The Bavarian fig is considered to be extremely robust and easy to care for, which has made it very popular. Their fruits also ripen under Central European climatic conditions. However, they complicate the pruning measures, so that these have to be coordinated with the season.
A professional pruning promotes fruiting
time
Pruning for trellis and shrub forms is done in early spring. When the right time has come depends on the respective region, because the weather plays a major role. In general, Bavarian figs are cut between mid-February and early March. If there are longer periods of frost afterwards, the shrub can be damaged. Therefore, you should wait a bit if the weather is less than ideal.
special instructions
When pruning in spring, you have to pay attention to the fruit setting, because these are formed on the previous year's shoots. Therefore, it is common to cut figs immediately after harvest. This takes place from July to August, with a second generation of fruit emerging between October and November. However, do not hesitate too long before pruning your fig tree, because in the last third of the young shoot tips new fruit buds will develop in autumn.
cutting measures
Pruning figs requires some knowledge of growth. Usually, figs are grown in the form of a bush, because this growth form makes it easier to care for and harvest. While the frequency of pruning is high in younger specimens, overgrown shrubs require less attention. Regular pruning supports the development of good branching in young plants. Old trees sprout with renewed vigor after crossing or dead branches have been removed.
Basic cutting rules:
- Shorten the main shoots to a maximum of 20 centimeters
- Leave at least five strong branches
- regularly prune older branches at the base
- Spare autumn shoots with fruit buds
Clean
Remove any frost damaged branches. You can tell if a branch has frozen by scratching the bark. If the wood appears dry and yellow, the shoot may give way. You can cut the dead wood back into the living tissue or remove it completely. If this specimen grows unfavorably, we recommend cutting it off at the branch ring.
Thin out
All strong-growing fig branches that interfere with the interior of the crown and grow too dense are completely removed with pruning shears. This will ensure that the fruit gets enough light. Prune every second or third side shoot that emerges from the end of each main shoot. This also ensures a better incidence of light in the crown.
deriving
They promote optimal growth form by directing the tip of the main shoots to an outward-facing side shoot. If these are too long, shorten them except for one eye. If the main branch is growing in a good direction, you can alternatively reduce it by a few centimetres.
tips
The same principle applies to the Bavarian fig as to apple trees. The more airy and loose the crown appears, the better and more evenly the fruit will ripen.