Spiral-trained fig at Pashley Manor

I have never seen this done anywhere else, although Mr Sellick, the owner, tells me that this is an idea he pilched from Sissinghurst. A fig tree has been trained against the side of the house in a basic fan shape. The framework fan is retained, and the lateral branches pruned every 6-8 years. The new whippy growth that results from the pruning is trained into a spiral shape. After 6- 8 years the spirals have become so congested that it's time to start all over again, and the heavy prune back to the framework is done.

I spent 3 days up a ladder training in this year's whippy growth - this is year 2 of the cycle. Very glad to come off the ladder after 3 days!

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