Hello everyone,

I think I am probably past the point of developing new figs that would ripen this year. I would like to start giving back to the forum with the same generosity I have received. I have a few of my first year plants started from cuttings this year that are fairly vigorous. Is it OK to take cuttings from these first year plants? How and when is the best time to do it? I would usually shape a tree by selecting only one shoot and not letting the other grow but I am thinking of just letting both shoots grow making one a cutting and the other part of the shape of the tree. I know i wont have much but still potentially a few cuttings that i typically see people interested in. Please see an example. Thanks!

No cuttings until dormant.  You want the plant to store as much energy as possible for the winter.  Then if you really want to shape the tree, do it.  I would guess most of us don't shape trees unless there are defects like crossing branches until the tree's had at least 2 summers under its belt.  I'm as greedy as anyone else but we can wait  :)

Thanks guys. I will keep doing what I am doing for now. Root extra cuttings and give them away locally. Once they get a couple years I will start chopping. =). I don't mind shipping cuttings but prefer not messing around with shipping whole plants.

Hi Hoosierguy86,
I could be wrong but normally that tree has still two months to grow ( August and September at least). So fertilize it now once more, and let it go dormant later.
You'll have some additional length for some more cuttings . You could even pot up now for additional growth and thickness of the trunk .
Is this black madeira ? :P or Black Jack ? ;P or ... no ok, let's stop the list ...

I'll be trimming my new trees this fall after they go dormant, but mainly to encourage bush form, so I will be topping them.  Same as you, some of mine have been vigorous so should provide 2-3 cuttings each.  Unfortunately the more wanted figs I have seem to be slow growers.

All the above, and you will find out that the tree will have die backs, so if you trim now, you may end up with nothing. It is best to take cuttings in early spring when all danger of frost has passed.  the young tree needs all its energy. if you are happy with its shape in the spring, you can trim some or if you live in an area where you will have much left of summer days, you could pinch the tip to force it to branch out a bit, or just  pull the branch down a bit and it will form other side branches. I find that a small rock on a bag with hook, just enough to bend the branch a little is enough to make it send out other side branches.  If was mine, I would do nothing with it... be patient. let it grow as it want, it looks quite charming as is.

Thanks all! Right now I just pinch when they get to a certain height (usually determined by if i think strobg gusts of wind will snap if it gets taller)to promote side growth and it also seems to thicken the structure. My biggest fear is damaging and having to start from scratch so I will hold off a bit. I still have to figure out the -20F winter we just had and hope it isn't that cold again. Just built a barn so hopefully insulation inside the barn! Grasa, the sucker you dug out and shipped with the cuttings is really starting to thicken its trunk. It is a prime spot!