First node shoots?

[TorontoJoe]

This happens to me too frequently.... No apical buds on the tree. The new growth only comes off the outermost node on each scaffold.

Any idea why this happens? Or how to correct it? Just scratching my head...

 

[bushdoctor82]

My limited (or lack of) understanding is that the plant will push auxin uninterrupted until it gets to an apical bud, or if none exist, the last node of the pruned branch. The last node and possibly one or two prior will swell and fight for apical dominance.

Notching and/or various pastes can help to push growth from other nodes, though notching hasn’t worked for me. I’m in a similar predicament where I have one shoot rapidly growing and outcompeting nodes further down branch that are just starting to push and leaf out.

 

[FruitBrute]

As @bushdoctor82 said, and I agree, it's a dominance thing. Its finding the easiest growth points first.
That being said, and looking at how figs grow in the wild, it's not surprising to see unbalanced, eratic growth. These plants are more shrub like naturally, and when trained into tree form, have a tendency to fight our preconceived notion of how a balanced tree should grow, look, and act. I try to train for a tree form initially, but as most of my trees mature, look like something between a tree and a shrub. But that seems to be the best compromise for the plant and me. I have 4th leaf trees (non TC) still trying to push lower nodes on the trunks, even though the higher, easier growth points have been well established for numerous seasons.

 

[Armo]

This happens to me too frequently.... No apical buds on the tree. The new growth only comes off the outermost node on each scaffold.

Any idea why this happens? Or how to correct it? Just scratching my head...

View attachment 7282

By any chance is this HDA? Out of all my trees my HDA grows this way too. Very little branching and only the outermost bud is growing.

 

[JC Figgy]

I find this pretty normal growth. At least a lot of mine are like that too.

 

[TorontoJoe]

By any chance is this HDA? Out of all my trees my HDA grows this way too. Very little branching and only the outermost bud is growing.

I believe this one is Black Celeste. Exquisito has a real habit of doing this as well. Even after I pinch the apical buds, the new shoots just come off the current year growth.

I've got to get notching again I suppose.