ewong69:

You say that one of your trees ripens figs and the other doesn't. Did you ever get ripe figs off the tree that's giving you problems? You don't say if they are the same variety, and don't mention the age of the tree in question. Are they both 5 years old? Are they containerized, planted in ground....? What's your climate zone? Because you say that you get some Winter damage, and cut back some of the branches, I will guess that you are in a cool-climate zone.

Just for starters, you may be growing a fig variety that is mismatched to your climate zone. Not all varieties do well in all climates. A fig that will ripen in Southern California, may not ripen figs in Ohio. If your problem tree gets breba and main crop, remove the breba figs and don't let them develop. Breba figs will delay the setting of main-crop figs. As trees are growing in the warmer months, pinch back each branch, and keep about 6-8 leaves. Also pinch out terminal buds to control growth. This practice will encourage tree to push out main-crop figs earlier in the season, and, will also allow the figs to ripen earlier. Make sure your problem tree get full sun, and low nitrogen fertilizers. Top dress the soil with granular limestone, a few handfuls around the roots, a couple of times a year.

I hope this may help. I'd keep an eye on the younger tree. If after doing everything that you can to help it ripen figs, and it still continues to give you problems...get rid of it. There are too many good fig varieties out there....why waste your time on a fig that may never ripen.

Mention your climate zone, the names of the varieties you are growing, where the fig trees came from, and, how you are growing them for some more specific answers to your questions.

Good luck.

Frank