Hi everyone!  I know I have not been here for a while - a lot going on.  I finally cleaned out the garden from last years disaster and getting ready to prune the tree.

Here are some pictures, I am amazed at how much it has grown in just a few years!! :)  The generous members here Identified it as a LSU Purple, and the figs are quite delicious.  I have a Turks Cap too close to it and going to move it a few feet away.  I know I should have a plan on how big I would like to keep it, things and me keep changing!  LOL  I think I would like it to stay this height and width - let the birds have some, and I can reach a lot also.  When I planted it and created the garden, I didn't think of how big the tree will be in a just a few years, oh well.

I'm torn between the more "shrub" style it is now with the multiple trunks, and cutting it to one trunk for a more "tree" style.  Decisions, decisions, decisions.............

I estimate the height to be 8' and I am going to prune back the branches growing into the garden airspace.  The yard is on the north side of the house.

Thanks in advance! 


     

The only suggestion I have is that you take a bow for growing such a beautiful tree :)

I agree great looking fig tree you have there.

You do have lots of options, with being a tree or a bush, but you did ask for opinions.

I would not remove to one trunk, (you certainly could though, I see what you mean) but i would remove all suckers below 12", that should get more airflow lower.  Looks like you have 4 really nice trunks.

Those long whips that look like last years growth I would take down to 2-3 nodes or nodes facing in directions you want more growth.  That center branch is just going to give you headaches come harvest time and I would find a place where your comfortable with and lower it.

It looks like from pictures she grows about 4-5 feet a year?  I would plan your desired height and subtract what she normally grows in a year, that way you can generally prune to similar places each year.

About how many figs did you get last year?

Thank you!  I think she gave me about 40-50, spread out over a couple of months.  Last year we had rain of Biblical proportions so everything suffered terribly.  Out of 5 tomato plants i harvested maybe 12, everything just drowned and wasn't able to recover.  I also did not add epsom salt last year, that may have something to do with it also.

I think I'll start pruning all of the tertiary branches down to 2 or 3 nodes depending on direction, take out any secondary vertical branches and the suckers.  This might help to de-clutter so I can see what I am looking at.

I will post pictures of it when I finish - hopefully today. 

This was in 2012 When I first planted it
 

2013  
 

2014

 


2015

Hello,
Didn't know you have so much snow in Texas..LOL
I concur with Don.  Figs are very resilient.  4 trunks gives you some insurance should a really cold winter damages the main trunk.
Also keep in mind winter will do some pruning for you. 
Also you may want to air layer some of the branches away if you have the time and have some trees to give away or sell.
The  important branches to cut are the ones cris-crossing inward and into each other and the suckers. with the suckers if you are careful you can remove with a shovel and get some roots and again have some more extra trees.
Good luck.

Hi,
Does it produce brebas ?
If so I  wouldn't prune this year. Or just one tip every other tip.
If it is 8' in height, I would let her untrimmed this year. More branches, more figs.
My personal limit is 7' - so at 10' of height in the Fall, I cut them back. This year I had to cut back my two bigger ones for the first time (Winter had been doing it for me every other year or so ).
You may want to cut remove the top central leader on each trunk to promote more growth on the side branches.
Root-shoots : either you want them, or you should remove them asap even during the season.
I would keep the 5 bigger (4 big, and one a bit thinner) trunks, and remove all the others.
Depending on what you want to do or not : I would cut the root-shoots flat, or pull them with both hands near the dirt as they may come out with roots.
If you want to keep them growing, now ( when dirt has thaw ) is a good time to do that. You can relocate them to (1 or 1/2 )gallon pots and make some experience at pot culture. Those pots would be your backup plan in case one year, the main tree dies. OR you could exchange them for other trees ...

Keeping the trees in check is important, but I don't think that we should trim them too often. My plan is to trim them every 4 years, no more. I want and really need to get a good breba crop... as some year, the main-crop can't ripen properly - here.

This year we haven't had much of a winter!  No snow at all - yet;)  We had a few days in the 30's, of course more nights in the 30's and I don't remember it going to the 20's more then a few times.  Of course that could change over the next few weeks!

I don't want the tree more then 8' since I can't reach the figs!!  With the width I couldn't even use a ladder to reach the top.  I cut off all of the braches from the base - nothing was a truce sucker with roots, I also cut the branches (most) on the under sides, growing straight up and crossing over.

Here are a couple of pictures - before and after.  I haven't touched the top yet since I haven't decided where to cut, maybe those will be for the birds lol.

This is before

 

These are after

       

I plan of moving the Turks Cap about 5' from it's current position soon.

I went a bit more conservative for the first round, I can always take more off.  The buds are swelling and other trees in the area are starting to leaf out.



If anyone would like some cuttings let me know, I haven't determined the details yet.