How to prune figs in a cool climate for first (breba) crop fig production

[@CatManToday]

I wish all the videos I researched on KZbin had this kind of instructions. Well done.

[@waynemasters8673]

I wish all the vidiots on YouthTube didn't vote. I didn't help over populate the planet with them so who cares?

[@johns7713]

This is a fantastic video. I've never seen it explained so clearly. Great work!

[@victoryoneable]

I followed your instructions last year and got my best crop ever. There's a lot of 'fig pruning' videos listed above yours when I searched, but this one truly gives the best advice.

[@theresa94010]

I agree 100%. He truly is an expert based on his own decades of experience vs merely copying other's. I watch this video the same time every year to remind myself what to do before pruning my own trees. Every year.

[@theresa94010]

Real life hands-on experience speaking. I watch this video early winter every year before starting pruning. Thank you for all that I've learned and will continue to learn from you.

[@landsea3682]

Thank you very much! very clear and to the point video. I purchased a house with some land in Italy with fig trees all over the place, neglected for 50 years. One tree has a 60cm diameter and is all over the place but your method should still work. I will get to it tomorrow. Thanks again.

[@YouThiagoTube1986]

I´ve seen dozens of fig prunning videos but this is the best one. My grandpa had some figs and now i have 2 on my garden. He´s gonna eat some great figs from heaven. Thank you for all this great info! Much love from Brasil.

[@walterrottiers6825]

Eindelijk iemand die het snoeien van vijgen eenvoudig en praktisch kan voorstellen!

[@pedrobg1289]

Excellent video, you explane it all so well, It brings back for me some wonderful memories of when I was a young boy in Tenerife we had a very large( Breba fig tree) near the house and even had a small treehouse half way up it. It was enormous and totally left to its own devices never prune it and never really looked after it, there was no need, the climate there is so good it use to give us 2 crops a year, one early with very large figs and fewer in number and a heavy crop later it never failed to ripen them all with flavour to die for . I have been in the UK for the last 45 years and here it is very difficult to get them to ripen so I am going to follow your pruning system and hope I will do better. Thank you for your excellent pruning guide and stay safe.

[@genevievemanson-hing7952]

Never thought of pruning back that way! So very helpful and thank you so much! I live on Vancouver Island so this is 100% relevant.

[@pinkcherryblossam54]

Probably the most helpful video out there for fig pruning. Thank you.

[@kincaidandthememetics]

Zarah 777 agreed! This is an excellent video. Coming back to it again and can attest that the advice here has changed the performance of my fig trees. Thanks or sharing.

[@marymackenzie8126]

Ditto!

[@eliseamiot5412]

Hands down the best explanation for pruning Desert King. I'll adapt that to wintering mine indoors.

[@marindimitrov6865]

Very, very well explained and made me learn how to prune my fig trees - I wish I watched this video years ago. Thank you very much!

[@PeterEntwistle]

This is an excellent guide and demonstration of pruning for a breba crop. Our climate in the UK is pretty similar and so it's quite difficult to get main crop figs to develop here, so this is how I will be training my trees. Thank you for this very detailed guide.

[@nickgeorgie1957]

By far the best explained pruning technique on KZbin. Thank you very much indeed.

[@arabellalunkes4532]

One of the very best videos of how to prune figs! Thank you!

[@aegf956]

Thank you Bob - really well explained. We have 3 newish fig trees in our garden in Norfolk UK and this has helped me realise that we need to create a structure not far off the ground. We have been distracted by all the fruit we are seeing.

[@erkcreate2594]

Thank you! This video is exactly what I was looking for. We recently purchased a house in Central Saanich and were ooking for tips how to keep it looking great and producing. Now my Sunday afternoon is set up!

[@MsFaysy]

Hi Bob, thank you for the nice and clean information on fig tree. 😊

[@ianshepherd1482]

This video is great - thank you. Please never delete it

[@learntocrochet1]

Finally, a post that addresses fig growing in coastal PNW and gives a clear, comprehensive overview. I'm not able to physically prune my 16 year old overgrown fig. I think it's a Desert King. It does have a breba crop. It was damaged to the ground by cold several years back and came back strong. Last year it was pruned back to the main boughs, but now it's over 12 feet tall again. I've struggled to understand what to prune and how to recognize the age of branches.

[@benjamindoran2849]

Brilliant tutorial on fig pruning. Excellent guide for the UK as well as BC. Will recommend this to all my clients so they can understand what we are trying to achieve.

[@destiny3423]

I'm so glad to have found someone that could help my poor expertise when it comes to fig trees.. My fig tree had reached 25 feet in height. Although it produced wonderfully, there was no way for me to get to the figs because the birds always manage to get them first. Last year I decided to prune it and I mean, really......... prune it.. Well, this year I had no fruit and now I know why.. I need to prune it again this year, I love figs and I'll make sure to do it the right way... Thank you for your informative well done video...

[@vulk86]

I am currently in year 3 of building the structure. I just watched this video for the third time and I'm off to prune right away!

[@johnbotelho3828]

Thank you so much ...... We have our first house with an existing fig tree so your video helped us enormously! Very clear for those of us who are first time fig tree Owners.

[@2brownbraids]

Thank you for showing, this is a much needed video. I am in Vancouver and will start pruning the same way.

[@chrisjones3901]

Just got my first fig yesterday. in Cheshire UK not the warmest county in UK.i have looked at loads of vids but this one by far the best,I will be endeavouring to replicate a tree exactly like this,thankyou.now for my patience.

[@RADJankowski136etal]

I live in a London suburb and this works for me. Excellent advice, thanks for sharing.

[@HumanWisdom]

Thank you so much Bob! You are the first person who made me clearly understand the breba fig crop vs the main fig crop, and more importantly created a great training system that can produce consistent breba crop. All I have to do now is try to figure out a way (other than fig trees in pots) to go through the much tougher winter in Montreal area in order be able to keep the one year old branches alive... Thank you once again!

[@natanischristensen1461]

This video was fun to watch and easy to follow - start to finish. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!

[@jollandleung]

Your video is the best out there. Very useful. appreciated deeply for your information. Thank you Bob.

[@BoyYardee]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge. Now, I know about the importance of the permanent structure.

[@chetr003]

This is the best video I have seen on fig pruning. Thanks and God bless

[@christinewilson7617]

This is very informative. One of the 'rules' of pruning generally is to never leave stubs! So fig trees are completely different- we want that stub growth. Good to know. Thank you.

[@Dragonmother52]

Bob you are a national treasure!

[@randydukes6382]

Connie Kuramoto in the book tell about fig

[@randydukes6382]

old tessilment in king 2 book tell about fig

[@organicgrow4440]

His an international one in my books.

[@ayatti26]

I get it, it is similar to spur pruning for grape vines. Great explanation and demonstration.

[@anaoc4243]

Fascinating. Thank you. I am trying to build a couple of fig tree structures in my little orchard.

[@rubenarellano3959]

Only a BC fig need would understand, but this is just about the best video on YT ever.

[@theresa94010]

I am in the SF Bay Area, I have greatly improved my fig trees following his instructions over the years. He is the best indeed.

[@vulk86]

There are a lot of fig pruning videos out there, but almost none about "building" a fig tree. I saw off my five year old fig tree last winter and now I Have about 10 branches. The coming winter I will select 3-4 branches out of that then. Maybe I will grow different varieties on the same tree. Thanks for the great video!

[@decolonizeEverywhere]

Thank you for making sense! Am "starting over" with a new pair of trees and the timing is perfect as they are about a foot tall and ready for a bigger pot. They will be indoors for the winter, so will have an early start in the spring in my zone 4B.

[@rebeccawilson2519]

Wonderful video... I now feel like an expert! Thanks very much Sir :-) I will now go out and redesign my wild and hitherto unpruned fig tree with more confidence!

[@richardbeurms4965]

Thanks for the clear explanation!!! After looking at a lot of video' I' m glad to find this Canadian lesson.

[@busuroor2255]

Well explained and very useful tips :) thanks Bob....

[@crystalliu998]

Best video for pruning fig tree!!!!! Thanks!

[@millardshires5425]

Incredible video! Well done! One of the best pruning videos I have seen. Thank you very much!!

[@margarita_ville]

The most helpful video on pruning fig trees. Thank you.

[@MRKIZZY17]

Excellent and straightforward,thank you sir 👍

[@TheASTrader]

Very well explained. I especially like the chosen height for fruit bearing. It's not too high or too low. On a separate note, I'm really interested in knowing more information about that espalier citrus behind Bob against the wall. I imagine the dark wall serves as a heat sink for it and enables the tree to produce fruit. I'd love to see Bob tell us more about it.

[@musmustafa7900]

Best video out there on this topic.. i will adopt this approach from now on..

[@Debbielightworker]

Great video, explains what to do very clearly. Very helpful!

[@smeghed1025]

Thanks for posting! We may start training my mom's figs this way. They're established, but we can still restrict them with this system.

[@jinhuichen8964]

Thanks for the instruction. Really helpful!

[@clivesconundrumgarden]

Came to via Charles Dowding. He refenced you in his latest video. We live in Victoria. Small world and we have a fig tree. Useful information, subscribed Cheers

[@joenic4303]

I have a desert king in Phoenix, and this is applicable to that as well, although I got a great main crop this year into the winter before leaf drop.

[@debraarizona4809]

This was the most interesting info on how to prune a fig tree. I learned a lot ,and feel confident on pruning my tree in the future. I think your tree looks healthy and well kept,awesome job!. Thank you for sharing 🌳👍😊

[@edwardmyers3244]

Excellent video. Thank you. You covered all of the important points on how to prune to develop and maintain a fig tree for fig production in a northern climate. You even recommended the best fig variety, Desert King, for northern climates. 400 figs from that one tree?! Maybe you should do a video on what you do with all of your desert king figs!

[@murraypotts924]

Very helpful, I am in Western Australia on the coast in a temperate climate zone and have a fig tree that is about 20 years old and out of control. Season just gone we had an abundant crop, but I need a ladder to reach them. The tree structure is similar to yours but too high and I want to cut it back to a more manageable height . As most of the new wood will go I expect it next season that we will not get many figs.

[@beckythompson8135]

Excellent video, thank you! I live in Nanaimo so this was incredibly helpful, I was wondering why I only got one harvest when there were so many immature figs still on the tree! I moved into a new home with a HUGE fig tree (as tall as my house) and it needs some serious TLC. Would love to see you make more videos that apply to our local climate.

[@Free_Falastin2024]

Bob gets to choose which branches to keep, and the rest of Canada has to pray our figs don't die over winter lol Thanks for this great video!

[@nazeemali2098]

The best video seen and the best tips and advise, live in Surrey, BC, don’t want tall tree either, thank you

[@markbenson2061]

Thanks for making this helpful video Bob!

[@douglasakerman5218]

Thank you, an excellent presentation. I’m going out to prune right now. Tsawwassen.

[@beebob1279]

Thank you very much. Where I live we have true freezing temperatures that will often kill back the fig tree to the ground. Then in spring it has to re-start the whole process again. I'm going to go about it a little differently, but you gave me a great idea about maintaining the tree short. Last winter was mild here and the tree didn't die back. This fall/winter I'm cutting the bush (I let my figs bush out) back and cover it with leaves. I think this can keep it from freezing out. Spring I'll take the time and start training the tree. Then in fall I'll take precautions to keep it from freezing over winter.

[@disappointed6713]

Thanks for this - you made it easy to understand - greatly appreciated.

[@Goggelgoogler]

This is such a helpful video, thank you so much from Woodend Victoria(Australia)

[@rexhake1]

you have answered all of my questions . Great video , thanks

[@rickylahey724]

sooo helpful mate, cheers. was confusing the hell out of me, reading about it. much better to be shown

[@Sunandshine1234]

Very helpful and clear information , thank you .

[@leslil5590]

Thank you--the demo and explanations are so helpful!

[@MyFocusVaries]

Thanks for this. I'm just starting; figs planted in pots this year (lower mainland).

[@ningcai8495]

Just chopped my 4 new-planted fig trees down to 20cm. thanks!

[@linlaonong]

any chance you would post an update for this wonderful tree? seeing it with loads of figs would be very encouraging!

[@cindynoble8055]

Thanks for the explanation, very clear, we have a lot of work to do.

[@franstwigt8763]

indeed an excellent video, also for our climate in the Netherlands

[@lollypop2413]

I have never hacked my beautiful fig and she always produces plenty of figs....and look gorgeous in her natural state

[@gordonreid5603]

Great video. Thank you. My fig tree in my garden on Bowen Island is just getting over head height so it’s time for me to manage it as you suggest.

[@Microgroennl]

Thanks Bob, this gives me a good idea what to do with my Fig tree.

[@isoldeverbrugge5282]

Thank you very much for the great instructional video!

[@amandadisla2100]

thank you for the ideas on pruning the fig.

[@tony-thefiglovinstargazer]

Love this vid Bob!

[@silverhairdemon]

Many thanks, I think this works for north Netherlands climate too..I just bought a brown turkey type of fig...

[@annemann7790]

Thanks for such a good explanation.

[@DarylannCampbell]

Thanks so much from Crescent City, CA!

[@conorhope2307]

This is probably the most comprehensive and easy to follow guide to pruning a fig tree I've seen. Thanks so much :) One question, is the a similar way to control height, whilst maintaining a more natural/ornamental shape, without the branches of the permanent structure ending in stubs?

[@npknscrb]

This is fairly common when pruning for production, it keeps the overall height reasonable and promotes fruit production. (Was writing this as he mentioned the height point.) Commercial peach trees often have a similar appearance for the same reasons, encourage fruiting and keep height reasonable for harvest. Appearance is pretty much the trade-off for production and harvest ease in fruit trees.

[@BrandXsps]

Great video. I was wondering how to maintain the size and shape of a 2 fig trees I have espaliered against my fence for the last 3 seasons. This video made a lot of sense. Now I just need to know how to keep the birds away from them.

[@5805300253]

Good video. A couple of suggestions: 1.) When using a pollarding technique for managing tree height and maximizing fruiting through hormone response (pruning stress), it is a best practice to prune 2 year growth, weak 1 year and drooping branches to the collar on the pollard head rather than a pre-determined distance (2cm). 2.) Also, it should be specified this method is best for orchard production and may not be suitable for casual figs growers in residential settings.

[@lsteiner]

Why not residential settings? Is it because your figs could be poached too easily?

[@Optimistforreal]

Best video ever on pruning for breba! How do I recognise which branches did fruit already besides using my memory?

[@mga8258]

My question too...

[@rtaskyy]

just a question for anyone who might be reading, how do you get the first low branches to grow that way? i bought a fig tree but i picked one that i thought looked nice and its pretty much a single stem. its only about 2.5' tall but still, doesnt have any branching.

[@christineacastro]

Finally, just what i needed to know. Thanks!

[@dorolenw5059]

Thank-you SO much for taking the time to share this with me. By far the most informative lesson I ever had. I realize I've been pruning incorrectly. Any suggestions for what to do with a 10 year old tree that was never "cut down" in the first three years to develop a spreading habit? Would you recommend topping it off?

[@rossiri]

I would love to see a video on how to winter a large fig tree such as you have.

[@gillium3]

Maritime NW climate is zone 8 typically and doesn't require the "winterizing". If you're in a Zone 6-4 or lower you will need to do the "stubbing" at the ground level and insulate the 1 year old shoots (sometimes up to 6 feet high) with leaves, straw etc. and landscape cloth or plastic. If stone-cold deep freezing like zone 3, large pots are easiest-then you can lay them down and insulate or pull them into a

[@judithannerae]

Thank you very much Ladysmith.

[@RonnieMinh]

Great information and presentation, thanks!

[@angietofu]

Thank you! Just what I was looking for

[@Mackandal-]

Thank you sharing your knowledge.

[@destiny5776]

Very informative video! If you could tell me when is the best time to prune a fig tree in the northwest I would very much appreciated. Thank you!

[@tawseef3882]

really huge amount of knowledge...👦👦

[@SolidGoldShows]

Great video. Very informative!

[@dladygray9017]

What about if the tree already grew too tall? I didn't know anything about pruning a fig tree, but now you have taught me much. I was watching a video about a drastic prune to shorten the tree a great deal in August. Will that kill a fig tree in your area? Did I understand correctly that the tree only fruits on the branch it grew the year before (as with raspberries)? So a drastic prune, if in August might create some growth for next year's fruit, but a spring prune-down would preclude fruit next year, is that correct? Why does a tree produce a measly 4 medium size figs, then about 40 secondary figs? Can I bring them in to ripen indoors in the fall? I'm speaking about in your area. Thank you.

[@alexandra8003]

phenomenal video. thank you so much for posting this. it was informative and presented clearly. god bless (and send some figs!) :-)

[@alfiyaa8214]

Very helpful, thank you so much 😊