Rescuing a fig tree

hello, last year I found a fig tree in our hedge. I dug it out cut it back and stuck it in a pot. Now it just lots of spindly shoots. Should I cut them all back bar one or just leave it alone? Cheers

 

Depends on what you want it to grow into, a tree or a bush?

Some cutting back of the spindliest shoots would be good.
Left it a bit late though.

 

thanks, I thought so, I'd forgotten it was there

 

Like as @pete suggested - how big do you want it to grow to? And he's right that it's likely too late to be pruning it now, especially down to one shoot as you mentioned. It's very unlikely to bear much fruit for several years, so go easy on it until it's well-established, where you decide to base it, although it seems your's already has a fruitlet... a VERY good sign!

What are your ultimate goals for the tree? They can be grown in pots and produce fruit, but a seriously large pot may ultimately be required.

Figs are obviously from drier and sunnier climates, so free-draining soil and full sun is ideal if you like fig fruit (and you don't suffer from "The Indian Shimmy" when running to the loo ), although some will do well even in heavy clay soil, planted as a tree and left to grow as high as they will achieve.

The main thing is to keep them pruned so that rubbing or crossing brances and weak/dead/diseased branches are removed, as well as creating airflow within the branches so that fungal diseases etc have less chance to take hold. But don't worry too much about that yet. Your tree needs all the photosynethesis it can get.