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Young fig - prune or not?

BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,384
edited April 2018 in Plants
Hi all, after some advice about my Ficus carica 'Panache' (striped tiger fig) which has just started it's third year in a large container.  It has a single stem about 1.5m high now and no side branches.  Assuming it bursts into life after the 'beast' and never having grown figs before, I'm not sure whether to prune the top off to encourage side-shoots or not?

The clematis behind it is a bit too vigorous so not bothered if that fades away as the fig grows.
South-facing wall and a real sun trap.


A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.

Posts

  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    That's unusual for the third year to not start forming side shoots, and at that height. I think you should prune down to at least the next bud, if not, further down. Hope others will give you more useful advice than that.
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,384
    Thanks Borderline, although I think I overestimated the size as it's more like 1.2m.  There are plenty of buds lower down so I think I'll take off 20cm or so (ie most of last year's growth apart from 3 buds) and see what happens.  It doesn't look likely to produce an attractive shape if I leave it alone.  
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,384
    Update: buds beginning to sprout on the pruned stem:


    And the pruned end used as a cutting seems to like being on the hot bench so will hopefully root:

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    That’s great, finally those side shoots...and it looks like you may have another plant soon.
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