Tipping figs

[Osito]

Ok to do during the growing season or will it stop growth?

[RollingInTheWeeds]

Hey Osito, I’m curious: what has your experience on tipping figs been since you posted this?

[BluMalibu]

I would let them be, here in California best time to clip or trim figs is roughly last week in January (or after your last freeze).

[So_Cal_Mike]

Yes, I prune mine back the first week of February. The reason people in colder climates pinch the growing tips is so that the fig tree’s energy goes to the existing fruit. No point in letting the tree put all that energy into growing fuit that will never ripen.

[Jct]

Over on ourfigs, one of the long time members had a good tip when considering pinching figs.  He mentioned that you should look for double buds at each node on the branch you are considering tipping. If there is only one bud, pinching will produce a branch only.  If there is a second bud at the node, then you should get a fig. Pinching will encourage fig development versus additional green growth. I do not need to worry about the length of the growing season, but I do not want my figs to get too large, so I'll probably pinch them at some point.