Don't prune these varieties
- Thread starter Ghostfig
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ChesapeakeFigs
Well-known member
Smith is one that doesn't often produce the year after it is heavily pruned. There are others that act similarly. I hadn't heard that about LSU Tiger and Violet Sepor. Although as the tree ages, it matters less. A 2nd year tree that is heavily pruned may not fruit in some cases where a 4 year old tree may be able to handle it better.
TorontoJoe
Administrator
No apologies ever needed for a question... and definitely the correct place to post.
Figgin' A
Well-known member
Very good question. I've been hard-pruning most of my trees for several years. I have yet to encounter a variety that didn't take it well. All of my trees, with a few exceptions unrelated to pruning, have been growing and fruiting well after hard pruning, yielding anywhere from 90 to over 200 figs per tree. I don't grow VS, but I do Socorro Black and Bourjasotte Grise, which are similar, and LSU Tiger. They take hard-pruning quite well. This is how my trees look after pruning.
@ChesapeakeFigs Smith, top left corner in spring, has been taking hard pruning well for me. Here it is later this past summer:
It was massive, 7.5 feet tall and about 6 feet wide, and produced well over 200 figs.
I think how you grow them matters more than how you prune them. All of my trees are potted. I don't know if this would still hold if my trees were in the ground.
All that said, I will be changing my pruning preferences next season for at least some of my trees. Not because some varieties take it poorly, but rather to expedite the ripening time.
@ChesapeakeFigs Smith, top left corner in spring, has been taking hard pruning well for me. Here it is later this past summer:
It was massive, 7.5 feet tall and about 6 feet wide, and produced well over 200 figs.
I think how you grow them matters more than how you prune them. All of my trees are potted. I don't know if this would still hold if my trees were in the ground.
All that said, I will be changing my pruning preferences next season for at least some of my trees. Not because some varieties take it poorly, but rather to expedite the ripening time.
Figless
Well-known member
Very good question. I've been hard-pruning most of my trees for several years. I have yet to encounter a variety that didn't take it well. All of my trees, with a few exceptions unrelated to pruning, have been growing and fruiting well after hard pruning, yielding anywhere from 90 to over 200 figs per tree. I don't grow VS, but I do Socorro Black and Bourjasotte Grise, which are similar, and LSU Tiger. They take hard-pruning quite well. This is how my trees look after pruning.
@ChesapeakeFigs Smith, top left corner in spring, has been taking hard pruning well for me. Here it is later this past summer:
It was massive, 7.5 feet tall and about 6 feet wide, and produced well over 200 figs.
I think how you grow them matters more than how you prune them. All of my trees are potted. I don't know if this would still hold if my trees were in the ground.
All that said, I will be changing my pruning preferences next season for at least some of my trees. Not because some varieties take it poorly, but rather to expedite the ripening time.
That is my experience as well most varieties tolerate heavy pruning well. BTW those are some beautiful looking trees.
Kompakfigs
Well-known member
That is why everyone should keep duplicates.
So you are not too concerned about breba production.Very good question. I've been hard-pruning most of my trees for several years. I have yet to encounter a variety that didn't take it well. All of my trees, with a few exceptions unrelated to pruning, have been growing and fruiting well after hard pruning, yielding anywhere from 90 to over 200 figs per tree. I don't grow VS, but I do Socorro Black and Bourjasotte Grise, which are similar, and LSU Tiger. They take hard-pruning quite well. This is how my trees look after pruning.
@ChesapeakeFigs Smith, top left corner in spring, has been taking hard pruning well for me. Here it is later this past summer:
It was massive, 7.5 feet tall and about 6 feet wide, and produced well over 200 figs.
I think how you grow them matters more than how you prune them. All of my trees are potted. I don't know if this would still hold if my trees were in the ground.
All that said, I will be changing my pruning preferences next season for at least some of my trees. Not because some varieties take it poorly, but rather to expedite the ripening time.
Figgin' A
Well-known member
I would be if I grew my figs in a traditional way and wanted to taste some figs earlier in the season, but since I have main crop ripening starting early June (or May this year), I am not interested in breba crop.
grasshopper
Well-known member
BMs with minimal or no pruning, ripened its crop starting in 7/11 here, about 2-4 weeks ahead. I haven't compared the GDD to be certain so take this with a grain of salt. I did have a bunch of other non-pruned trees ripen exceptionally early because I didn't have time to prune them. And once the trees start ripening, I moved them indoors by the window so no critter problem. BMs don't taste as good ripening under low light, but then, it bought me enough time to catch the critters and don't have to deal with the rain.
The only headstart I gave to all the plants was left them in the hot dark garage for 2 extra weeks because no time to move them outside.
The only headstart I gave to all the plants was left them in the hot dark garage for 2 extra weeks because no time to move them outside.
figologist
Well-known member
I have an incredibly vigorous LSU Tiger that I hard prune every year. It's unkillable.
ChesapeakeFigs
Well-known member
Its possible, that my Smith had more issues with where it was a few years ago ( lower light) rather than the heavy pruning. But yes, wen trees do get a bit older and stronger, pruning seems to not have much of a negative effect on fruiting. Yout trees look greatVery good question. I've been hard-pruning most of my trees for several years. I have yet to encounter a variety that didn't take it well. All of my trees, with a few exceptions unrelated to pruning, have been growing and fruiting well after hard pruning, yielding anywhere from 90 to over 200 figs per tree. I don't grow VS, but I do Socorro Black and Bourjasotte Grise, which are similar, and LSU Tiger. They take hard-pruning quite well. This is how my trees look after pruning.
@ChesapeakeFigs Smith, top left corner in spring, has been taking hard pruning well for me. Here it is later this past summer:
It was massive, 7.5 feet tall and about 6 feet wide, and produced well over 200 figs.
I think how you grow them matters more than how you prune them. All of my trees are potted. I don't know if this would still hold if my trees were in the ground.
All that said, I will be changing my pruning preferences next season for at least some of my trees. Not because some varieties take it poorly, but rather to expedite the ripening time.
Figgin' A
Well-known member
Lower light could play a big part in it. Mine (in its second leaf this past season) would get 12 hours of light in the grow tent for the first 3 months or so, then 10-11 hours of sun outside, and about 8-9 towards the end of the season.Its possible, that my Smith had more issues with where it was a few years ago ( lower light) rather than the heavy pruning. But yes, wen trees do get a bit older and stronger, pruning seems to not have much of a negative effect on fruiting. Yout trees look great
Steven J.
Well-known member
I'm glad to hear you have had such great success pruning your trees. By any chance, do you prune your trees later in Winter? I have been wondering if delaying pruning helps with recovery.Very good question. I've been hard-pruning most of my trees for several years. I have yet to encounter a variety that didn't take it well. All of my trees, with a few exceptions unrelated to pruning, have been growing and fruiting well after hard pruning, yielding anywhere from 90 to over 200 figs per tree. I don't grow VS, but I do Socorro Black and Bourjasotte Grise, which are similar, and LSU Tiger. They take hard-pruning quite well. This is how my trees look after pruning.
@ChesapeakeFigs Smith, top left corner in spring, has been taking hard pruning well for me. Here it is later this past summer:
It was massive, 7.5 feet tall and about 6 feet wide, and produced well over 200 figs.
I think how you grow them matters more than how you prune them. All of my trees are potted. I don't know if this would still hold if my trees were in the ground.
All that said, I will be changing my pruning preferences next season for at least some of my trees. Not because some varieties take it poorly, but rather to expedite the ripening time.
Figgin' A
Well-known member
I’ve pruned both in fall and late winter and didn’t notice a difference.
NYC_Fignetic
Well-known member
Looks good man so what’s the secret sauce?? Help a noob out lol.. is it constant watering or fertilizer??? I think it’s combo of things including sunlight.. my trees in summer only get a good 6-7 hours of sun before it shades off.Very good question. I've been hard-pruning most of my trees for several years. I have yet to encounter a variety that didn't take it well. All of my trees, with a few exceptions unrelated to pruning, have been growing and fruiting well after hard pruning, yielding anywhere from 90 to over 200 figs per tree. I don't grow VS, but I do Socorro Black and Bourjasotte Grise, which are similar, and LSU Tiger. They take hard-pruning quite well. This is how my trees look after pruning.
@ChesapeakeFigs Smith, top left corner in spring, has been taking hard pruning well for me. Here it is later this past summer:
It was massive, 7.5 feet tall and about 6 feet wide, and produced well over 200 figs.
I think how you grow them matters more than how you prune them. All of my trees are potted. I don't know if this would still hold if my trees were in the ground.
All that said, I will be changing my pruning preferences next season for at least some of my trees. Not because some varieties take it poorly, but rather to expedite the ripening time.
Figgin' A
Well-known member
No secret. You are correct, it's a combination of things. Good, heavily composted, rich soil. Regular watering, mostly regular fertilizing with whatever fertilizer I have on hand. Plenty of sunlight. 8-11 hours per day when outside, 12 hours per day initially in the grow tent.