I'm planting an orchard in my back yard.  Few apple varieties, four different citrus, two different persimmons, an pomegranate, couple of plums and an espaliered pear of 4 different varieties.  Next come the figs.  The only one I have is a Tiger Stripe and I'm trying to air propagate one each from two different neighbors trees.. un known varieties.

So, now comes the newbie question.. All of the other trees I will be keeping at an absolute max of 8' height. so I can harvest and care for them w/o a ladder.

What say you experts about fig trees.  Can I keep them pruned at a 8' height w/o compromising production?  I know they won't produce the bucket loads of a full grown tree.. but that's OK.  I'm hoping to have a few varieties.

Thanks for any help here.

Bill

Of coarse, I see that done all over Italy , that's the way I would grow them if I was in Santa Rosa

They have a french restaurant here that has six fig trees in the back. They are very old with big trunks .. they are about 6 foot tall. You can see thick branches that are cut back every year

Negrone is supposed to stay quite small, mine is a very slow grower. So is Black Jack, but you need really long seasons for it I've heard.

All my in ground trees are 8' or under with a wing span of 12'-18'.I've more figs than I can handle with only 4 in ground....How many more than I can handle?
6 years in this is what the orchard floor under the Vista looks like today.I really should get out there and clean that mess up.Maybe.... manana?<G>


   
So yeah,the 8' thing will work.<G>

Thanks for the comments.  It looks like I can keep these cut back to both shape and control size.

Possibly, a good follow up question for the newbie would be.. as with many other fruit trees there is fruiting wood.  Is there such a thing with figs in general?  IOW, if I'm going for both fruit production and size/shape control.. is there specific wood to cut back each year?

If size controlled, Is an 8' spacing too close?  That would lead to 4' on each side.

Paul,  Looks like it's time to start gathering this fallen figs and make some nice alcoholic drink from them :D

Thanks again for all the help.

Paul: Im in OC, not too far from ya :-). Last two weeks I have been taking trips to Trader Joes to get my "fig fix." I volunteer to go pick up those fallen figs any day AND, would help you prune your trees, to boot! ANY TIME, say the word and I will be there!

Quote:

Originally Posted by tyro
All my in ground trees are 8' or under with a wing span of 12'-18'.I've more figs than I can handle with only 4 in ground....How many more than I can handle?
6 years in this is what the orchard floor under the Vista looks like today.I really should get out there and clean that mess up.Maybe.... manana?<G>


   
So yeah,the 8' thing will work.<G>

Hello, Bill:
There absolutely is a method to fig fruiting growth. There is the breba and the main crop, though not all figs have both. The breba crop grows on last years wood & the main grows on new wood. I have read various pruning methos to maximise production but you may be an expert on that already. If so, i am interested in your method. I think this is what you were asking?

Just sent you a PM.