Hi
Id like to introduce myself as this is my first post on the forum.  im very new to the hobby and excited to learn the ropes from the pros, im not sure what the lingo is yet so if i get somthing wrong let me know.  I think im in zone 6a/6b but im not sure,  I live in New York on long island and my name is Josh, im in nesconset if your local....  

I have been reading up and watching some videos on how to get cuttings off a tree and were to cut etc..  If anyone has a good video they want to share id like to see the different methods out there.  

My in-laws have a huge tree on the side of there house that from what ive been told is probably 7-10 years old that survives the harsh NY weather without being wrapped or winterized.  In the summer the leaves get massive but the tree never fruits.  Is there a reason there is never fruit on the tree?  Is it worth cutting the tree?  i guess im what im asking is, if the tree hasnt given fruit yet will cutting somthing off to try a new tree work?  is the tree ever going to fruit?  i would like to grow indoor only for now as i live in a community and im not allowed to plant in ground.

Thanks in advance for the help, cant wait to get somthing growing.  What variety is a good place to start??

Welcome to the forum.  Your tree may need more "Summer".

Welcome come.....where is the tree planted and how much sun does it get,a fig tree should get at least 6 hours of sun.....a good pruning mite help, if it was never pruned.....you could also air layer a few branches and see if the new trees produce fruit. if everything else fails, rather than cutting it down you could try grafting new varieties on the tree since you mention that it is cold hardy....

thanks for the reply deerhunter/dkirtexas

The plant probably gets 4 hours of sunlight and doubt it was ever pruned.  sorry im new to this and will look up what air layer means and try that as well.  ill get some cuttings off of it and try somthing as well myself.  Ill take some pics of the it and maybe somone can identify what type it is. the plant survived the new york winter polar vortex/8 feet of snow and minus 10 degrees at some point and its starting to grow strong now.  is now a good time to get cuttings? 

This is what an airlayer looks like.....there is a lot of info on airlaying on this site

Best time to take cuttings is after the tree goes dormant....it's a lot easier to start a few air layers and have ready made trees

Hi
Welcome to the forum. Part of the fun of this hobby is experimentation. You can try an air layer and definitely give rooting cuttings a shot also. I do think that growing indoors is a major challenge. The tree wants to be outside to have its best shot at ripening a fig, unless its in a greenhouse. 
Give it a try, that's the fun part. I would recommend growing it in a pot outside. I think that would be your best shot at it

thanks coop

If i put the plants in pots outside should i be bringing it inside for winter months or do i just leave it outside for the winter?  

Josh - Welcome to the forum!  Plenty of us here in the NY/NJ area to help you out.

There are lots of reasons the tree by your in-laws' house may not be putting on figs.  If the tree is healthy in all other ways, not enough summer or sun are big reasons among others.  If the same tree were grown on a different part of the property you may be pleasantly surprised.  Can you get pictures of the tree with leaves?  Ask your in-laws; they may know a little about the tree, variety or where it's from.

As far as growing inside, Coop's right.  Growing inside is a major challenge.  If your just starting out, grow in a pot and move the plant inside when it goes dormant.  It's easy to do.  There are many varieties that will do well in a pot for your zone.

If you'd like to start honing your rooting skills you can do so for free since you already have access to a tree.  The more you read the more you'll find there isn't one 'catch-all' rooting method that works for everyone.  Pick a method that works well for you and your budget and have at it.  There's loads of information here at F4F to help you along.

Forgot to mention, your zone is 7a.

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones

Thanks, I'm sure I'll be asking tons of questions again thanks in advance for all the help. I'll try and take some pics of the tree but I have asked the in laws and they have no idea what it is, said it was a cutting.

From what I have read the Chicago hardy, celeste and golden turkey grow best in this area. I have been looking on ebay for a plant that's a year or 2 old that I can start off with while I hone my skills and start going for more exotic varieties. If anyone has something to sell let me know, I'd much rather buy off the forum than on ebay.

I'm having my first child in June and want to get a plant growing that I will have for years kinda as a momento, I'm looking to buy a house in the year or 2 and would like to see it grow eventually in the ground.

When you say it never fruits, do you mean it puts on figs but they never fully ripen?  Or it never even sets fruit at all? 

If it never even sets fruit, I don't see why it's worth bothering with it, unless you are going to fool around with grafting.  Which might not be easy for someone who is a beginning gardener. 

If it sets fruit, but they don't get a chance to ripen, then you could try digging it up and putting it in a sunnier location.  That's a lot of work, but at least there is some benefit, because the tree has some age to it.  Or you could take cuttings or airlayering and try growing them somewhere else.

However, you don't really know what kind of fig tree this is, if it will ripen fruits in your climate, or if they will taste good, even if you are able to get them to ripen.  So if you are going to airlayer or take cuttings, I'd recommend you start with a known variety that will reliably fruit in your zone.  Could start with Hardy Chicago, for example. 

Why waste time and effort on a shot in the dark? 

I know how people have a desire to "save" fig trees, but why try to save something if you don't know if it's worth saving. 

Just my opinion. 

I have a number of extra trees that I rooted this winter, Hardy Chicago included.  I will sell them for $10/each, plus shipping.  PM me if you are interested.  Some of them were growing unprotected in NYC and producing fruit. 

Hi rob
The tree has never actually given fruit. I'll try all the methods one I have figured out the different ways but in the meantime I'll start with a proven tree

Welcome to the forum.  Figs do quite well here on the island.  I would recommend covering them for the winter for the the first couple of years even if the cuttings come from a hardy variety donor tree that is typically not covered.  Enjoy.

Hello, Josh.  Welcome to this forum.  You will be getting plenty of help with your fig growing endeavors, and the members on this forum will not allow you to fail when it comes to growing figs.

Realizing that you are new to fig growing, I personally think that you are correct.... you should go to a garden center, and buy yourself a named variety fig tree, that's at/near bearing-age, plant it into a large container, and then grow it out doors, in a sunny location.  Feed it and keep it watered.  This will be your "default" fig tree.  Later in this season, it will very likely produce some delicious figs, and Josh will be thrilled.  In the meantime, read everything that's been posted about the growing of containerized, fig trees.

Many of the above suggestions are fine, but some of the techniques are really not for a beginner, are experimental, and may take years to show results.  You will not be sorry if you start by growing an fig tree at bearing age.  You'll pay a little more for an older tree, but you will also get more in return, and, in a shorter amount of time.  The rest is downhill.

Ask often.  We will help.  Good luck.


Frank

I agree 100% with my friend Frank.
Take that advise to the bank

Welcome from a fellow NYorker! The tree will need at least 8 hrs sun daily. Then it will fruit. Frank took me through this process a couple of years ago. Its worth airlayering and seeing what kind of fruit it bears. If at all-it might be a fig that needs pollination (I doubt it.). Keep asking questions-they will be answered!

Hi Figlayla, congrats on the new coming baby and welcome to the forum! Best of luck on your new fig growing adventure.

Hi Figlayla,
Welcome to the forum.
Look at the feet of the tree. Are there young stems from the fig tree (called root-sucker ) coming out of the dirt  ?
If so dig one out with roots and plant it in a pot.
Growing inside the whole year will be a challenge. Fig trees need temperature swings, rain on the leaves, hot sun, some mild nights . It is hard to have that inside a flat .
As for cuttings, you can still take them now - as long as the leaves are not fully developed .
Airlayer may be a better way, but well, you need the authorization from the owner :) .
Do you know if the tree shows figs at all ?
I had one in colder location, and the fruits dropped due to cold spring temperatures .
Hopefully her daughter will allow me to taste her fruits this year :) .

If you're not sure of the strain ... Better to buy one to have a reliable strains.
There are fig trees that do not produce edible figs ...