I've seen the term "pinching" referred to many times here and assumed it meant to pinch out the tip to encourage more branching out... Now I'm wondering if it means something more to figgers.  Is there something I'm missing about the meaning, or purpose of pinching?
  Thanks, Soni

Soni, check out this thread, 2nd post by Herman


http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/fig/msg0611441718628.html

  Thank you, that's a lot of good info.  Last month I pinched the tip out of about 6 of my tallest babys.  I'm glad I didnt do the rest.  > Id better leave well enough alone. 

 Soni

I pinched the tips of some of my young plants also that were growing as whips of more than 2 ft high or so.  It does pause their growth but after a couple weeks they put out 2-3 new shoots just below the top of the plant.  The alternative is to let it grow as a whip all season long and then top next spring while it is still dormant.

 I guess I didnt do any harm then.  My intent was to  making fuller trees but I see some of Herman's motives are more complicated, to manipulate the rippening time and amounts of figs.  I didnt quite wrap my brain around that technique but I dont think it's necessary in GA 8a. 

  Thanks, Soni