It seems from everything I've read that the same variety of fig can look and taste very different depending on growing conditions. What I would like to know is what are the main factors for creating this difference? Does anyone know? Is it soil composition? Is it amount of sonlight? What?

The reason I am asking is I have taken cuttings off a tree about 2 miles away, so same zone. This tree produces large yellow figs, but they are only so-so tasting. I want to try to create the maximum amount of difference for the growing conditions of the new trees I will start from these cuttings.

Any thoughts or ideas?

My thoughts.  You can try improving the flavor of the fig in your neighborhood by enriching the soil, but if that is an old tree, those figs might be as good as that variety, in your zone, can produce.  Just my thought.  That same fig, in another zone might be much tastier!
Suzi

I would do 2 things,make sure they get full sun and max temp, maybe black plastic  on ground around tree,next reduce water when figs start to ripen. black plastic will help with that as well. Rex

Get 2 soil samples (extension guys may do for free). Amend the soil in your new hole to differ as much as you feel you want/need to. One thing you should do just to speed things up is make sure your new hole has lots of organics. Bunny poop is excellent if you can get it. 
I used to live with a Master Gardener and she did a lot of soil testing and was constantly adding things to the soil. Her plants were amazing and the neighbors were always so impressed they started following her ways. I was very impressed and now pay far far more attention to the soil and live by the old adage, "Put a $10 tree into a $100 hole".

ditto. give it lot of sun and heat. and some fig trees need time to mature to give full taste profile, up to 7 yrs. like suzi said, if the tree is old and it still doesn't taste good, you might not want that tree. 

Thanks  for the ideas, they are along the line of what I have been thinking. I know the original tree does not get full sun, so of course a better location will help in my yard. Also I always dig a large planting hole and completely replace the clay soil with a mixture of old yard mulch, mulched manure, and sand.

Also, as anyone ever tried "Green Sand" with their fig plantings? I have some that I use with berry plantings. It is very high in potash and a long list of other nutrients. Do you think it would be a good idea to add to my fig plantings this spring?

Hi GeneDaniels,
Most important 2 : Water it properly (11 Liters 2 or 3 times a week in July/August)
Most important 1 : pinch it as of 1st August each year ! especially if you have a short season .
Still helpful :
Feed it properly : fertilizer + compost. Don't disturb its roots.
Protect it in the winter sothat it doesn't suffer too much die back.
As for the place, a sunny one at least half of the day is better .
Fig trees seem to develop faster in dark compost as in comparison when in brown clay ground - I'm speaking of an 80 liters ground replacement here .

What size is your pot ?

I would look for a different cultivar, if only 2 miles away it produces inferior figs over a period of years unless it seemed the tree was not getting adequate light or some other obvious influence for inferior fruit.  If this year was the 1st you tried the fruit maybe just the temperatures  and rain.

Culture, culture, and then, check your culture....again.

Full sun, heat, and some water reduction (at roots) when ripening, pinching, correct nutrients, water, pH levels....ditto the above suggestions.  Of course everything depends on matching growing location for a given variety, over-wintering, and age of tree(s).

Full sun, nutrients, and watering..... probably biggest influences.


Frank

Gene,remove some of the old soil from the surface add fresh layer of Miracle-Grow potting soil into your pot, water and move the tree to a full sunny area, let it thrive ;)

Anything. Anything. Anything. Soil, fertilizer, water (pH, salts, chemicals), weather, sunlight, breed of neighbor's dog. Anything.

I have had figs that were yellow/honey and then green/red in the same season, on the same tree, in the same place in-ground.

Some trees, such as Encanto Honey, (in-ground) have figs of multiple colors at the same time.

 

That didn't really help much, did it?!

Actually, all the replies have really encouraged me. First, lots of help offered when I asked a question. Second, most replies more or less affirmed my thinking. I have a bunch of cuttings off the old original tree. I will root, then pot them. I will baby them with the best soil I can mix ($1 tree in a $100 hole) and make sure they get a FULL sun location in the yard. If all goes well I will have some big yellow figs to eat in a couple of years, and maybe, just maybe they will be tasty. After all, that's why this is called a hobby, not a job.

And by the way, I am going to use Texas Green Sand in my potting soil this year. It can't hurt, and it might be a big help. Maybe use in on half the pot-ups, and leave the other half with my normal mix.

Speaking of $100 dollar hole....

I have used Greensand with great results in my gardens, and it really helps with early season chlorosis especially with perennials ( some brands have high amounts of iron).  One word of advice if your soil is already border line high alkalinity this will could raise it higher, it is something like 8.3 pH.  Too much (i wonder how I know this :), can effect the uptake of other minerals.

Another product that subjectively seems to alter taste of veggies at least, especially tomatoes is Rock dust, full of minerals and very slow release.  Gaia Green Glacial is a brand I can vouch for.

Not sure how it will effect taste of Figs, I don't have any (working on it) but everything from beets to zucchini grow like gang busters.  I also use goat and chicken manure that I compost, the chicken manure has to be at least year old and it contains tons of calcium so will raise pH as well, I try to balance with coffee grounds.

Good Luck!

Gene,
I'm with Frank (BronxFigs), proper Culture.
One Macro nutrient that is often overlooked for in ground figs and trees is Calcium. If the fallen leaves and ground cover (grass clippings) are removed yearly, there may be low levels of available calcium in the soil. Adding Limestone or Gypsum will usually provide positive visible results, as would mulching with good compost.

The same Calcium recommendation applies to containerized fig trees, IMO, they need a source of available Calcium for healthy growth and fig production. Good Luck