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GeneDaniels

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Posted Reply with quote  #1 
the middle of last month I pinched all my figs before leaving on a long trip. Now I am back and looking at my figs. Everyone one of them as baby figlets growing in abundance! I think every branch I pinched has little figs on it.

If you are not yet pinching you really might want to give it a try.
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chadspur

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Posted Reply with quote  #2 
Really worked well for my LSU Gold. Did nothing for my Black Italian.  
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Stormy

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Posted Reply with quote  #3 
Never pinched my figs before, are you positive it really makes a difference in numbers of figs developing or is it the rather them growing faster?
I noticed figlets on my col de dame, unpitched. In terms of branching, it makes a difference on my other trees and schrubs like apple trees and berries of all sorts. For instance when I pitch the blueberries end of may, resulting in more shoots appearing a few weeks later, I get more fruit the next year because fruit grows on one year old shoots.
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Posted Reply with quote  #4 
I tried it 3 weeks ago after really understanding how to do it. Just pinch the end terminal bud. Worked awsome.
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Stormy

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Posted Reply with quote  #5 
How is that, do you mean you get more, bigger or better figs in the end? I'm trying to understand why I should do it you see.
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Herman2

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Posted Reply with quote  #6 
Most man domesticated plants benefit from pinching.
Even cucumber need to be pinched after seventh leaf first and again after forth leaf.
brianm

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Posted Reply with quote  #7 
Works great especially if you want them to ripen earlier.
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FiggyFrank

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Posted Reply with quote  #8 
I went on a pinching spree myself.  Fig embryos appeared everywhere on the trees that are very active right now.  The slower growing trees still show figlets, but took a little longer for them to appear.  Pinching is key to speed up the process!
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Frank
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GeneDaniels

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Posted Reply with quote  #9 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stormy
Never pinched my figs before, are you positive it really makes a difference in numbers of figs developing or is it the rather them growing faster?
I noticed figlets on my col de dame, unpitched. In terms of branching, it makes a difference on my other trees and schrubs like apple trees and berries of all sorts. For instance when I pitch the blueberries end of may, resulting in more shoots appearing a few weeks later, I get more fruit the next year because fruit grows on one year old shoots.


I pinch my blueberries, blackberries and raspberries too, does them wonders but like you said a year later. As for figs, it increases the fruit now because they bear on the first year wood.

A couple years ago I stared pinching my figs. At first I tried pinching some shoots and not others (on the same bush). The pinched ones fruited more and sooner. Of course this is not a proper scientific study, but I am fairly certain that pinching works. In places like here in zone 7, one of the big issues is getting them to start fruiting sooner. The sooner they start fruiting, the larger the overall crop will be by the end of the season.
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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?
kevint8

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Posted Reply with quote  #10 
What's the difference between pinching and pruning?  Or are they the same?
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FiggyFrank

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Posted Reply with quote  #11 
Quote:
Originally Posted by kevint8
What's the difference between pinching and pruning?  Or are they the same?


Pinching is simply pruning an actively growing branch/trunk while it's green.  When I think 'pruning' I think of cutting lignified wood.
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Frank
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kevint8

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Posted Reply with quote  #12 
Quote:
Originally Posted by FiggyFrank


Pinching is simply pruning an actively growing branch/trunk while it's green.  When I think 'pruning' I think of cutting lignified wood.


Thank you for clarifying.  It's making a lot of sense now that I think about it.
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Stormy

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Posted Reply with quote  #13 
Quote:
Originally Posted by GeneDaniels


I pinch my blueberries, blackberries and raspberries too, does them wonders but like you said a year later. As for figs, it increases the fruit now because they bear on the first year wood.

A couple years ago I stared pinching my figs. At first I tried pinching some shoots and not others (on the same bush). The pinched ones fruited more and sooner. Of course this is not a proper scientific study, but I am fairly certain that pinching works. In places like here in zone 7, one of the big issues is getting them to start fruiting sooner. The sooner they start fruiting, the larger the overall crop will be by the end of the season.


OK, I see that. Assume I start pinching now, mid may, removing the top sprout from every new branch. In fact this is an early pruning aiming at a better fruit development.
Now, opposed to that, correct me if I am wrong, this branch will no longer terminate, let's say in august, in a nicely formed bud to start from next year.
So my question is, won't this delay bud break next spring, or is there still time for that branch to form new sprouts that will end in buds in august? Don't know if you follow me on this!
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FiggyFrank

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Posted Reply with quote  #14 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stormy


OK, I see that. Assume I start pinching now, mid may, removing the top sprout from every new branch. In fact this is an early pruning aiming at a better fruit development.
Now, opposed to that, correct me if I am wrong, this branch will no longer terminate, let's say in august, in a nicely formed bud to start from next year.
So my question is, won't this delay bud break next spring, or is there still time for that branch to form new sprouts that will end in buds in august? Don't know if you follow me on this!


If you pinch an actively growing fig tree, a new branch (or branches) will sprout from a node somewhere below.  Thing is, it could be a fig, or it could be a branch.  Either way, it equals to more figs eventually.
So the tip that you just pinched will stop there.  No terminal bud.  Whatever branch(es) form thereafter will have your terminal tips at the end of the season.
I made a video last summer that might be helpful.
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Frank
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Stormy

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Posted Reply with quote  #15 
Quote:
Originally Posted by FiggyFrank


If you pinch an actively growing fig tree, a new branch (or branches) will sprout from a node somewhere below.  Thing is, it could be a fig, or it could be a branch.  Either way, it equals to more figs eventually.
So the tip that you just pinched will stop there.  No terminal bud.  Whatever branch(es) form thereafter will have your terminal tips at the end of the season.
I made a video last summer that might be helpful.


Great instructive video. I will certainly give it a try this year on my heavily pruned green fig, which is sprouting all over now, without figlets sofar this year.
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Quackmaster

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Posted Reply with quote  #16 
I just did my pinching!
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pino

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Posted Reply with quote  #17 
Some of my breba figs are getting quite advanced now.  Curious if pinching a terminal bud on a breba producing fig will affect the current breba figs? 
Will the brebas drop off or is there little shock to the branch by the pinching and should not affect the ripening breba figs?
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SingingGardener

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Posted Reply with quote  #18 
Great info about pinching.  I'm going right out to pinch my Chicago Hardy's and Main crop figs.

My question is this true for all varieties of figs.   I assume it would be more relevant for the main crop figs.  Would it be helpful for Breba crops too?  When would you pinch to encourage more Breba figs?  
Thanks
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Rewton

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Posted Reply with quote  #19 
It has been such a cool, wet Spring I just don't feel my figs are ready to be pinched yet.  Even though I'm in zone 7a my in-ground figs still haven't fully come out of dormancy yet. My impression with pinching is that you have to wait until a decent amount of new foliage has been generated before it is wise to pinch.  I think last year I pinched around the end of May or early June.
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SingingGardener

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Posted Reply with quote  #20 
A word of warning.  I just dissolved my thumb nail pinching figs.  I guess nail cubical doesn't' like the Latex.  I was pinching away and noticed blood. . .OWEIE1
I'll use scissors for the rest of them.
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I have fallen in love with growing figs and have encouraged many others in my area to start the practice. 
I'm a permaculture gardener and Raw food, live food enthusiast.  My goal is to have a permaculture Solar High tunnel that will produce food year round.  And FIGS for a long time. . .
GeneDaniels

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Posted Reply with quote  #21 
Quote:
Originally Posted by SingingGardener
Great info about pinching.  I'm going right out to pinch my Chicago Hardy's and Main crop figs.

My question is this true for all varieties of figs.   I assume it would be more relevant for the main crop figs.  Would it be helpful for Breba crops too?  When would you pinch to encourage more Breba figs?  
Thanks


Breba crop form on last years growth, so I don't think pinching would have any effect on them.
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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?
GeneDaniels

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Posted Reply with quote  #22 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rewton
It has been such a cool, wet Spring I just don't feel my figs are ready to be pinched yet.  Even though I'm in zone 7a my in-ground figs still haven't fully come out of dormancy yet. My impression with pinching is that you have to wait until a decent amount of new foliage has been generated before it is wise to pinch.  I think last year I pinched around the end of May or early June.


I always pinch after 5 or 6 leaves have formed on a new branch. Short or long, it doesn't matter to me. Of course this makes for a dense canopy by the end of summer, but I prune most of that off to prepare for winter so it doesn't matter. I would guess this would make things different if I was pinching in a warmer climate.
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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?
SingingGardener

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Posted Reply with quote  #23 
Thanks that's helpful.  I pinched all the smaller trees that were in the basement.  They were in a small High tunnel Green house for April and then outside in a protected alcove so have been growing for a couple of months.  The big ones (in Whisky Barrels) stay in the garage and I was too busy to shuffle them this year so they just got out a couple of weeks ago.  They are happily leafing out but I'll wait for more new growth on them before pinching them.
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I have fallen in love with growing figs and have encouraged many others in my area to start the practice. 
I'm a permaculture gardener and Raw food, live food enthusiast.  My goal is to have a permaculture Solar High tunnel that will produce food year round.  And FIGS for a long time. . .
bear_with_me

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Posted Reply with quote  #24 
Like the video, I bend the tip. It just snaps off. I'd rather call it snapping than pinching. I've done this for many years, really seems to promote fig formation. I stop by July because Figs that form after that usually dont ripen before cold season sets in, in my garden.
Daniel
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joann1536

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Posted Reply with quote  #25 
I pinched all of the 2nd year trees, and a couple of the younger ones.  They did get figlets shortly after, but I wondered how many of them I'd have gotten anyway.  But I wouldn't have seen any branching without having done it.
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Frankallen

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Posted Reply with quote  #26 
Hey Frank, I learned  so much from this one video last year, than any on YouTube! It works Outstanding!!  Thank you so much! : )

Frank from Bama
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chucklikestofish

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Posted Reply with quote  #27 
Quote:
Originally Posted by GeneDaniels


I pinch my blueberries, blackberries and raspberries too, does them wonders but like you said a year later. As for figs, it increases the fruit now because they bear on the first year wood.

A couple years ago I stared pinching my figs. At first I tried pinching some shoots and not others (on the same bush). The pinched ones fruited more and sooner. Of course this is not a proper scientific study, but I am fairly certain that pinching works. In places like here in zone 7, one of the big issues is getting them to start fruiting sooner. The sooner they start fruiting, the larger the overall crop will be by the end of the season.
~GENE CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO ME IN DETAIL, I WOULD LOVE TO PINCH BUT,DON'T KNOW HOW TOO,THANKS,~I SEE THERE IS A VIDEO ,IS THIS HOW YOU DO IT,  ?  ~
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snaglpus

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Posted Reply with quote  #28 
I use small pruning snips.  After pinching 5 large trees, my finger nail gets sore.  Try pinching over 200 trees with you fingers!  You will see what I mean!  But it does work like a charm.
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FiggyFrank

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Posted Reply with quote  #29 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Frankallen
Hey Frank, I learned  so much from this one video last year, than any on YouTube! It works Outstanding!!  Thank you so much! : )

Frank from Bama


Thank you, sir!  I appreciate the kind words.
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Frank
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GeneDaniels

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Posted Reply with quote  #30 
Quote:
Originally Posted by chucklikestofish
~GENE CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO ME IN DETAIL, I WOULD LOVE TO PINCH BUT,DON'T KNOW HOW TOO,THANKS,~I SEE THERE IS A VIDEO ,IS THIS HOW YOU DO IT,  ?  ~


I usually just literally pinch, but some people use a small pair of snips. I just count 5 or 6 leaves, then pinch out the tip. Nothing to it.
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Timo

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Posted Reply with quote  #31 
Pinching is one of the best things I learned on this forum. I started pinching my in ground EBT in the beginning of June, after every 5th or 6th leaf (if already present). This has resulted in earlier ripening of the brebas. Today I harvested my 1st breba of this season, 1 month earlier than the previous years! Other brebas are starting to ripen also on the branches that were pinched first. I hope this pinching will speed up the ripening of the main crop too.

P7141734 - kopie.JPG 

The technique of pinching was already practised centuries ago. There is a whole chapter on pruning and pinching figs in this 17th century French monography on figs: https://books.google.be/books?id=L_M6AAAAcAAJ&printsec=frontcover&hl=nl&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false There is a lot of useful information in this old book about figs, maybe I will translate it some day. Next year I will also prune away the apical bud when the tree starts to wake up after dormancy, as is recommended in this book.  

 
chucklikestofish

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Posted Reply with quote  #32 
Quote:
Originally Posted by GeneDaniels


I usually just literally pinch, but some people use a small pair of snips. I just count 5 or 6 leaves, then pinch out the tip. Nothing to it.
~THANKS GENE~
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chucklikestofish

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Posted Reply with quote  #33 
Quote:
Originally Posted by chucklikestofish
~THANKS GENE~
~SO GENE STILL A LITTLE CONFUSED I AM NOT TO SMART,MY WIFE SAYS I'M TO CRITICAL,I NEED TO MUCH INFO ALL THE TIME SO HERE I GO,ARE YOU SAYING THAT EVERY BRANCH I COUNT 5-6 LEAVES AND THEN AND THERE CUT OFF THE REST OF THE BRANCH,( IS IT A CERTAIN SIZE BRANCH AS TO SMALL OR LARGE )SEE I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THIS ,BUT I GOT A DESERT KING THAT PUT ONE BIG FIG ON EARLY AND IT FELL OFF THIS TREE HAS ALOT OF BRANCHES SMALL AND LARGE, NEEDS SOMETHING DONE TO IT BAD,THANKS GENE AND I KNOW YOU PROBABLY THINK I AM ASKING TO MUCH IF SO IT'S OK I UNDERSTAND
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FiggyFrank

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Posted Reply with quote  #34 
Chuck,

If I may help answer some questions..  There are no solid rules for pinching.  A 'general' method is at least every 5th or 6th leaf.  You can pinch a tip after 3 feet of growth if you wish.  It doesn't matter what the caliber of the branch is.  If you pinch after every 5th leaf, you will get a nicer shaped tree and a better chance of figs pushing out sooner.
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Frank
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chucklikestofish

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Posted Reply with quote  #35 
Quote:
Originally Posted by FiggyFrank
Chuck,

If I may help answer some questions..  There are no solid rules for pinching.  A 'general' method is at least every 5th or 6th leaf.  You can pinch a tip after 3 feet of growth if you wish.  It doesn't matter what the caliber of the branch is.  If you pinch after every 5th leaf, you will get a nicer shaped tree and a better chance of figs pushing out sooner.
~thanks ~
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TorontoJoe

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Posted Reply with quote  #36 
I've been having problems not getting any fruit and pinched all my trees for the first time just two days ago. I'm really excited to see what happens over the coming weeks. If you guys have any before and after pictures I really like to see what it did for you. I'll report back to this post with pics if I see any changes in my trees.
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greenman62

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Posted Reply with quote  #37 
just an FYI
this isnt just for figs.
i tip-prune (pinch) the tops of my guava
it makes it develop 2 shoots instead of 1
so, it is forming the shape of the tree, as well as putting some of the energy into fruit instead of new growth
i do this on a regular basis with guava
but, also do it with Jujube, Mango, loquat, barbados cherry etc...

some trees like Barbados Cherry (Acerola / Malpighia emarginata)
 can have long skinny branches which will bend with too much fruit on them.
tipping the branch when young will keep it shorter so the branch will bend less under the weight of the fruit.

it will certainly change the form and shape, so keep that in mind, especially for something like mango.

  you can see the tops, which were much longer, now forcing new side growth on this Acerola / Barbados Cherry

barba-acer_tttip.jpg 
and here, forcing fruit on the laft, and flowers on the right.
barbad_tttty.jpg 

long skinny branches ... normal growth before tip-pruning

acer--juju...ttt.jpg 



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GeneDaniels

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Posted Reply with quote  #38 
Quote:
Originally Posted by chucklikestofish
~SO GENE STILL A LITTLE CONFUSED I AM NOT TO SMART,MY WIFE SAYS I'M TO CRITICAL,I NEED TO MUCH INFO ALL THE TIME SO HERE I GO,ARE YOU SAYING THAT EVERY BRANCH I COUNT 5-6 LEAVES AND THEN AND THERE CUT OFF THE REST OF THE BRANCH,( IS IT A CERTAIN SIZE BRANCH AS TO SMALL OR LARGE )SEE I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THIS ,BUT I GOT A DESERT KING THAT PUT ONE BIG FIG ON EARLY AND IT FELL OFF THIS TREE HAS ALOT OF BRANCHES SMALL AND LARGE, NEEDS SOMETHING DONE TO IT BAD,THANKS GENE AND I KNOW YOU PROBABLY THINK I AM ASKING TO MUCH IF SO IT'S OK I UNDERSTAND


I pinch all my branches after 5-6 leaves. That makes the plant somewhat bushy by summer's end. But here in zone 7a I trim it back in the winter anyhow, so this does not bother me. Usually I see little figlets within one week.

Also, as a side note. Since it takes 90 days to ripen a fig, I will stop pinching at the end of July. After that any new figs that appeared would probably not ripen before frost and so I would prefer any energy go into branching development. This is something we in colder zones need to keep in mind.
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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?
chucklikestofish

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Posted Reply with quote  #39 
Quote:
Originally Posted by GeneDaniels

I pinch all my branches after 5-6 leaves. That makes the plant somewhat bushy by summer's end. But here in zone 7a I trim it back in the winter anyhow, so this does not bother me. Usually I see little figlets within one week.

Also, as a side note. Since it takes 90 days to ripen a fig, I will stop pinching at the end of July. After that any new figs that appeared would probably not ripen before frost and so I would prefer any energy go into branching development. This is something we in colder zones need to keep in mind.
~thanks gene ~
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