How To Prune Figs Into A Tree Or Bush

In this video, I discuss pruning techniques for figs. If left undisturbed, figs will naturally grow into a large, densely packed bush and eventually with age, most ripe figs will simply be out of reach without the use of ladders or tools to assist harvesting. Pruning your figs early in their lifetime to develop a neat, compact and orderly shape is critical for long-term yield and ease of harvest. In this video, I discuss techniques to prune your fig into either a bush or a tree, and why either shape may be best for you.
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© The Millennial Gardener

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Follow us on Twitter @NCGardening

[@anthonytriolo3643]

The Millennial Gardener you don’t where your experiment takes place,how this applies tome.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

anthony triolo I list my location in my channel description and my Twitter handle. I’m on the southeast coast of North Carolina about 9 miles from the ocean. Very coastal with hot, humid, wet summers, Zone 8a.

[@duvvurilakshmi1508]

Hai sir fig tree wants direct sunlight or not.my fig tree leaves turn brown why sir i bring this traa 2 weeks back i dont know any information about this fig tree plzz tell me sir some tips plzz sir plzz help me

[@bichnguyen2539]

I don't Twitter :(

[@loisperez8715]

Can you take the cut off branches to make other fig trees?

[@queuemaster]

This is by far the best video on pruning fig trees.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I'm glad you found it helpful. I have a newer one here that hopefully will be helpful on more mature figs: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kJ2pgZRso7R6iNk

[@GospelOutside]

This is one of my favorite videos of yours. You are a great teacher and I enjoy watching your techniques as you explain. Not many here on YT do that. They just like to talk and talk and talk. Often leaving out useful information as they go. I feel more confident now. Thank you!

[@joolsmonash9855]

You are a brilliant teacher. Thank you so much for this video, I really needed it. Much appreciated.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Glad it was helpful! Thank you for watching.

[@DrValerie800]

Thank you! I have so much to learn about figs but it is helpful to know how vigorous and tough to kill they are, especially when it comes to pruning, which I have not yet done. The trunk on my Violette de Bordeaux is just barely an inch but it's never been pruned (it's 3 years old now). I have started a couple suckers as they came out and they are doing fabulous. I'm planning on having a fig orchard in my tiny living room, LOL. It has a monster indeterminate cherry tomato growing next to it but everything is hydroponic and disease-free. If I had any land, I'd be growing several varieties of figs now that I decided they actually taste good (it only took me about 60 years to come to that conclusion).

[@triggerwarning2439]

I started braiding mine at that size. They are very flexible just try not braiding them where they will choke themselves out in the future... maybe more of a twist pattern. 👍 they look really cool matured

[@Jen-me5jm]

Thanks for this video, it was so satisfying to watch the prunning process and the transformation😁

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thank you for watching! Glad it was helpful.

[@shadeva28]

Glad you made this video. I want to prune my newly bought trees this winter too.👍🏽👍🏽

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Kristyle H thanks for watching!

[@jeansatanktop7460]

Nearly 4 years after you created this, there's STILL a huge lack of info on training a fig bush into a tree. Thank you!!! Now all I need to know is how long after initial pruning/training can it be planted in the ground? (Or can this same work be done on a planted fig?)

[@rxosu7]

Thank you. I have been searching for a video exactly like this. I am in zone 6b and I have 14 different varieties I started this past winter from cuttings. Since it gets pretty cold here, they probably would be best as bushes if planted inground. I saw where you can cut them back to the ground and mulch them well and they will,regrow in the summer. Thanks again for all your videos

[@virginiamoss5093]

Thank you for your quick reply. I will fertilize next spring. Thanks for the help.

[@isabo3556]

2 months ago I saw a beautiful fig tree. The stem was 2 and a half meters high before the branches started. And the branches were at least 2 meters in length. Thus creating an umbrella-like tree. Really beautiful. I have two little figs and will prune them like that. Thank you for the video.

[@isabo3556]

@BrdMan Fether yes, i do that with my own figs but the one I saw in someone else's garden was just beautiful. It had no figs but it can serve as a shade tree in summer. So now i want to try that.

[@janetg2508]

Your videos are so helpful and informative. I have a Viollette Dr Bordeaux about 1 year old that is in a bush shape now growing in a very large container. I'm in Zone 9b(AZ). Realizing now that I need to prune it into a tree since I have space limitations, when Would be the best time for pruning here. Last winter, it kept all it's leaves. Thanks for all your awesome videos and please keep them coming😁

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thank you! It is always the best time to prune a tree when its metabolism is as slow as possible. In frost-prone areas, we call it "dormancy." If your climate is usually frost-free, you're still best waiting until temperatures are coldest. That'll probably be in January. For you, I'd let the cold build all December into January, then prune probably around January 15th-ish. I'm guessing things in your climate start to wake up in February, so I'd want to prune before the wake-up period. Any time in early January is probably fine.

[@janetg2508]

@@TheMillennialGardener Thank you so much for the information . Yesterday, I used the vinyl tape to support the shoot I feel will be the new "trunk". It was leaning a bit. I'll look forward to future videos. Loved your fertilizer mix for tomatoes. Take care.😎

[@Jimmynessable]

Thanks this is super useful! Just bought my first fig and since I live in the tropics I'm planning to prune into a tree.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Excellent. Glad you found it helpful. Be aware that figs are deciduous, so naturally, they are poorly compatible with tropical climates since they need a period of cool weather and low light to make them drop their leaves. If the trees do not naturally want to drop their leaves for you, you’ll have to manually defoliate it. You’ll want to pull off every single leaf and cut it back some in your “winter” or it may not fruit for you the next year.

[@lahcenouldlalla1684]

@@TheMillennialGardener I live in west Florida and I had a fig tree the fruit too small compare to the one I have back home Mediterranean what should do? to have big fruit thanks

[@TheMillennialGardener]

@@lahcenouldlalla1684 how old is the tree? And what is the variety? In the Mediterranean, there is the fig wasp, and caprification from the fig wasp usually increases the size of figs, sometimes by a lot. There is no fig wasp in Florida, so it could simply be having no wasp has made smaller fruit. Or, the tree could be too young still, or you could be underfertilizing.

[@castleofcostamesa8291]

Thank you for your really informative video! I have a large 2 year old bush shaped violette de Bordeaux fig tree in my front yard. I will prune it tomorrow. I also have a tall, 2 year old tree shaped Adriatic fig tree, that I am not very confident in pruning just yet.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Awesome! Now is a great time to prune since they are likely dormant. Don’t forget to save the cuttings. Consider selling them on Figbid if you’re confident your figs are true to type! Which fig do you think tastes better?

[@aaronk1129]

exactly the information i was looking for. Thanks!!

[@LiliansGardens]

I like your channel and I'm growing figs as well. Yes subscribed already.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thanks for the sub! I appreciate it. Thanks so much for watching.

[@markwebb5996]

Great video. If the single trunk reaches the targeted height by June or July, can we go ahead and tip prune it to promote branching during the growing season? Or do we just need to let it go as high as it wants to and head it back while it is dormant?

[@worlds2wander]

Have you posted a video with updates to this one? Would love to see how those trees turned out since pruning...

[@TheMillennialGardener]

worlds2wander oh yes, I’ve posted many fig updates. I have something like 30 trees now and these were my first two, so they don’t necessarily get dedicated videos. In this video, I quickly go through every fig: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p6W0k4WQhNmEmdE Here is a taste test of the Lattarula Italian Honey: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e5vEqaiFpcRmac0 Here is a taste test of the Violette de Bordeaux: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pZbZfYZ3fdSFprc

[@antonmarino6568]

Well done video, you offer great information on taking care of fig trees.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@flwong2167]

very helpful video thanks for sharing

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching!

[@billmccaffrey1977]

I have had great luck propagating figs using small cuttings, but I never take off all of the leaves. I do all of my propagation in a well drained compost and mulch bed under some other fruit trees. I do it in the wet humid Springtime of central TX. I just scratch the thin outer bark exposing the cambium and stick them deep into the compost/mulch bed and let mother nature do its thing. I have found that in my zone, figs just want to grow. You should be able to get quite a few clones from those cuttings.

[@bichnguyen2539]

I Find your channel is the most sufficient and 👍🏼

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Bich Ngo thank you! I appreciate you watching.

[@pavellapik2796]

VERY NICE VIDEO. 👍👍👍

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching!

[@lalithaganesan3372]

Can you please put a video on growing little miss figgy if possible. I have a small space. I purchased this due to that reason. Your videos are very detailed for a new gardener like me. I have lots of yielding from my blueberries this year due to your videos. Thank you so much for your time😀

[@lovenaturenaka2998]

This is a great video and it is just what I wanted to know. Thanks for sharing

[@glosprit]

Great video.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching.

[@brandasar7913]

Great video. Thank you for sharing

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thank you!

[@NICHOLSRETIREMENTEMPIRE]

Those have done really well!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You can watch them grow daily. They’re putting out so much new growth. Amazing little plants. Thanks for watching!

[@taontosontareality]

Good video but a bit extreme with the “sanitizing”. Rinsing things in water makes them not sterile btw.

[@CKim-Itsy]

This is an awesome video!! Thank you.

[@sebastianfibes2126]

God bless horticulturists and animal lovers.

[@georgehagop6718]

Hi and thanks for the great videos. I need some help with my fig tree. I get a lot of figs but inside the figs are dry and not Edible. Can you please let me know what shouldI do? I live in central California. Thanks a lot.

[@lindaardigo5456]

You are WONDERFUL! Thank You👌🌿✨

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@rosemacaskie]

trees have reactions to stress, growing for example thicker trunks if they are stressed by wind. They have other technices to deal with strains on their structures so that if you stake them, then they dont adapt to where they live, so staking them might weaken them. Their adaptions make them less good as timber however. This is called thigmomorphogenesis.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Rose Macaskie that is true. However, if you want to grow them in a tree form, initial staking to “train” them to grow straight up is beneficial. I use a tight staking at first, then move the stake back with a very wide tie length to provide only a gentle pull in a straight direction so the wind still affects them. Once the tree caliper is around an inch and it is pretty straight, you may not need staking anymore. My VdB is now trained and scaffolded so it isn’t staked anymore.

[@herdd]

I had no idea about the white sap. That's wild. This is a really informative video, really enjoyed it although I'm not a massive gardener. I've hit that sub button. :) I make travel videos myself, if that's your kinda thing.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

lostboylooking thanks for watching and subscribing. I’ll check out some of your vids!

[@herdd]

It's my pleasure! :) I love connecting with fellow creators. Hope you like what you see on my channel.

[@bonniehoke-scedrov4906]

Great video! Thanks!

[@beebob1279]

Obviously, new suckers will try to start up where you cut back. I guess the idea is to cut them back as they start so the energy is going into the main tree.

[@chillipeppers8194]

Just planted a small fig tree with 5 suckers was wondering should it be cut it into a single stem or leave as bush ..thanks for video

[@SageRonin]

Thanks for the advice!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching.

[@petershu1049]

Thank you for sharing great video

[@bobthurman2891]

Peter Shu d

[@stevedietlein4189]

Great video! I wish I saw this 3 years ago when I planted mine. Its March here in south Jersey... is this something I should start ASAP? Its still wrapped up and wasnt going to unwrap until April when it gets a little warmer....

[@deanacanfield200]

I've been watching seveal of your videos, great information and I'm learning a lot. I think figs could become an addiction. You have several different varieties and I just have to ask....what do you do with that many figs? I mean, your trees are healthy and prolific, but even a large family would have a hard time eating them all. I am just learning and have six different varieties already myself (in containers) but I am wondering what to do with all the figs. I don't know but a couple people in my area to give them away to and hate the idea of wasting them.

[@charityworkcreativemyway.8200]

Hi I have questions I plant the fig plaint 3 years ago stile no fruits

[@liliabaker2717]

Great video. Just subscribed. I have a 3 yr old dwarf fig tree given to me for mother's day. Haven't pruned it ,just fertilized. Hasn't done much. But,after watching ur video I can see with Mike is dormant. If u do answer. PLEASE tell me how much u should water. I live in San Antonio,Tx. Very hot &dry right now. I definitely will b following u. I not only love figs,but grew up with a huge one in our back yard. SO i would like to see if my tree will go anywhere. Thanks for sharing ur knowledge. God bless u.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Lilia Baker thank you for subscribing! I would recommend pruning your tree back since figs will grow on new year’s wood. If you are in a container, I recommend a single trunk. Watering is very dependent on the size of your tree and the level of your heat. Is it in a container? If so, watering depends on the size of your containers versus the size of the tree. My container figs need water daily, sometimes twice a day. It is 90 degrees here every day and quite humid. If your climate is arid, you may need to water even more. Don’t let your figs wilt. If your fig tree is in a container, look at the soil. If the soil is contracting and pulling away from the sides of the container, it is too dry. That’s a sign to water. I give my trees probably 1-2 gallons of water a day. My climate is very hot and they suck it down. But it has been raining every day here for the past 4 days straight almost nonstop. It is ruining my fruit! This is way too much.

[@Dandelion_flight]

@5:00 How did you fig becomes so low with multiple branches coming out of it? When I propagated mine I obviously cut off one branch and rooted it, so now it grows upwards singly. I never have one that low and having multiple branches like yours.

[@arymal]

Thank you for the video. I live in Canada and just retrieved my Brown Turkey fig tree from its dormancy raised bed outside. It seems well and alive. When I bought it last year it didn't know it had to be pruned and I now have several branches coming out of the container. I cut all the branches that hadn't turned into brown wood yet but still, about 9 branches remain. I wish I could post the picture of it here to show you. About 4 come right out of the center vertically and the remaining 5 are at varying angles. How many and how would you select them in order to have a proper bush form? Thanks in advance for your response.

[@patriciathibeault5267]

You can propagate those stems you cut and start new ones. I did that with my bush and you can give them to friends.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Patricia Thibeault if you’re interested, most of this playlist I made over the past year is about hardwood cutting propagation. kzbin.info/aero/PL1gY7BoYBGIG6sp2KCVSbA8mFSIPh4q_X

[@rogersanders967]

Hey bro, how are you so I bought a fig tree when it was younger and now three months later it has grown to wear. It’s got the main stock that is wood at the bottom with different shoots. Coming up out of it maybe five or six different shoots that are around 2 feet long And then next to that I have another stock that’s more green about an inch thick and that is around 3 feet tall and has one that’s been growing off of that and there are a bit of branches coming off of that one as well so I’m not sure what to do. For that main Stock that is wood I told you about. It’s only about 8 inches tall and was cut at some point so that’s not long at all.

[@petershu1049]

Pinch was young.safe the energy grow bigger main trunk.

[@seriouslyreally5413]

How do you counter balance a lateral Z shaped crooked stem to make the trunk grow straighter? The nursery cutting I bought had a crook in it that i had hoped would redirect once potted. It didn't. Do i just let it get taller, cut off the straighter stem and reroot a new cutting?

[@TheMillennialGardener]

seriously? really? if it is permanently bent you may want to consider cutting it down and letting new stems sprout from the base next year. Or cut it below the bend and let it come out like a goblet out of the single stem. Once the wood is lignified, it becomes more difficult to train.

[@portermetcalfjr4209]

On the second fig tree, why does the leaves at the top look so dramatically different the bottom. Could this cause a challenge if you were trying to identify the fig tree name with a leaf option identifier in an app? I

[@drea4195]

I noticed this video is four years old now...has there been an update so we can see the results?

[@MissWoggy]

Hi there. I've had a fig tree for 3 years in a pot and it hasn't done well but I didn't know how to take care of it properly. Your videos are a great help. My fig tree is about 5' tall in.the pot and has two limbs, one going right and one left. When pruning does it matter if the one remaining limb is not straight? Also is there a size limit for rooting cuttings? Thanks so much!

[@vitopiccininno6764]

I actually put a fig on my tongue a few days ago. I was curious about how the milky substance tasted. It was bitter.

[@jeaneaton2731]

Nice video.

[@ChefCrys01]

Thank you for the informative video. I have recently become a fan of the fruit and have been gifted with a very young brown turkey fig tree. It is a single stem 'tree' with another growing out of the dirt. I've had it for a few months and repotted it recently in garden soil with a sprinkling of fertilizer. While it isn't dead, it's doesn't appear to be as happy as yours. Advice?

[@TheMillennialGardener]

ChefCrys01 my video was taken in the late summer when sap flow is high and the trees were growing like weeds. Fig trees are deciduous trees and naturally drop their leaves and undergo a period of dormancy. Since we are in late fall, the trees do not want to grow anymore and want to go to sleep for the winter. Make sure you let them. Now is not the time to fertilize or provide them supplemental light. Figs need that dormancy to be optimally healthy and productive. Next year will be the test for your tree when spring comes and they become vigorous again.

[@ChefCrys01]

@@TheMillennialGardener Thanks for your reply. The one I have is in my green house. Should I put in a darker space like the garage? I repotted it in late summer and tossed in a couple of teaspoons of osmocote.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

ChefCrys01 how cold is your climate? Greenhouses are problematic in the winter because they get really hot during the day but still get very cold at night, so they prevent dormancy. I don’t like the idea of overwintering trees that go dormant in a greenhouse for that reason. I would think it would do better in a place that stayed cooler if your climate is too cold for figs to survive unprotected. I am in Zone 8, so I just keep all my trees outside.

[@ChefCrys01]

@@TheMillennialGardener Zone 8A. I am new to green houses! You are right...in the last few weeks we've had freezing temps, humid pre-tornado days, and snow in some areas! I will keep you posted, if you don't mind, on how my little one stem fig does as the warmer, more consistent weather gets going. Thanks again.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

ChefCrys01 freezing temps are no risk to figs. None at all. You don’t have to worry until temps dip into the teens. 20F and warmer is safe for potted figs, and 10F and warmer is safe for in-ground figs. I am in Zone 8A and my trees stay outside, even in containers. If I saw it was going to be 15F or colder I would carry them in for one night. So far, this has been a warm year.

[@MrMusliman1231]

Wasn’t you supposed to cut it in winter? I would like to know pls

[@TheMillennialGardener]

That is a different type of pruning. Winter pruning is for cutting the trees back as well as taking fig cuttings. This pruning is done because they are tiny tissue cultures that were suckering heavily at the base. Young trees need to be maintained immediately to prevent suckering at the base. A baby fig tree will try to grow multiple trunks. I do not want that. I want a single trunk, so if that is the form you desire, you need to remove all that suckering as it appears.

[@elliottjames671]

Oh those are figs😯

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Philip Hernandez my favorite fruit 😀

[@lemonygood6471]

I noticed the pot on the right has two different types of leaves, as does mine. Does this mean there are two different types of figs in one pot?

[@TheMillennialGardener]

No. Fig leaves cannot be used to identify trees. It is common for a single tree to have multiple leaf patterns.

[@frankiemarchese2978]

Those smaller branches that you cut off, can you start those as seperate trees as well in pots?

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Frankie Marchese absolutely. In fact, I did exactly that with those cuttings here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bneyo6xrqq2jjM0

[@Axecapoeiracomoxvalley]

Do I have to wait for fig tree to be dormant to prune?

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Normally, yes. Except for this initial shaping, and removing suckers throughout the season. The intense pruning of a fig tree happens during dormancy, but you should at all times remove suckers coming out of the base of the tree, and other scraggly, unwanted side growth, throughout the season. This initial pruning happened while the tree was very young to get the initial shape, which is important if your young tree is a bushy, scraggly mess.

[@tcheng3067]

Question - is it wise to prune so much when it’s growing? Other videos have advised to wait till dormancy. Thoughts?

[@TheMillennialGardener]

When you're initially trying to shape the tree, it is fine. After the tree develops its structure and you have the trunk you want, you should only prune during dormancy to maintain the tree. When figs are very, very young and suckering heavily at the base, you must remove the suckers as they grow because they "steal" energy from the rest of the tree. Even on mature trees, you should be removing any suckering at the base as it appears all throughout the growing season.

[@ausis6214]

I noticed your pruned these when they're not dormant. Due to the winter freeze in Texas, mine died back to the base and has about 11 new branches. Safe to say the nice tree shape is lost and now I got a bush. Do I wait until it goes dormant to prune down to 1-3 branches or do I prune now?

[@TheMillennialGardener]

No. It is critical that you remove the suckers you don't want as soon as possible. If you want to grow the fig as a tree, you need to select the single trunk ASAP and not let it sucker anywhere else. Otherwise, the fig will split its energy in countless directions and you won't get a nicely defined trunk. If you remove all suckers and only allow the energy to channel into a single trunk, you'll wind up with an 8 foot tall, 1" caliper single trunk by the end of the season. It's critical to prune during the growing season when establishing the initial form.

[@ausis6214]

​@@TheMillennialGardener Thanks for the awesome answer! I just pruned 8 of them after a day or two asking this and am glad I did. I'm torn on pruning down to just leaving biggest one since it's about 1/4 inch above the ground and I'm afraid of wind breaking it off. I think I should just bite to bullet and commit to pruning 2 more so it's just the one big one. Thanks again for the thorough response.

[@ausis6214]

@@TheMillennialGardener wanted to give an update. The biggest trunk is now over 2 feet tall! I noticed some more suckers forming where I cut the old suckers so thats just maintenance.

[@ausis6214]

@@TheMillennialGardener I think I made a mistake in selecting the trunk. I've seen a couple of times that it's recommend to NOT select the branches that grow from the existing trunk because they won't hold well. The biggest trunk on mine is attached to the base of the trunk. Have you heard of this? I'm now letting a few suckers grow from the soil to accompany the 'new' trunk just in case that one breaks off.

[@ibrahimsiam9403]

Which height do you prefer for main trunk? Or in which height I should prune the main trunk for a ideal structure for potted trees!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

For potted trees, I think the ideal height to "head" the main trunk is somewhere between 12-16 inches. I demonstrate how I do it in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e3mvl3SEardkesU

[@m_i_K2]

Thanks for the excellent video! My fig bush is a little bigger (4 years since it was a cutting), and some of the branches are already quite large with brown wood. Are the pruning tips still the same?

[@TheMillennialGardener]

It depends what you want to grow: a tree or a bush. I am planting my trees in ground, and I live in Zone 8 where there is little to no dieback. I can grow a true fig tree. If you want to grow in-ground and you live in a cooler climate where your tree will die back, you’ll want a bush form so you get more fruiting branches annually. In containers, I would recommend a tree form for space concerns.

[@m_i_K2]

@@TheMillennialGardener Thank you for your reply! My bush is in ground, and I am in Zone 9b. I think I'd like to shape it more like a tree...

[@TheMillennialGardener]

TheresTwoOsInGoose In your zone I would say a tree is a no-brainer. I intend to create a video this winter of how to prune a young fig tree to shape it into tree form. You want to prune in the dormant season. In your climate zone, that’ll probably be January when sap flow is slowest.

[@charlescoker7752]

Have you made a video update on these trees?

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Charles Coker many times. I have expanded a lot. You can check out this playlist. There are lots of updates scattered around. kzbin.info/aero/PL1gY7BoYBGIG6sp2KCVSbA8mFSIPh4q_X

[@littlefanbigfan4122]

Thank you for the great video! I have a question to ask. A friend of mine gave me a tiny tree (I guess it is a volunteer tree came out near the "mother" tree). Will it fruit eventually? or is this going to be like Avocado tree, that a tree from seed is hard to fruit?

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Many fruit trees take years and years to fruit. Figs are an exception. All of my figs are first year cuttings and they are almost all loading up with fruits. You should see fruit first year. Maybe it's because figs aren't a normal "fruit" as we know it. They're actually an edible flower of sorts, but they've been officially classified as a "fruit." There have been cases where some figs are shy bearers and don't produce fruit the first couple years, but it's a pretty rare thing. You should see fruit the first year, worst case second year, if your season is long enough for your tree to catch up.

[@littlefanbigfan4122]

@@TheMillennialGardener Thank you so much for your answer! I am looking forward to mine to fruit! What is sun requirement? Unfortunately I do not have a sunny location for it.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

little fan big fan “full sun” is considered 6 hours a day. That’s what you really should have - 6 hours or more. If you can’t provide that, you’ll have to give it as much sun as possible. Whatever your best spot is, use that.

[@littlefanbigfan4122]

@@TheMillennialGardener Thank you so much for the info!!!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

little fan big fan you’re welcome.

[@sherryn39455]

Can you root the ones that are being cut off

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Absolutely. I did so here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bneyo6xrqq2jjM0

[@nrpsh]

One question .....mine is in the garden and it is now pretty tall ....down no branches but top is heavy and bushy ....want suggestion should I stop it’s growth or let it be like this only.....I think if I don’t stop it it will take a shape of big tree ....even some figs are also there ...it is about one year old ....I live in India plz do ans

[@TheMillennialGardener]

neerja sharma hello. Are you saying it is a single stem only? No branches anywhere? That is normal when it is a young cutting. What you do later depends on what you want out of the fig tree. The tree will eventually send out branches from the bottom and sides and become a large bush if you just let it go. Leaving it as a bush will produce the most figs because you will have more new wood every year. Figs only grow on the new year’s wood, so you will want to prune the tree back every year during the winter after the leaves fall to encourage new growth. Remove the branches that grow into the center. Keep the branches that grow outward, but trim them some. Keeping it as a bush also protects it against cold best. If you want to grow it as a tree, you will have to carefully shape it over the years with annual pruning. The advantage of growing it as a tree is it can take up less space, and make the figs easier to reach. But you will probably not get as many figs because there will be less wood (until the tree is very large and old). Growing as a tree is more work for less fruit, so do that only if you need to save space, or you specifically want a tree look. I will be growing mine as a tree to save space and I want the tree look at the expense of fruit. Since it is still so young, I would wait another year to see what the tree does on its own before you decide. Hope this helps. Thanks for watching.

[@Jude2408]

It would break my heart to do all that cutting 😢

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Figs are best grown as a single stem, or at least limiting the stems. Their natural growth habit is to be a messy, unkempt bush, which isn’t good for production or looks. Figs require shaping to be the most productive for human consumption and to be the most attractive.

[@upupandaway5646]

Great video thank you figaholic

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching!

[@truewords100]

I have a fig tree on the ground. This is second year. Growing a lot of branches from the side and ground but didn’t produce any fig, i did fertilize but didn’t see single fruit😔. Need your advice. Thx

[@helenwilliams6921]

Derya, your tree may need to be aggressively pruned in the dormant season. Also, when you examine the areas where the leaves come out of the trunk, look for tiny bumps. When you see two together, you can pinch off the growth end of that branch and it will force those bumps to develop the figs within. Google "pinching figs" for more information!

[@truewords100]

Helen Williams. Thank you for responding to my question I really appreciate it. 👍🏼👍🏼

[@TheMillennialGardener]

It's not unusual for a fig planted in ground to want to spend its energy growing roots the first season or two. They don't always want to fruit heavily when trying to establish themselves. I recommend you check out my series on fertilizing figs: kzbin.info/aero/PL1gY7BoYBGIFNbJEUdApbh_E57uNBLG2j Proper fertilizing will help lean them toward fruit production.

[@ddnaomi]

What time of year is this?

[@doctorkhan4378]

From 12 grade Botany, all white saps from plants are toxic & some be poisonous. I am appalled by the stuff from my fig picking. I wonder if this poisonous or toxic or harmful. My tree is now full of fruit. Should we consume it? By the way the fruit is rather small.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Doctor khan if you are getting white sap when picking figs, they are not ripe. Ripe figs will not ooze any white sap. Your figs should be “drooping” and be very soft before you harvest them. Ripe figs are perfectly safe. The irritability of the white sap seems to vary from person to person. It doesn’t bother me that much, but I wash it off after getting it on my hands. Fertilizers irritate my skin pretty significantly, though. My potash crystals that I use to feed my bananas make my skin crack. I have to wear gloves. The smart play is to not get the sap all over your hands, and if you do, just wash it off. Ripe figs ooze no sap.

[@sherryn39455]

How did your cuttings com out?

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Well. My Lattarula is on its second season and loaded with dozens of fruits already. I sold many of the others. I have a video on them here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bneyo6xrqq2jjM0

[@creativewoodworker4300]

Does brown turkey fig tree produce good size figs. Or which fig tree produces larger figs.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Creative wood worker there are many varieties labeled as “brown turkey.” California Brown Turkey, different English Brown Turkey types, Southern Brown Turkey types...it depends what you have. If you have a “brown turkey” type, it can be slang for many varieties. It all depends what you have. I have an Olympian, which is an “English Brown Turkey” type. I can tell you I do not like California Brown Turkey that I’ve had from grocery stores, but they are large figs.

[@creativewoodworker4300]

Thanks for getting back with me. The one we have has smaller figs on it. Good taste but small figs.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Creative wood worker that could be many types. If they are very small and sugary, it could be a mislabeled Celeste. They are very commonly sold at big box stores and nurseries.

[@jackvilla9906]

Don't throw away the leaves. Make them a fig tea.

[@katrinachan6359]

Hi I have my fig tree for nearly 10 year now one of the tree doesn’t produce fruit at since I bought it. The other one start fruiting last year. Can you tell me why ?

[@helenwilliams6921]

Katrina, are your trees very large? They may need to be aggressively pruned in the dormant season.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Is it in ground, in containers, do you fertilize it and what is your climate like?

[@katrinachan6359]

Hi sorry for the late reply One of the tree produce fruit is very large and wide and have so many bushes the other one which didn’t produce fruit is only have two or three bushes and is quite tall And I do fertilise them with organic chicken puller and both are grow in a container . These tree I didn’t pruned at all . The weather in here is in Scotland is quite cold in winter about 5 to -3 in between December to March So when will better time to pruned the tree in Scotland ?

[@katrinachan6359]

Hi I just brought two fig tree last year , they both very tall about 6 to 7 feet now and only have one branch on it both tree like a 丫shape . So can I still pruned them ? And how ?and as the three had one long stick then right on top has coupler branch out

[@lindaardigo5456]

Do you wrap for winter???

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I am in Zone 8 and do not have to protect figs much here. If you are Zone 7 or below, you may need to take precautions.

[@joegennari395]

Is there anyway to keep squirrels from eating the figs off my tree???

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Have you tried protecting the fruits in organza bags? kzbin.info/www/bejne/h4rHgWxrh9-niaM If that doesn't work, you can also try throwing wildlife netting over the trees.

[@joegennari395]

@@TheMillennialGardener Thanks, I'll try the netting next year hope I can find it!! MERRY CHRISTMAS!! STAY SAFE AND WELL!!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

@@joegennari395 thank you! Merry Christmas and stay safe.

[@rheaadams1437]

Is it the reason browning leaves causes too much water in to it? Found my first fig tree yesterday at the market place but it was not the ones you recommended----I checked out the website FIGbid.com.--found a lot of unusual varieties including I258 and Ronde De Bourdieu

[@StevenBCrosby]

I assume you learned now it's easier to root them when they are dormant lol

[@TheMillennialGardener]

It’s easier to root them when they’re actively growing, but it is harder to deal with the humidity situation. Greener wood needs humidity and acclimation.

[@cy4330]

May I ask why I see other fig growers have plenty of fruits even on a small one foot tall plant and mine I have 30 different types I bought from young cuttings that have grown to 3 to 4 feet tall without any fruit at all. They are about two years old from new cuttings. Most of them have one long stem with weaker branches and I live in evergreen tropical country. I so wish to see one single fruit. Just one figlet will make my day.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

C Y I cannot answer that question. Some trees just perform better than others. What you’re probably mostly referring to are a breba crop. You’re not going to see brebas forming on freshly rooted cuttings because they only grow on last year’s wood. If you see brebas on a short tree, it may be a tree started last year that was cut down. Usually you prune your tree after the first year by cutting it around 18 inches from the base to encourage leafing. I have seen some fresh cuttings with mains on them. Luck of the draw, I guess? The good news is those fruits will probably be of low quality, so you won’t be missing much. Wait for your root system to develop. Usually - and this holds true for any fruit or vegetable - the stronger the roots, the better the fruits!

[@stevenschnepp576]

My experience and reading suggests that it usually takes about three years for a tree (which includes the edible fig, for our purposes) to get established good and proper in the ground. After that, they'll start growing and fruiting with enthusiasm typical for their species and location.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Steven Schnepp every single one of my figs are loading up with figlets and they’re only a few months old. No doubt that Year 3 is where production really kicks in, but any fig tree you root successfully over the winter or buy as a tree in March or April should give you fruit the first year, provided your season is long and hot enough to ripen. I’m blessed with a season long enough and hot enough to ripen any fig. Figs are not like apples, oranges, pears, etc. because figs aren’t true “fruits.” They’re edible flowers. And fig trees are vastly more vigorous than any fruit tree I have ever seen. The only plant I know of that can compete with a fig’s vigor is a banana.

[@shuhuikline2303]

I would just work from outside in.

[@tahirgalnasky6876]

Very late to prone so many suckers. So much lose of energy

[@blkxdragon]

You won’t be able to root out green cuttings. Roots will form best on brown mature cuttings.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Barry Boo every single one of them rooted and rooted well. Green wood cuttings need to be rooted immediately, and they need humidity to keep them from drying out. But they can root. You can’t save them like you can lignified wood. My current Lattarula is one of these cuttings and it is 5 feet tall with 4 stems loaded with fruits.

[@billz.3444]

H2O2 is not anti fungal, you should use something more anti fungal to clean your tools. Other than that, thanks for the video.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Bill Z hydrogen peroxide is the most effective anti-fungal I’ve found. It is the only thing I have found that actually kills blight and leaf spot. I’m constantly impressed with it. You should check this out. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eIfbZ56in5eehM0

[@MrBusta30408]

@@TheMillennialGardener I like how you handle the KZbin "experts".

[@jakejohnson7714]

you talk too much the video is great!

[@shuhuikline2303]

tslk too much

[@misslilibuts7940]

Well done! What a great video! You’re pleasant to listen to, very clearly explain the how-to of it and no crazy loud music! Now I have to get the nerve to prune my 3 year old fig which has gone nuts with big shoots coming out of the ground around the base. I should have seen this video 3 years ago...lol. New sub👍🏻

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thanks for watching! I appreciate it. Figs are very forgiving. They easily grow 6-8 feet or more in a season, so don't worry if you overprune. Wait until the trees are dormant in the winter time, prune as necessary and once they wake up again in the spring, they'll put on growth quickly as long as you feed them well.

[@eddiejoeplebani497]

Thank you ever so kindly for sharing your knowledge.😊🤗😊

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Eddiejoe Plebani you’re welcome! Thanks for watching.

[@aidiladha4858]

Hello! I want to grow my panache tiger,rasberry latte, black jack,, and damtie fig to grow into big tall 10 feet plus bushes.... Is there any fertilizer to add to make them grow vigrious and is there any precautions I need to take? Tqqq so much for ur time 😊

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I have a playlist that describes how and when to fertilize in-depth. You can find it here: kzbin.info/aero/PL1gY7BoYBGIFNbJEUdApbh_E57uNBLG2j

[@jesurunblends]

EXCELLENT video, when is the best month of the year to prune a black mission fig? i live in Phoenix, also is white paint necessary on the trunk of a fig that is already forming as a tree?

[@virginiamoss5093]

I live in Eugene, Oregon and I have a Brown Turkey fig. I’ve had it about 3 years. It is tree like, in that, it has a large main trunk. It hasn’t given me much fruit yet. Last year I got a few small figs at the very end of the growing season. So, I pruned it way back. This year it put out a lot of new growth, but still, very few rip figs. Any suggestions?

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I do. I would suggest fertilizing more. Is it an in-ground tree or in containers? If it is an in-ground tree, you'll want to fertilize with an organic 5-5-5 type fertilizer, and in the spring before it begins fruiting, supplement with bone meal. I suggest you watch this video where I break it down. I've had tremendous success with this method: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o6TFn4dor82Nf8U

[@kristinajohnsonstrosnider4864]

Thank you for the step-by-step pruning. Really helpful both with content and demonstration!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

kristina johnson strosnider thanks for watching. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@Iloveorganicgardening]

All my figs are in ground and I have been pruning them into a tree structure too. I have one in my front yard that is looking very good to me. Thanks

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Outstanding! I hope to do the same next early spring.

[@FranNoesse]

I'm a microbiologist. Isopropyl alcohol will sanitize tools against bacteria, most fungi, and viruses.

[@rogersanders967]

I forgot to say that I would rather have a tree instead of a massive bush, a tree with plenty of figs on it

[@WVRetreat]

After a year from making this video, is there anything you would have done differently?

[@TheMillennialGardener]

No, I don’t think so. The pruning has worked out well so far. Last week, I posted a major pruning update. I increased my collection dramatically. If you want to see my updated pruning video, it is here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r3emmquBp6xkb5Y