Prune tips on my Desert King, Latarrula & Osborne Prolific tree this afternoon. New branches will grow for next season brebas. Still too early to get my plants out from the garage. Hail this morning & mountain snow line was down. Hence only working on trees planted in-ground.

all the best Paul, i can imagine how excited you all for summer

Paul, would those tips you remove enough for grafting onto others? Show us pictures of your pinching

Paul - how does tip pruning now differ from pinching when there are 5 to 6 leaves? I am planning to pinch the tips after the branches grow 5 to 6 full leaves. Tip pruning now seems much easier. If it achieves the same or better results, I will follow.

Pruning the tips is exactly similar to pinching. I pinch throughout the season but for now, this is the best time in my cool season zone in Pacific North West to pinch whatever that needs pinching from last year growth. This will allow new growth sufficient time to harden up its wood. Besides, it is much easier to do it without leaves in the way. Also, the winter was mild and last season growth was unaffected. Usually last season tender tips are burnt by the cold but not this winter. If this mild trend continues, it will be a bumper season for brebas. Last year was a good year for me.

Is it now not the wrong time to tip prune the Desert King tree;
it being a breba-only (San Pedro type) fig?
Or you have enough wood to spare?

The good thing about pinching now is that 2 branches should form from each pinched tip . Then each of those can grow 5 or 6 leaves and each be pinched again , thus more branching is achieved early . It is on this wood that next years brebas will form . Last years wood before the pinched area is where this years breba crop will form , so you're not losing anything .

John

@ Gorgi -- No it will not affect my breba crop this season unless the weather is like a yo-yo in May. Instead it will force branching ASAP. Hopefully by mid July, I have another chance to force branching on new wood. If mild winter happens, I will have a bonanza harvest in 2014.

@ Karima -- summer here is AWESOME. Average day time temp. is between 25*C to 28*C. Nice to sit out in the evening and enjoy with friends as sunset is between 9pm & 10 pm. The yummie smell of BBQ food fills the air. Of course by end July we have non stop figs to enjoy till mid Oct. Outdoor activities are very safe.

OK. I now fully understand what you are doing - just removing the very tip...

Thank you for the timely tip, Paul and John. I will do this this weekend.

Won't the tip be new growth anyways ?

Removing the tip encourages more branching (for next year breba) and
current breba buds (down on last-year twig) may develop earlier.
Remember that the main crop fruit (on new growth) of DK will fall off unless caprified.