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Chicago Hardy Fig
Chicago Hardy Fig
Chicago Hardy Fig
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Chicago Hardy Fig

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Description

Also called bensonhurst purple fig

Productive and easy to grow. Bears delicious medium-size figs. Exhibits drought-tolerance once established. May die back in colder climates and resume growth in spring. Bears fruit early on new growth. Fruit produced on the older wood will appear in early summer and fruit on new growth will appear in early fall. Ripe fruit has a dark mahogany color. Originates from Sicily. Grows well in containers! Heat-tolerant. Ripens in July through frost. Self-pollinating.

Characteristics

Fruit Color Purple
Fruit Size Medium
Pollination Self-pollinating
Ripens/Harvest July Through Frost
Shade/Sun Partial Shade - Full Sun
Soil Composition Loamy
Soil Moisture Well Drained
Soil pH Level 6.0 - 6.5
Taste Sweet
Texture Fine Grained
Years to Bear 1 - 2
Zone Range 5 - 10

Zone Compatibility

This Variety's Zone Range 5 - 10
My Hardiness Zone ?
The USDA hardiness zones offer a guide to varieties that will grow well in certain climates. Each zone corresponds to the minimum winter temperatures experienced in a given area. Make sure that your hardiness zone lies within the zone compatability range of this variety before ordering.

Size & Spacing

Mature Size

When your tree matures, it will be approximately 15 - 30' tall x 15 - 35' wide.

Recommended Spacing

We recommend spacing these trees 35 - 40' apart to ensure room for growth.

Pollination

This variety is self pollinating.

In many cases, you may still want to plant pollinating partners to increase the size of your crops, but with self-pollinating varieties doing so is optional. You'll get fruit with only one plant!

Tools & Supplies

Having the proper tools and supplies when growing your own can make the difference between a good harvest and a great harvest! Here's a list that our experts recommend for this variety.

Planting & Care

Learn all about how to grow fig trees in The Growing Guide. An entire section of our website dedicated to your growing success.

Read about how to grow fig trees »

Shipping Information

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Our Promise of Satisfaction

1 Year Warranty

Every order comes with our promise of satisfaction. If you aren't completely satisfied with your order, let us know within one year for a free one-time replacement or refund.

Questions & Answers

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Browse 51 questions Browse 51 questions and 167 answers
Why did you choose this?
Stark Bro's Store
Lots of great reviews, easy to maintain and good for my climate!
Christina V on May 4, 2019
Hardiness
Margarite P on Apr 26, 2019
Lots of great reviews, easy to maintain and good for my climate!
Christina V on May 4, 2019
Where I live it gets cold in the winter and hot in the summer. Perfect fit; that, I love figs and store bought can be pricey.
Sin N on Apr 29, 2019
Hardiness
Margarite P on Apr 26, 2019
I live in a northern Illinois/ southern Wisconsin area and I love figs. It???s a beautiful garden plant as well.
Julia Z on Apr 20, 2019
I have wanted a fig tree for a few seasons now and this one seemed like a good one to start with. Hoping it will grow vigorously in a pot.
Sara K on Mar 31, 2019
My husband loves figs and this one is hardy in our zone.
Susan N on Mar 30, 2019
Does well in a cold climate
Tom P on Mar 30, 2019
We used to have some when I was younger, and my grandmother would always make these fig jam cookies with the fruit from the tree, which we hope to continue at my new house.
David L on Mar 27, 2019
Looking for a fig that would actually be hardy in my area.
DANNY L on Mar 24, 2019
Brown Turkey has been recommended for our area here in northwest Oklahoma, but after reading about the hardiness of this fig, I'm thinking the heat tolerance might really work here....crossing my fingers.
Lamar A on Mar 24, 2019
I have 2 already they survive the Missouri winters at least mid Missouri.
We got 26 figs the first year off of one tree.
Harold M on Mar 21, 2019
I Live in the North East and love Figs.
Joseph V on Mar 18, 2019
Yum
Wendy F on Mar 15, 2019
My climate and to grow something you can't find in stores. Fresh figs are great tasting.
Amy F on Mar 14, 2019
Love figs and since it gets cold in Meridian Idaho decided this may be a good choice.
Wendy S on Mar 13, 2019
Co-worker told me about his fig trees and told me about your website.
Pedro G on Mar 5, 2019
Had this tree in AZ, moved to NY and missed the delicious figs it produced. Can't wait to see how the tree does in NY!
JONATHAN C on Feb 27, 2019
Hardy in my area.
Dan B on Feb 22, 2019
I already have one of these and it is wonderful. Easy to grow and the fruit in delicious.
GAIL M on Feb 22, 2019
Hardiness
David R on Feb 22, 2019
My wife loves figs and if I can control growth and they do not freeze, they should provide an interesting mix to other plants I have growing
MICHAEL T on Feb 17, 2019
The medium size fruit is appealing and I want to grow this in a container.
Karen R on Feb 14, 2019
Meets requirements and less common in this region......
Steve R on Feb 13, 2019
Drought tolerant & hardy. Good for my location.
Susan B on Feb 13, 2019
I grew up with a tree just like this that belong to my neighbors . Now that I have my own house with my own yard. Couldn???t wait to have my own.
Vicki C on Feb 8, 2019
These are the best to when making fig preserve and plus you can eat these right off the tree. These can survive most any weather. We had a few of the trees down in Louisiana and us kids use to pick and eat them right off the tree. This is a must buy for figs!
Travis L on Feb 8, 2019
I love figs, and this variety should grow in my zone 6.
Tamara G on Feb 6, 2019
Cold zone.
Xingxia Z on Jan 14, 2019
Taste great, can grow well in a pot, and looks tropical
Dustin F on Jan 3, 2019
Hardiness for my zone in NJ
Brenda W on Jan 2, 2019
I live in Middle Tennessee and this was recommended.
Kathleen T on Dec 23, 2018
I live in Pittsburgh and this tree seems be able to live in my climate
Joseph M on Nov 18, 2018
Because I have one now and it???s an excellent producer. I am giving it away to my daughter and son-in-law. This should Be as tall as possible for better production. Also it should have a nice sturdy stem. The fruit is deliciously delicious. Can???t get any better unless I move to Southern Italy. I should receive this 11/8/18, correct?
MARIO M on Nov 2, 2018
Figs are delicious! But I live in a colder climate now and this is one of the few varieties that I've read about being successful where I am. Zone 6.
Lyle S on Oct 9, 2018
Wife loves figs, great for our area.
JOHN M on Oct 6, 2018
I really like this fruit, it is delicious
Maria K on Oct 2, 2018
The only fig I can grow in my zone.
Deborah P on Sep 16, 2018
cold tolerance
Ronda C on Sep 4, 2018
It's a replacement for one that was sadly lost during a move. Delicious fruit; easy to grow in a large pot!
Karen B on Sep 2, 2018
Said it would grow in zone 6
Grantham S on Sep 2, 2018
Love figs and this variety is rated for my zone
Richard K on Jun 30, 2018
In search of a birthday present for my mother, I simply googled ???trees for each birthday???, because she???s been planting a lot lately. The fig happened to be her birth tree. Not only that, it also ended up being the birth tree of her sister who recently passed away. Thank you Stark Bros for making this happen!
Albert P on Jun 22, 2018
Daughter has one and bloomed first year.
Helen H on Feb 7, 2018
We live in Michigan and my son and daughter in law have this kind and they love it. They moved to a new house and they missed their fig tree. Their fig tree was awesome. So I thought I would surprise my daughter in law and give this to her.
Susan W on Nov 20, 2017
I have a brown turkey fig and it doesn't produce many figs here in Oklahoma. There are figs on it now (late Sept) but they are unlikely to mature before we have our first frost. I had a Dakota but I think I lost it for good this year. Each year die back and a little less hardy. I also have a Celeste and I don't get many figs from it. The Chicago Hardy came highly recommended to me by one of my coworkers. He has had excellent luck with it and it has given him lots of figs each year.
Elaine S on Sep 26, 2017
Great cold hardy strong figs our grandparents ordered this tree years ago and it is a great producer.
Jamie C on Sep 21, 2017
grows in my growing zone and can be grown in containers, has a slightly different profile and time of ripening than the brown turkey fig which will enable us to compare the two.
DORIS N on Sep 11, 2017
Have two already and they are AWESOME!
JOHN T on Aug 26, 2017
Love figs. Had trees in Tennessee that produced over 100 per day in Aug & Sept ( total, 7 trees) Moved to Indiana, need cold variety.
Lee R on Apr 23, 2017
Can leave outdoors year round
Richard C on Apr 19, 2017
Where I live it gets cold in the winter and hot in the summer. Perfect fit; that, I love figs and store bought can be pricey.
Sin N on Apr 29, 2019
I live in a northern Illinois/ southern Wisconsin area and I love figs. It???s a beautiful garden plant as well.
Julia Z on Apr 20, 2019
Which fig tree is best suited for a northern Indiana climate?
Karen on Feb 18, 2016
BEST ANSWER: I purchased the Chicago Hardy Fig early last spring. Planted it early spring and it grew to almost 3 times its stem size and had a half dozen delicious figs late summer. I purchased this tree to withstand bad winters in North New Jersey. Winters can be near zero and bad winds. I did not cover the tree last fall because of my illness. Waiting for spring to see if if has survived 10 below and cold winds a couple of weeks ago. Hope for an early spring and lots of good fruit.
do you have the dwarf variety?
Patrick L on Apr 2, 2016
BEST ANSWER: No, we don't have the dwarf size, but many growers have had success keeping this tree smaller with pruning. Unlike most other fruit trees, fig trees typically don???t require routine pruning, but you can prune them to a size that works for your space. Many fig tree growers find that keeping them between 6-8 feet tall is most manageable, especially in a container environment.
Can you keep Chicago hardy fig as a houseplant?
rose b on Mar 16, 2016
BEST ANSWER: I bought two last year one for my mom and hers harvested about 30 figs last summer that she said were very tasty brought it in for the winter.. we are planting hers in the yard this spring. mine did not do so well in the harvesting department maybe got 3 figs were not eatable.. maybe this year we both brought our fig trees in for the winter I rent my home so it will stay on my porch in a large pot I can let you know how it harvests this year both have not harvested any fruit over the winter. hope that helps you have not had it long enough to advise indoor plant or not.
can I plant outside in Bedford, ohio ?
rose b on Mar 16, 2016
BEST ANSWER: Heck yes! I'm a couple of degrees of latitude North of you I think, and in USDA Planting Zone 5b. I just planted this fig last summer and it established well. This will be its first winter survival - a meek winter. I cannot say for sure that it survived yet. Check back with me in May? -Brian
found 3 figs in my tree bought in June 2015 but inside is white and not sweet or any flavor?
Cecilia R on Jul 11, 2016
BEST ANSWER: Your fruits are not ripe if white inside. When ready a fig's inside is red to brownish red. and should be some what juicy, not dry.
I would like to purchase a chicagohardy fig tree for a large ( 2' x 2' x 2' ) square container - in my back yard in Philadelphia PA - would this be a suitable tree for this environment? I will not be able to bring it inside in the winter - so can i cover it with something ? thanks
MaryAnn K on Oct 19, 2016
BEST ANSWER: We have both Brown Turkey and Chicago Hardy and live in Springfield, Illinois. We cover them with three feet of straw and they do very well. They are in the ground (ground level) and die back in our area. Regrow bigger and more productive each year.
I bought Chicago Hardy fig tree last year and planted it in a large pot the tree is doing well but it is growing like a long poll with no side branches except for the very top how can I get some side branches to come out of the lower part of the tree any advice would be appreciated....Thank You ?
Anthony T on May 12, 2017
BEST ANSWER: My tree is growing the same as yours, which seems to be common for this variety. You should be able to prune the "pole" back to a lower bud and the remaining buds below your cut will grow into a new scaffold of branches and leaves, but I would recommend waiting to prune until the tree goes dormant for the winter so that you don't lose any potential fruit that may develop at the branch/trunk tip this year.
My Chicago Hardy Fig was delivered at the beginning of April. It is in the house in the same pot until the temperatures warm up here in NH. It has 2 small figs developing at the top along with the leaves. Should I pinch the figs off or let them develop? Thank you.
Karen W on Apr 19, 2016
BEST ANSWER: I would let them develop. I got my fig tree last year and they produced three figs. I wasn't sure if they'd be edible or not, but I let them do their thing. When they became dark and slightly soft, we picked them and ate them. They were delicious!
Can i plant this outside in Fitchburg,mass?
J costa on Sep 19, 2016
BEST ANSWER: Thank you for your question. This is a remarkable fig variety that is quite cold-hardy and will do fine in your zone, which is 6A.
can I plant my Chicago Hardy Fig in the ground? I am in SE Michigan. Have had it in a pot for two years now, bringing it in in the Winter.
SUSAN F on Aug 14, 2016
BEST ANSWER: Hi, Susan. This is Kathy from Omaha, Nebraska. We planted our fig in the
ground last year and it came back fine. A couple of things: 1) it was a little slow to break dormancy this spring, and 2) it dies back to the ground, so it's more like a shrub instead of a tree. Having said that, however, it is extremely vigorous and is at least five feet tall and three feet wide with numerous figs. Hope this helps!
I am in zone 6B, but we do get at least a few nights of negative 5-10 below 0. Can I plant the chicago hardy fig out in the ground? if so, should I cover with a tarp or other protection in winter? Thanks
Kathleen H on Mar 4, 2016
BEST ANSWER: Hi, I live in Bayside NY and also it's zone 6B. I planted Chicago hardy fig from Stark Bro's last year and harvested 5 figs. These figs are small but taste is like sweeter than honey. The stem get twice thicker than first I got. I planted it on the ground at front garden and I didn't do anything to protect from frozen temperature. I just got out to see and I found new buds on the stem. So Chicago hardy fig has a tolerance to cold temperature. I hope it helps you to make a decision.
How do I winterize a fig tree?
Christina D on Aug 11, 2016
BEST ANSWER: I've buried the entire plant in leaves as well as the bottom foot of the plant.
In either instance, the plant still froze almost to the soil line. They always grew new tops and bore fruit. I gave up trying to save the tops when I can get delicious figs without all the effort. I've threatened to build a greenhouse over a fig plant but why when we get figs with no heroic efforts?
We'd get more fruit but is it worth the extra work? I think not. I hope this helps.
fig tree was indoors for 4 yrs and did fine, although no figs. put it outside for first time on patio and leaves are starting to brown and curl. why?
nick r on Aug 20, 2017
BEST ANSWER: Your tree is suffering stress from being moved to a full-sun environment. This needs to be done gradually; the leaves are "sunburned." They will grow back. The tree may not be producing because it has outgrown its pot. Check the roots and see if they are growing out the bottom of the pot or have reached the sides of the pot. You can either air-prune the roots and keep it in its current pot, or transplant it to a larger pot. Make sure it stays moist (not wet) and allow it to dry out between waterings.
Last year I purchased a dwarf hardy chicago fig tree from you. It grew a few figs and leaves. They fell off and I brought it inside and put it in my closet for the winter. This spring I took it out and there was a 3 ft. yellow stem coming out the middle with three tiny leaves on top. Should I trim this back so more branches will grow?
Shirlee B on Mar 29, 2016
BEST ANSWER: Trimming the ends of the branches back will cause more growth to develop from buds that remain. If you like the look and location of this growth, you can trim it some to encourage more growth that will appear during the growing season.
From what part of the branch do Hardy Figd originate?
Shirley G on Aug 17, 2016
BEST ANSWER: Hello Shirley,
Just like in the picture, the figs are at the top of the branches, and are usually covered by the big leaves. Mine is in its second year, and the leaves have formed a beautiful canopy to prevent the fruit from scorch.
I live in Ct... I have tons of figs in my Chicago Hardy but can???t get them to ripen in time to eat them .. what am I doing wrong ???
Gloria R on Oct 7, 2018
BEST ANSWER: No, you???re doing awesome raising Chicago figs in CT!!! The only things you can do now to quicken the whole process is at the beginning or at the end- Try to overwinter them with straw bales to act as insulation around them or tons of light much to help keep the roots warmer but remove as soon as last frost passes- try to get an earlier jump on ???waking??? them back up- once buds and leaves open- fertilize for roots and leaf growth once or twice in early spring then stop- with a 5-5-5 or 10-10-10 then keep that watered to set fruit earlier and have that longer rgrowing/ ripening period starting earlier- also having figs planted on/ near a south wall baking all that sun into waking them up earlier- then picking and storing some with apples/ bananas to ripen faster- good luck!
Are Chicago hardy fig trees able to grow in Michigan?
jtsnake on Sep 15, 2018
BEST ANSWER: Absolutely. These trees will survive temperatures down to zero. The tree may die back like a perennial, but it will sprout new limbs in the spring, larger each year.
If I wanted to plant this tree in the ground but still control size to keep it dwarfed, could I plant this tree in a root pouch and then put it in the ground? Or would this be achieved just by pruning?
Maggie on Feb 25, 2016
BEST ANSWER: In my experience, when I tried to keep my trees in pots to restrict their mature size, I dug holes and "planted" the pots in the ground. The trees' roots eventually grew through the holes in the pots into the ground. I'm not sure how durable a root pouch is. Root girdling and other harmful problems might arise, so, playing it safe, I would say pruning is the better method at controlling the mature tree size of your fig tree if you plan on planting it in the ground.
can this be grown in a large pot on a deck?
Vince on Mar 6, 2016
BEST ANSWER: Vince, I planted two Chicago Hardy bareroot [Stark Bros] last year in 24" wood wiskey barrels and they are doing fine. The young "non-hardy" golden figs died from cold weather the year before in the same barrels despite mt effort to protect them from freezing. Now proven to survive I will be investing the effort to espalier these Hardy's. I was careful to use good shrub grade potting soil and trace element amendments and during the first dormant season I pruned the first growth slightly to train them to the shape I wanted. I removed the small fruit that emerged the first year and will probably do the same the second year. It's a relatively warm March and the buds have begun to swell. Caution: feed lightly until well established and ready to set fruit. I expect that the more confined space for roots will force faster fruiting which might not be desirable when the trees are young. Proper pruning will yield better results. These guys are trees and will get big and wild, even in a pot. The fruit will be worth the effort and should you move you can take them with you.FYI, I am also growing espalier'd apples, peaches & plums in 24" barrels.Bob from Atlanta zone 7.
Do I need to cover the tree in the winter since we are living in zine 5 b?
Linda M on May 31, 2016
BEST ANSWER: We are in zone 6 and almost all our several fig trees have died down to the ground line nearly every year. They have mostly resprouted to form small shrubs with very little fruit, no matter what variety we had at the time. I've even tried burying the entire plant in leaves with a structure to keep the leaves in place.No good either. I'm ready to pot both our current figs up and bring them into our heated greenhouse to see if we can get more than 2or 3 ripe figs. The few we've gotten that ripened were worth nearly any effort to produce them. Figs are not for,lazy people but the fruit is the best we've ever grown. No insects or diseases seem to bother them, just cold temperatures. Lots of luck with your figs Enjoy them any you get.
I have a 3-year old tree with a 3-inch trunk. It's been kept dormant in the garage over the winters but kept moist. It's been outside for a couple of weeks now, but only the bottom branch is leafing. Should I cut the trunk down to ground level?
Sam D on May 6, 2017
BEST ANSWER: If you scratch the trunk and see green it should be fine. Unless it looks dead, I would not touch it right now. Give it a few more weeks. My figs didn't die back to the roots this year so I cut the dead parts off. They have started leafing out and I can see it will keep leafing out more.
DO I need to wrap this tree during the winter in zone 6b?
Peter W on Apr 22, 2017
BEST ANSWER: I live in zone 6a. I've had this tree for two years. In year 1, I left it outside and it died back and I almost tore it out to throw it away. I had protected it with burlap I didn't wrap it tightly. When I was going to pull it out, I noticed that there were tiny shoots emerging from the roots so I left it alone and voila - it grew to about 4' but produced no figs, alas. This winter, I dug up the tree and moved the pot it's in to a very cold bedroom and away from direct light (cold is usually around 60) and it started budding in February and now has many large green leaved. The last frost date up here is around Memorial Day so, after checking the weather, I plan to replant it in the same warm spot and hope for the best. My advice is that fig tree does need protection.
Do rabbits like to chew on the fig plants? Just wondering if I need to put a cage around it to get any fruit.
Steven S on Jan 16, 2017
BEST ANSWER: I have not had any trouble with rabbits. I did however have a major raccoon attack last summer.. I doubt that any animal will eat the leaves. They have a strong scent, and probably are not too tasty.
I live in Joplin,Mo ...I Think it Zone 6b..has anyone had any luck in this area?
bud brixey on Oct 3, 2016
BEST ANSWER: Bud, I live in Columbia and planted a couple of these last year. They over-wintered but are still pretty small. The new growth comes up from the ground and not from the previous years growth. I have been asking around and the general advice is to: plant them in a protected space with good Southern exposure, tie down the branches and mulch heavily in late Fall, grow in a high tunnel or other protected space. I am going to go with the tie-down and mulch option this year and I might order a couple more and plant them on the South side of the house in an area that can be converted to a mock high-tunnel for the Winter months. My Mom lives in Miami and she claims that there are lots of figs that produce between Miami and Pittsburgh and so I am hopeful.
Could I plant this fig (or one of the other varieties) in a large container and winter it in our unheated high tunnel? I am in northeastern Pennsylvania, zone 5b.
Anita A on Aug 12, 2016
BEST ANSWER: Hello Anita,
You should be able to over-winter your Fig trees in this manner. I have over-wintered my 2 figs in my garage which is un-heated as well and I am also in zone 5b. I initially planted my trees in large (10 gallon ) pots and put them in the coolest area of my garage away from light. The coolest it gets in my garage is about 28-30 degrees. I believe the trees can withstand even cooler temperatures without damage down to 20 degrees or so. My trees have not shown any damage stored this way. I make sure they are completely dormant in the fall before I bring them in. You just need to give them a little water in the winter. I just check the soil for its moisture content and add just enough to satisfy the plants needs. I have even put fresh fallen snow on the surface of the potting soil to melt down into the soil. Make sure to be careful when you put the figs outside in the spring. their buds will swell in the garage in the late spring and the leaves are very delicate and can be damaged if brushed against or the pot dropped suddenly.
Good growing,
Bill
Can I plant this in a container?
Girlygold21 on Jun 9, 2016
BEST ANSWER: I planted mine in a container. Last year (its first year), it didn't produce any figs. This year, though, it has quite a few tiny ones already. The fact that it was in a container allowed me to wheel it in the garage for the winter. I brought it outside when leaves started to grow this spring, and I spent a few weeks rolling it in and out every evening & morning since the nights were still so cold. So far so good :).
When should the Chicago Hardy fig tree be pruned?
Victoria S on Oct 25, 2018
BEST ANSWER: Hi Victoria, This is a great question. You???ll be happy to know that fig trees need very little pruning! Just basic maintenance is all that???s necessary. If there are any weak, diseased or dead limbs remove them during the dormant season. And remember to thin the blooms on older fig trees to increase fruit size and to stimulate about a foot of growth per year. Your planting success is important to us!
How tall will this tree get if I live in a region where it dies back every winter? I would like to know if it is safe to plant under a low power line.
Megan N on Aug 5, 2018
BEST ANSWER: Megan. I am glad to share with you. First winter after I planted my tree, even though I mulched it well, I thought it had died. Then it began to put out growth and grew to about 3-ft high that summer and had a few figs on it. It did not die back the next winter but began growth on existing shoots and wound up to be about 9-ft tall and 6 to 8-ft diameter. I was expecting it to be a tree but it turned out to be more of a bush. That summer and fall it had so many figs that I made jam from them and enjoyed ripe fresh figs and gave lots away. I thought that finally I was in fig heaven. Then, although last winter was mild, none of the old shoots put out any leaves or growth this spring. I waited and waited and finally cut off all the old shoots and found all of them to be dead. Then, wonder of wonders, the fig started putting out new shoots from the bottom. Right now, the center shoot is approximately 7-ft high and full of figs at every leaf. Other surrounding shoots are shorter than the center one and have figs on them. But there are some other shoots that are way outside the bush that do not have any figs and I may trim them off. I suspect that the tallest shoots may reach 8 or 9-feet high max. So if your tree can have @ 10-ft clear height, or more, over it, you should be OK unless your power line is lower than that. Again, I am sorta disappointed that my Chicago Hardy Fig is a bush and not a tree, and that it may die back here in East TN in the winters, as long as it keeps coming back in the Spring and bears fig fruit, I am OK with that. Hope this helps you a bit. Thanks and have a great experience with your fig tree (bush).
How long can I keep the tree in a 20 gl pot?
Mr. P on May 18, 2017
BEST ANSWER: I ke my two figs in containers until this spring at which time I planted them in a location which received plenty of sun but had natural protection from evergreen trees. I will wrap them from here on in as it is less of a hassle that moving them in and out of the garage.
What is the minimum amount of sunlight this tree can get and still fruit well?
Martin R on Jul 9, 2016
BEST ANSWER: I worked in a greenhouse in another state. Six hours per day was considered full sun. I've always had my fig trees on the south side of any shade so they were in full sun. This did not prevent them from freezing to the ground, which forced them to fruit on the current growth. of course I'm always pushing the envelope regarding growing zones, but we've had small crops of wonderful tasting figs nearly every year. I hope this helps.

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Ten Years and Counting in Colorado
We are a solid Zone 5 in Northern Colorado and my Chicago Fig has survived for over ten years. Granted, it dies to the ground each year but it resprouts a little bigger and more vigorous the next time. Our season is so short that I have only eaten a ripe fig fruit once or twice, but the foliage alone makes this a show-stopper. I have yet to try protecting the stem with a ring of chicken wire and dried leaves, but I think it would give the plant a leg up.
July 18, 2016
awesome fig trees
Ordered two for the yard in nw Illinois ,zone 5. They came in pretty much as to be expected as sticks . After spring planting and weekly watering they budded out,made a few branches ....AND ..midway thru summer they blossomed and then gave us 4 figs!!!! I had 3 and I think a squirrel had the other. Not bad for less than a year growth.
Buried them over winter,uncovered them in April and now they both are leafing out already. Can't wait to see what we get this year!
Thanks Starks,you've never let me down!
May 23, 2016
Purchased
 over 4 years ago
Plant healthy and growing well
Plants arrived in perfect condition. Got them in the ground in early November and already they've added a twelve inches stem growth despite a chillier than expected winter.
February 25, 2016
Purchased
 over 3 years ago
Year later, still healthy
Living in Michigan help decide on this tree due to bitter winters. Lost a couple of branches but that may be due to the winterizing process. Overall, no complaints.
June 27, 2016
Purchased
 over 4 years ago
CHicago Hardy Fig
SO FAR SO GOOD, I Think.
I received your shipment in excellent shape. Fine packaging. I planted it, per your instructions. We decided to put it in a whiskey barrel rather than into the ground. This should allow us to move it into winter storage. This was the main reason for selecting this type of fig.
There has been no activity on the trunk all winter. Not very surprising. I scratched a small spot on the upper trunk and it's good and green under the skin. All should be good.
February 23, 2016
Purchased
 over 3 years ago
Chicago Hardy Fig
I planted two figs outside the year before last. They are slow to bud Spring 2015, but once they leafed, they were nice bushes. Last year they were loaded with figs but due to the late bloom and odd weather during the growing season only about 1/3 matured. The ones we ate were delicious. They are just starting to bud this year. Dayton, OH
May 10, 2016
Purchased
 over 5 years ago
My favorite fig for withstanding cold
We are in middle Tennessee. We have one of these trees in the garden and last winter it suffered no cold damage (probably down to 5 or 10 degrees F). We have three more in Smart Pots that we keep in our unheated garage. When they start to leaf out, we open the garage door during the day and close at night. They are about a month ahead of the one in the garden. We get lots of figs.
May 10, 2016
Purchased
 over 4 years ago
So pleased!
As soon as I received my tree, I planted it in a half-barrel. The only problem with it was that it was taller than I expected. I was told I could shorten it, which I did. That caused it to branch out very nicely. It set fruit fairly late in the season, several of which ripened, but the rest remained on the tree when I brought it into the garage for the winter. This Spring I roll it in and out of the garage as the weather permits and it is growing with huge leaves and the fruit left on in the Fall is maturing beautifully. I also see buds that will be this year's fruit. I am so proud of this tree and it is great fun to watch. Besides the fruit is absolutely delicious.
May 16, 2016
Purchased
 over 4 years ago
Beautiful.
I purchased this fig tree last year and potted it up. I kept it in the garage through the winter and before our weather was warm enough for it to go out, I had buds on it. I purchased one for a friend and he planted his in the ground last year and had figs! His survived the winter just fine. Mine is in the ground this year and is growing like crazy....very healthy! Excited to see what happens.
May 18, 2016
Purchased
 over 4 years ago
Great
Love figs so I got a tree to grow my own. Got 10 from the tree my first summer. Anxiously waiting to see how many I get this year!
May 11, 2016
Purchased
 over 4 years ago

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