in dwarfing the height of the tree a bit.

Rafed its fine really even the main ,   it will bleed out sure but no big a deal it clogs itself or one can stop it sooner simply by useing dirt to help it clog.

Hey i can come cut your main too if you wish anytime of the year as your much closer than Sal.
I'm referring to the tree of course.  ; ) 

I have another suggestion, why don't you pinch it back at this point? it will start developing branching where you've pinched it.

It won't hurt to prune it this hard!

Martin,

I sure do hope your were referring to the tree?

OK so it up to me as to what to do leave it alone or just chop down to 24-36 inches and it should branch or air layer. I think I might cut and try to start a few cuttings as they are just coming out of dormancy. I will update with what I did or didn't do as I tend to change my mind at times. Maybe I'll just flip a coin Does any one have a 3 sided coin?

Hi!
I live in Florida too..My plants never was dormant.. And I will wait till winter and may be cut some...
I don't know..This is just me...I real want them to became big..I cut tree in ground last winter, they almost don't give me new grows.. But they in half shade,  may be this is why...
But I real want them to be tall..at list 5-6 fits.. before I start cutt them...
I just very happy to see any new grows on any of my figs..

Hi Sal nice looking Panache you have there and it looks like it put on some nice growth, I personally would do as Jon said and airlayer it where you want it to branch in and have a spare plant.

Rafed, about the bleeding as you called it my Panache has been doing that since it broke dormancy even though I put the tar on it its still bubbling and pushing sap through the tar for 2 weeks now. Hope it doesnt bleed to death.

Nelson,

Use ashes from your ciggs. or from fire place.
It should stop in a matter of minutes.

Just take a pinch with your fingers and dabb it on the cut. Wipe dry the cut part first.

Just to redirect to new post and a Reference
http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=5111281