Fig trees

When is the best time to cut them hard back ?  I did assume maybe when they did not release so much sap...but it seems to be an all year round happening.....Also my fig trees are still in full leaf but my neighbours have dropped all theirs....maybe a 'stress' thing ???

Someone on Abruzzolutely (Alan Mason I believe) said he thought they were like weed and just as difficult to kill. I tend to agree, only because We planted a sucker 3-4 years back that I've strimmed the top off 3-4 times and it's responded by growing even better! However I did at the time read up on them and come to the conclusion that winter is probably the best time jan/feb. A word of caution in case you are not aware that the sap contains an irritant so take care.. The sap is also the obvious reason to prune when dormant, but I'm not convinced you can kill them. There are lots of different types of figs, so perhaps your neighbours are just earlies... We've found you can have figs for many, many months of the year with different types.

Thx Steve, I will do an 'Italian' job on it in the winter - (Italian style cutting back of trees always looks so brutal), they take everything back to the main trunk so all you have is the trunk and little else !  I had only thought there was black or green/yellow figs and didn't realize there were more types....interesting.....

Well take care when you do, this is what they can do Fig revenge link

I havn't yet looked at the link but can imagine......have seen a posting about making a cottage cheese type cheese using the sap of the fig though and thought that could be worth a try.....

A quick look on google and it seems to be used as a rennet of sorts

Fig sap and cheese update. Picked up 4 drops of fig sap in a small jar
of cold milk in the forest. Came home and added it to 1 quart of milk
and slowly bring it to a boil while stirring with a fig branch.
Beautiful curds, even before boiling. Ended up with a delicious
cottage cheese, no bitter at all. Happy Next projects will be curdling
with nettles and thistle flowers. I have to wait a few months tough.

Above was posted by another on another site, hope it's ok to post here, I may give it a try
but where do you get cold milk in the forest ha ha....

Wooh! Sounds like witchcraft to me

Well logitech......tonight is the night for witchy happenings....I wonder how many peeps on the site will be up for it ?