New "Hardy Chicago" Figs

Cameron_z6a_N.S.

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These fig trees arrived earlier this week. "Hardy Chicago" is one of (if not the) hardiest varieties you can get. Most fig trees produce figs on 2 year-old wood, so their branches need to survive the winter intact. "Hardy Chicago" is different, because it produces figs on 1st year wood. This means that you can cut the trees down to the ground in the fall, protect them more easily, and new wood will grow during that season, producing figs by the end of the summer! I'm planning on siting them well, and simply mulching them during the winter. In case you're wondering where the name "Hardy Chicago" comes from, it's thought that the original figs were collected around 3000 feet in elevation on Mount Etna, in Sicily. They were brought over to Chicago, where they grew for many years, before being discovered and brought into the nursery trade 😆

In the box:

Unpacked:

Closer up:

Cameron.

Posted : 04/06/2011 1:42 pm

lucky1

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Great looking seedlings!

Hopefully you'll be keeping one or two to plant out?

Fruiting on this year's wood is the only way I'd ever see them produce.
I'd love to try this.

Barb

If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.

Posted : 04/06/2011 1:55 pm

Cameron_z6a_N.S.

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Barb, I'm planting all of them out! 😆

Posted : 04/06/2011 2:07 pm

lucky1

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Must've thought you were selling some, along with your monumental seedling stock! 😆
Barb

If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.

Posted : 04/06/2011 2:16 pm

canadianplant

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DUDE!

I love those things! My neighbor ended up having one ( he gave me some grape cuttings too 😈 ). He brought it back from italy years ago he said hes calebrese? From "the heel" of the boot, the hotter area ( i actualy think that area is zone 10)

Ive read up on the "chicago hardy" type a briefly. Why didnt you go for the mainstay "Brown turkey?" Just because so many people have it?

You can also bend the low branches to the ground, and bury them in trenches ( sort of liek hilling in roses). Regardless, with multch itll at least come back from the roots.

Good buy dude!

"The definition of insanity, is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting different results" - einstien

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Posted : 04/06/2011 7:14 pm

Cameron_z6a_N.S.

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Thanks! I wanted the hardiest ones possible, so I went with Hardy Chicagos.

Posted : 04/06/2011 7:47 pm

canadianplant

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Are they not rated reletively the same?

"The definition of insanity, is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting different results" - einstien

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Posted : 04/06/2011 8:20 pm

Cameron_z6a_N.S.

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I think the branches of most fig varieties all have about the same hardiness, but the roots of "Hardy Chicago" are likely a bit more cold-tolerant.

Posted : 04/06/2011 8:24 pm

canadianplant

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Ah excellent.

Good luck dude! Make sure they are WELL drained ( lots of organic matter) and get tons of sun and heat. The best part is they can take some moisture in the winter

"The definition of insanity, is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting different results" - einstien

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Posted : 04/06/2011 8:29 pm

sidpook

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Nice. I love figs! I have trees that bare so much fruit i end up throwing them out in september bc they waste on the ground or just rot on the trees. I wish people would come pick them.

Mike Trautner

Posted : 04/06/2011 9:04 pm

lucky1

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Is Cameron's variety the one you have, Mike?

Or do you bend the stems down to the ground and mulch them for winter?

Barb

If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.

Posted : 04/06/2011 9:17 pm

sidpook

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Hey barb.... My trees are very old now. At least ten years in the groubnd and they are huge. I do nothing to them and they always thrive. I originally got the roots/stems from italy ona trip there and have split and shred them many times over with neighbors. Figs grow like crazy here. All Italians have them in their yards ( esp over in the city with what little yards /if any they have.) I'll put up some pics soon. These two large trees even give me two harvests a year: one in July and one in September. One is Black mission fig tree and the other is a Kadota fig.

Mike Trautner

Posted : 05/06/2011 8:18 am

canadianplant

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Awsome Mike!

My buddy got a brown turkey ( north carolina). It died back last winter ( mabey just not acclimatized ). Ill tell him they grow in Jersey, thatll give him some good news!

The one I have apperantly gives THREE crops a year! Unfortunatly dont know the cultivar or anything. The guy is 80 years old ( who i got it from), so id have to assume it isnt one of the commercial types, probably a bit more "pure" !!

Please show some pics.....

Cameron - I just remembered paul (ont) showing me someone in southern ontario with a HUGE fig tree!. They dig it up every winter and store it in the garage apperantly, but the thing is wicked! ( its on one of the threads here, but which one escapes me)

"The definition of insanity, is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting different results" - einstien

Check out my new Blog! http://canadianplant.wordpress.com/

Posted : 05/06/2011 9:26 am

sidpook

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DUDE!

I love those things! My neighbor ended up having one ( he gave me some grape cuttings too 😈 ). He brought it back from italy years ago he said hes calebrese? From "the heel" of the boot, the hotter area ( i actualy think that area is zone 10)

Too funny...My grapes are also from cuttings from italians in the area...LOL

Mike Trautner

Posted : 05/06/2011 10:27 am

JackLord

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I am a recent convert to figs. Never thought much about them although I always enjoyed eating fig newtons. Then my boss started bringing in figs she grows in her yard. She wrapped them in burlap for a couple of winters but now does nothing.

I bought a Brown Turkey in March but am keeping it in a container as I have no room for it. My newest activity is "find the Fig tree" while driving Jack Jr to school in the morning. They are quite a few around here. Two blocks from where I grew up is a yard with three huge ones. Loaded with figs.

They are really nice looking trees.

Posted : 05/06/2011 10:07 pm