I've moved my brown turkey fig into a sheltered spot for the winter, but I can see that it's going to be too big next year. Could anyone advise me when to prune it? Although it's dropping leaves, it's not quite dormant yet.
My RHS guide to growing fruit, by Harry Baker, says February is the month to prune in ‘temperate climates’. How to and how much depends on whether you are still in formative training phase or its got to the producing edible figs stage...
For my mature fig, I remove all sagging and crossing branches, remove some older wood etc., in November to keep its open, vase shape. This is after cropping is over. I may do another bit of shaping in February if necessary - preserving most of the previous year’s new growth that the figs develop on.
I also have a youngish fig that I am now happy with its vase shape and will probably just do a bit of light pruning in February.
The aforementioned is a great book on growing fruit, btw, with loads of info on how to grow figs with lots of clear, illustrated pruning advice.
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
Thanks @Nollie. It's a good shape so I'll just give it a light prune in February. I don't like figs and the squirrels nick the unripe ones and throw them away in disgust anyway so I'm not too bothered about the fruit! I'll have a look out for that guide. Thanks again.
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For my mature fig, I remove all sagging and crossing branches, remove some older wood etc., in November to keep its open, vase shape. This is after cropping is over. I may do another bit of shaping in February if necessary - preserving most of the previous year’s new growth that the figs develop on.
I also have a youngish fig that I am now happy with its vase shape and will probably just do a bit of light pruning in February.
The aforementioned is a great book on growing fruit, btw, with loads of info on how to grow figs with lots of clear, illustrated pruning advice.
I don't like figs and the squirrels nick the unripe ones and throw them away in disgust anyway so I'm not too bothered about the fruit!
I'll have a look out for that guide.
Thanks again.