I just received this LSU Purple for a Christmas present. (Woohoo!) It was purchased from a local hardware store, and the employee there told us that we wont need to prune it for the upcoming year. I'm a complete pruning newb, and I have been checking out old threads on the subject, but still feel rather unsure about the best way to proceed.(Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi! Your my only hope!) I would appreciate any suggestions or pointers before I start cutting away! Thanks

I see no need to prune. Figs need little except to remove broken/dead limbs, crossing branches, or to open up the canopy. None of that needs to done yet. Plenty go decades with no pruning.

Always ask yourself why you are pruning. Too often I see people prune because they think it needs to be done, regardless of it actually being needed.

Enjoy!

It looks like a nice tree with lots of branches to produce figs on next year.

I would up pot with some rich soil and maybe thin out 1 or 2 branches that are criss-crossing or pointing inward.
Don't throw out the branches you cut they can be rooted and make new fig trees.
 

Thanks guys! Not needing to prune is a relief. I guess have a preconceived notion that there is some perfect shape to achieve for good fruit production:-)

If you want more branching, removes the tip buds, particularly on the longer more vertical shoots.

Lovely tree Mike.It already has the perfect shape for fruit production.
If ants are a problem down there you might want to lose the lower
branch so you only need one ant barrier.It would also allow you to square it up
by planting at a slight angle when you up pot.That lower branch will probably
be shaded out when the tree gets larger anyway.

Happy New Year,

Paul

Looks pretty good to me also. Hope you have many figs!

Transplant it into a 20 gallon nursery pot ( Gro Pro are the best IMHO)

Don't bother prunig it until it gets 6' tall IMHO. When you do use those 10" cuttings for rooting practice.

Really a nice shaped tree Mike, you have made a nice purchase. I say it's good to go and you should get some nice figs this coming season. Pino made some good suggestions with clipping some branches that interfere with others. It may have roots that have outgrown the pot so maybe up pot to a larger size. Looking good.

Hi bigmike,
Since you're in Zone8, you could put it in ground. If temps are above 0°C/30°F, so no freeze, you could plant it now.
I would plant it right away to avoid the watering problems and possible root rot from too much water.
As to pruning do it in July if really needed. The reason is that some limbs are perhaps already dry, some others will start growing and crumble for whatever the reason.
So let them grow and select the best and thickest in July or August. If, by that time, you see some branches are too shaded from other leaves, then remove them as they will die or crumble.
That happens near the trunk on the shortest limbs and on branches growing back to the center or on lower branches.
For now, don't keep the tree inside the house, or it will awake. Outside in a pot it could freeze solid though. So as said, IMO, the safest is to plant the tree asap - if you've planned to do so.
If you're going potted tree, than time to fetch some good pot and potting soil from the nurseries or whatever suits you best . And don't prune before Summer .
Good luck !

That is one cool fig tree!  What a nice gift.

Whatever you decide in ground or repot ,I would plant it so it is strait up and bury part of the lowest branch ( you may want to thigh it up) and in two months you could have a second tree.

Thanks everyone for the great advice. I'm glad to hear it has a good starting shape. Putting in the ground is definitely my goal, so I think I'm going to get on that. I've a spot picked out to be the "orchard" of our ranch. It will be the inaugural variety at that spot. If rooting this year goes well it wont be alone for long:-) Also, good tip on the lower branch. I was thinking about ant protection, and having a second tree is a bonus! Thanks again! I'll update once things get moving.

What a well-formed little tree!  I wouldn't do much to it.  LSU Purple is one of those varieties that need a few years on them for the fruits' flavor to improve, so be patient with it and you will be sweetly rewarded.