Hi,
This is my first post to the Forum, but I use it as my resource for fig growing.  I live in OH and the potted figs were brought in for winter.  The outbuilding is kept above freezing.  My husband insisted on a grow light (I see that figs need to go dormant and be dark, but it's too late for that). 

We brought them out the other day and they have alot of weak, lanky growth going in all directions, with small leaves (see pics).  Do I cut back this green growth to the wood of last year's growth?  I think figs develop the main crop on 'new' growth, so I'm not sure if I can cut it and if this even counts as new growth.   I think getting the trees back into shape would be beneficial, as this wild growth probably can't support anything.
       
Any info is greatly appreciated.....

Thanks!
Linda

That's crazy-looking. Can I suggest cutting them back to one or two internodes above old growth? This time of year, they should recover, especially if they are hardened a bit. If they are going to fruit, they will do so on the new growth.

Where in Ohio are you? I suspect south of me by the looks of the growth.

For next year try to keep the garage below 45 and above 35.  Lights will warm it up so they're not a good idea.  As soon as a fig's buds swell it should go into sunlight.  This year mine are budding very early.  I've put them outside in the hopes of no frost.   If it does frost They'll get covered in Christmas lights, a blanket then plastic.  The lights won't need to go on unless the temps get under 30.

Your growth isn't as bad as some.  I'd try to air layer off the lanky stuff and let your big plant regrow from lower nodes.  The lanky stuff will be fine as the rooted portion of a bigger plant.

Linda,

You must be due north of me. There are several members in Cleveland, some in or from Little Italy. Marius is a good source of information. You can learn a lot on this forum.