Hi everybody, 

I'm glad I found this forum, because I need help. I am fairly new to figs (or gardening and fruit trees in general).

I have a white fig in a pot, I got it from ebay as a seedling when it was about 8 inches high. The little tree seems to be quite happy and is by now about 3 feet high and I got 2 tasty figs this summer. Now my question: The tree has no branches to the side, it only grows upwards but builds no branches. Shall I cut the top to encourage it to grow out branches? Is that what you do? I think it is but I'm a bit scared. How far back shall I cut it and when? Can I then use the cut off top bit to and grow it as a cutting?
I am intending to keep the tree it in a pot, just cause it can get quite cold here in winter and I think I might have to move it into the conservatory to be on the safe side.

Thanks for the help
Cheers
Lizzie

Lizzie ,
            Pinch the top of your tree to promote lateral branching . 
Here is a thread on pinching . You can do a search on the subject . In the drop down box on the search page next to Keywords you will see   Search in: click on " subject only"  Keyword 'pinching'

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/Pinching-101-5521404?highlight=pinching 

Close the door and latche it,
Here comes Lizzie,
with a brand new hatchet!!

LOL, welcome to the forum

Welcome to the forum, Lizzie!

Welcome Lizzie. The more branching you have the more fruit you will get. I wouldn't use a hatchet though lol

Lizzie yes you can cut part off top and use that for rooting come dormant season.
Another option is you can next spring airlayer top of plant and when thats cut off it will achieve to awaken more nodes for more branching down the main plus give you a new plant as well.

What Martin said.  :)    If you have less than 5 weeks till dormancy I'd do it next spring after growth has started.  Fertilize it then either airlayer or take the top as a cutting.

Thanks for all the good advice everybody. And thanks for the welcomes and the Hatchet references - i do appreciate morbid humor very much :)

I'm not sure when the dormancy starts here, so I'll wait until spring before I do anything.

Cheers

Welcome from me too!!  You can add your location and climate zone to your signature line through the control panel link on the top right of the page.  The forum members will be better able to help you when they know where you are!

They are a great bunch!