Do not Chop it Down:Just cut off the top growing tip,so it will branch,at that point!.
Happy Growing

Thanks Herman. That sounds a bit more conservative. I will try chopping of the tip of the growing part and see what happens!

I was waiting for the responses of this posting as I have a fig (Calvert) from Davis that has performed poorly for me. The stem is ok, thicker than a pencil to about 5 inches tall, then when last year's growth started it was very spindly (think half a pencil's thickness) and now it stands almost 2 feet tall and has to be staked to stand upright.

Am I better off chopping (for lack of a better word) this plant down to 6 inches or less and hoping the new growth can support itself? (btw it is growing thicker this year from the spindly supported growth...back to thicker than a pencil thickness)

~Chills

Chills:I know Calvert fig.It is a very slow grower due to FMV.
In this case,Do not cut it down.
Cut the top growing tip,now and again if it grows back.
Force it to grow lateral branches,or new suckers only,from now on for this year.
You might find out that a new sucker,is growing from roots that is free of FMV,and healthy.
When this new suckers grow strong enough,then cut,the present old trunk off(next year.in Spring may be)
For now the tree is very weak,and it will get wicker if you cut the trunk off at the base.
Hope this will Help