Shaping my first year fig trees

[Figless]

On shaping a fig tree. Most of my first year trees I tried to grow as doubles. Two equal height branches hopefully NOT in a perfect V shape. I am usually using some salt base synthetics for fertilizer somewhere during the early summer. I know Millennial gardener recommends 30 in to start pinch forming scaffolds. I start at about 2 ft. Usually pinching one side of my double branched tree then pointing the smaller Branch into the morning sun tell it grows equal in length to the original tree trunk. During this period the salt based synthetic fertilizer forces liquid nutrient uptake into the cells of the tree trunk forming a thick set of double branches. Hopefully when they equal out they are pinched to form a lovely scaffold. During this process I do do a lot of Branch bending maybe twice a day to make sure my branches wind up equal. I sure hope we get 
@Oak Fig here soon, and ginamcd since they are masters at this. I'll take some pictures tomorrow.

 

[ktrain]

I'm of the single trunk group, with branching starting at least 12 to 18 inches from the ground.

I will try to get branching even all the way around while still having good airflow through the center of the tree.
Not to mention good sunlight into the middle.

Bring on the pics!

 

[Figless]

I will Kevin I promise, but right now it's dark, and cold outside. LOL then you guys can pick my shaping, and pinching practices to pieces. Seriously I am inviting comment, and criticism since this is my first year shaping fig trees. I may have had a penchant for symmetricality that is unnecessary, and may not serve me.

 

[Southeast Figs]

Howdy, I have tested a few styles and after 6 seasons now I find that growing a single leader tree with no side branches year one gives me a much thicker trunk for year two . I cut back during winter dormancy to the height I prefer, and let two fat strong buds grow into two main branches with no other branches allowed to grow yr 2. 
   Then cut those two branches back to around 12-18 inches that winter and let two or three main branches grow from each one yr three. Depending on how they respond. 

     But the single leader yr 1 is a huge plus for me regardless what you do after that. I would never have guessed how much thicker that trunk can get with only one single leader compared to two branches or more. But every variety I've tested reacted the same way. 
   And the fatter the trunk , the more energy the growth above that single trunk will get yr 2. Which leads to thicker branches and stronger fruiting abilities. 
    For whatever reason, fewer branches on younger trees just create stronger thicker growth. This is my third year Hative D'argenteiul tree earlier this year, after going in ground this spring. This variety did best with the single leader yr 1 then two main branches yr two. And now six main branches total. It got huge fast after this pic. Will post a pic of it later this season after while if I remember. 
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[Figless]

I did promise @"ktrain"#2 photos of My Double branched first year fig trees. I have 10 double branched photos, but I don't think they really show the quality of my trees. My double Branch trees have thick branches but in the photos they do look thin. Still A promise is a promise so let me post my girls. I'll try again in a few days. These pictures are not representative of my home Orchard.

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