Newbie Pruning Question

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Shawn

Registered:1422739534
Posts: 66

Posted 1425144078	Reply with quote #1

Hello everyone. I know this is a total newbie question, but should I cut the shoots at the bottom of my young RdB or keep them? I tried searching the forum, but couldn't find what I was looking for. Thanks __________________ Shawn San Diego, CA Zone 10a Wishlist: Galicia Negra, Smith, Martinenca Rimada, Longue D'Aout (received thanks Gary), MBVS, CDD Blanc, Black Tuscan, Falls Gold Have (most are less than 1 year old): VdB, RdB, Celestial, Yellow Long Neck, Unk LSU TC, Magnolia, CDD Noir, CDD Grise, Maltese Falcon, Black Madera, Panache, Deanna, Peter's Honey, Vasilika Sika, Red Italian

DesertDance

Registered:1247674606
Posts: 4,518

Posted 1425145466	Reply with quote #2

RdB likes to grow as a bush, and many people prefer many trunks because it makes more places for fruit, but if you want a single trunk tree, then you can remove the suckers. You could make yourself some back-up plants with those suckers. Suzi __________________ Zone 9b, Southern California. "First year they sleep, Second year they creep, Third year they leap!" Wish List: I wish all of you happy fig collecting! My wishes have been fulfilled!

ADelmanto

Registered:1359774201
Posts: 911

Posted 1425146746	Reply with quote #3

Let them grow a little and then air layer them to remove. That is if you are looking for a single trunk. I prefer mine in bush form. It is a matter of your preference, not a health issue. More stems usually do translate to more fruit. __________________ https://www.facebook.com/From-The-Ground-Up-403313193085649/

GeneDaniels

Registered:1384021772
Posts: 1,014

Posted 1425152131	Reply with quote #4

I would go with multiple trunks, I usually want 4 to 6. But like Suzi said, you could keep it as more of a tree form if aesthetics is an issue. __________________ Zone 7b (Central Arkansas) Seven trees in the ground: Hardy Chicago, Celeste(?), LSU gold, Italian Black, Southern Brown Turkey(?), Strawberry Verte, and Unk yellow. Trees in pots: VdB, CdD, and Sicilian?

jdsfrance

Registered:1376988473
Posts: 2,591

Posted 1425154151	Reply with quote #5

Hi Shawn, The choice is up to you. For me, I would fertilize more, and let them all grow. In July, I would try to remove the bigger ones with some roots if they are taking too much space. If there is enough space for all I would let them be, especially if the tree was in ground... Now in pot, if you're targeting fruit production and you don't want extra trees ... Then remove them ASAP to let all the sap go to the main trunk. __________________ ------------------------ Climate from -25°C to + 35°C Only cold hardy figtrees can make it here

Shawn

Registered:1422739534
Posts: 66

Posted 1425263063 · Edited	Reply with quote #6

Thanks for the suggestions. I will let the suckers go for now. I dont really have a preference one single truck vs multi trunk. If I can get more figs all the better. Maybe I'll end up with more cuttings that I can share next year or I can try my hand at air layering them as was suggested by Adelmanto. __________________ Shawn San Diego, CA Zone 10a Wishlist: Galicia Negra, Smith, Martinenca Rimada, Longue D'Aout (received thanks Gary), MBVS, CDD Blanc, Black Tuscan, Falls Gold Have (most are less than 1 year old): VdB, RdB, Celestial, Yellow Long Neck, Unk LSU TC, Magnolia, CDD Noir, CDD Grise, Maltese Falcon, Black Madera, Panache, Deanna, Peter's Honey, Vasilika Sika, Red Italian

FiggyFrank

Registered:1347560723
Posts: 2,713

Posted 1425311995	Reply with quote #7

Air layering is very easy and has a very high success rate. You can search youtube for demonstrations. __________________ Frank zone 7a - VA

philos

Registered:1349018083
Posts: 122

Posted 1425317939	Reply with quote #8

Suckers are nice and productive. I usually cut them after sometime to propagate and then they grow extra stems along nodes. Gotta love that! __________________ Jerry - Zone 6B Westchester, New York. 2015 Wish List: Florea, White Greek, Italian 258, Galicia Negra and any M. Pons varieties.

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