I will be starting some cuttings and was wondering if I can skip the 1 gallon pot and go straight from the cup to a larger pot. I can get some 18 gallon tubs and was thinking that with our long summer I might be able to get enough growth on them that they may not need to much protection their first winter. I was also thinking that they could go from cup to container with only one root disturbance.
Opinions please.

They can easily go from the cup to a large container. This is what I do always. I don't like to much fuss with transplanting and worrying all the time. I have also within the last year just been sticking the cuttings in their large pots and let them root in them so no need at all to transfer them until they need root pruned ect.  Its similar to the " old timer" way of just sticking cuttings in rows directly in the earth and letting them root into orchards. Sometimes to me anyway, less is best.  Ciao

this is just my opinion and what I do. I have not rooted any in bags whatsoever this year at all. Only problem is the stubborn Corleone's,and my stubborn Chieti's.They give me the blues with how long they take to root!!!! Period.

This I do only for the ones I am keeping for myself. Any that I trade or sell, I have rooted them this year directly in one quart plastic containers for shipping purposes. Same principal, different size. Ciao

It's been my experience (I tried the same thing on some last year) that all that extra soil holds excess moisture and the little figs don't grow well. Once I learned to pot them from cup to 1 gal. and move up1 gallon with each repot, they did much better. Even better in the ground for me as soon as I can get them there. 

I get lazy and transplan small plant to big pot, thinking back to last season i did a few, also i just give a little water where i think is needed only in a circular motion  when using the water can so i dont waste my rain water doing the whole pot as no roots are yet spread out far.

Maggie I like your way of doing it. Its been my experience with the last cuttings I started that the ones I put straight into pots when I seen root initials in the sphagnum are healthier and growing allot better than the ones I let root in cups. Seems when transfered from cups to pots they are taking to long to get going again not sure if I let them stay in the cups for too long.

Nelson, I agree 100% this is why I have changed how I do things. Figs can be hardy, but very finicky. I am going to completely change my info on website pertaining to the rooting. Sure, the other way was good, but I absolutely love this less hassle way of doing it. I have alot to do everyday, and back isn't so good after alessandro, so I need some less work when comes to my figs.  Also the key for me, is less worry. I freak out when something doesn't look right on my fig trees or rooting cuttings. LEss stress, less hassle for me. I don't mind the work, but want what is best FOR ME. There is many many ways to root ect that are all very good, but we all have different personalities and levels of patience and what is okay for some may not be okay for others.

Maggie very well said and I agree with you. I have been trying to root as many cuttings as I can before the Baby arrives in March. I have tried so many different methods with good results, I honestly believe the results are not neceserally due to the method used but on how healthy the cuttings are. The downside to putting cuttings with just initials into a pot, is that you dont get to see the root growth. But after doing a few you can just kind of tell when they have taken off.

To answer the original question, I usually use 1G pots or 2G never bigger than 2G from the start but this is my preference. I just feel that if I use bigger pots from the start I will have to root prune earlier and I dont really have the space for big pots in my office. Considering I have 25 pots here now. Seems I have lots of plants to give away lol