I grow Chicago Hardy in 7a at the Delaware beaches. It survives our worst winters without significant die back, ripens into December, and propagates readily. I’ll often pick them right off the tree when passing by and have a snack. I am not a fig connoisseur, but I do enjoy growing them.
I have the Chicago Hardy planted in ground in West Virginia. I find that it is much more flavorful when we have a hotter, dryer summer. I've had mine for about 7 years now.
The Chicago Hardy is thin skinned and quite sweet! Growing nicely in SC. Figs are coming on later this year because of a flood in March when the plant was underwater for over 24 hours. Thought that the plant was dead, but it new shoots began appearing from the ground a few weeks later. Pretty Hardy!
We have one plant that's more than 10 years old. Did not protect two years ago and died back to the ground, along with a brown turkey and celestial. they had grown back to small bushes. This is by far the most productive tree now. Celestial tastes the sweetest.
It is impressive how early it ripens compared to most varieties. It seems rain-proof. It doesn’t have the best flavor, but it is consistent and still turns out good figs when the “top tier” varieties split, burst and spoil.
I just received my Chicago hearty as a birthday gift, and just planted it, I hope it does well. I used to grow up eating figs in Greece from my grandfather's trees....those trees were huge (20-35ft, not sure what breed) and produced excellent figs. I can't wait to see this tree start producing and tasting the figs. I am not a picky fig person and I appreciate your honest opinion on the texture and flavor of this tree.
I Planted my 2 year old Chicago hardy in the ground early this year and I already picked some weighing in at 25 to 30 grams compared to last year in the container about less than half that size, not a bad tasting fig..it is what it is, I hope it gets better with age if it survives the NJ winter.
Good luck. I think it'll do fairly well in NJ. It will likely die back annually if you don't protect it. I suggest a thick layer of mulch around the base of the tree to insulate the root ball. You can also consider building a cage around the trunk and burying it in straw or hay to add winter protection. It may prevent some dieback.
@@TheMillennialGardener Thanks! I like the cage with straw idea! will try that, also the tree is planted close to the house on a south facing side and its protected from any harsh wind.
Giankees I used this method to protect my bananas and it worked to fruit them. If it can protect a banana, which can’t take any freeze at all, in Zone 8, it’ll certainly protect a fig: th-cam.com/video/Eq8xGdPR3ko/w-d-xo.html You can see my method in the video above. If you want to use this method, you’ll probably want to cut your tree down to a 24 inch trunk, or several 18-24 inch trunks. If it works, allowing them to bud out from 18-24 inch trunks instead of making them send new growth from the roots will probably add 30-45 days of growing season. That’s a huge deal.
I live in the Niagara Region of Ontario, my Chicago Hardy tree is 5 years old and about 9 feet tall. It produces a lot of fits as I have in a large container that is normally used for trees.
I planted a sidling on Chicago Hardy in my central NJ home back yard 7 years old. It gown now to 10 fit high and about 20 fit wide. I get about 250 pounds of figs during month of August and half September and it still going strong. Collecting 6-8 pounds every day. It has 7 big main branches so I wonder if this should be considered one tree or 7, or one bush. I was covering it with garden warm cloth, insolation which used for attics and tarp all around for 5 years from December to May and last 2 years just with cloth and tarp.
3 years ago I planted 2 Celestes and a Chicago. My Celeste's both produced very well the first and second year, while the Chicago produced I think 2 figs. This year it finally looks like its going to produce. Very slow maturing.
I happen to pick up a Chicago Hardy in my local grocery store earlier this year. I trans plated into pot and wasn't doing well. I them transplanted in the ground and we go a late frost and the rabbits seem to eaten it. Eventually what was left fell off and then later I want say early July I noticed it was coming back. I now have a 2 foot tree with a good number of leaves. I would like to know what do to protect it in the fall and preparing for winter? My grandfather used to have a fig tree when I was growing up and we had to bend it over and bury it covering it with cardboard, leaves and tarps every fall for the winter. I understand you don't need to do this with the Chicago Hardy but need to do some form of protection with leaves and mulch. Just would like your take on what to do. I live in Northern IL close to the Wisconsin Border.
I am in Wisconsin and just got a couple of these trees. Hopefully they will do well for me when I finally plant them when it warms up a bit! Just found your channel and subscribed. Dale is definitely a star!!🥰
I have been very neglectful of one I bought months ago from Home Depot. It was in one of those cardboard boxes with plastic containing the dirt and roots. I left it on a table on my deck during the hottest part of an SC summer and only gave it water after I noticed leaves had fallen off twice. I just put it in a pot last night and although it didn’t really grow any it is still alive. I’ll try to treat it better from now on.
Glad it was helpful! I would also recommend you look into Negra d'Agde, Olympian and Sao Miguel Roxo. They are similar in terms of earliness, but I believe they are superior in flavor to Chicago Hardy. The downside - they're a little harder to find. You can get a Chicago Hardy plant at Lowes and Home Depot now for $10 indoors by the strawberry bare roots.
@@TheMillennialGardener thank you so much! I will do my best to find these. I have found that it has been difficult lately to get a lot of plants/seeds/starters. Going to try to find these ASAP.
Give it a few years. It’s not my favorite but it’s a nice fig once they get to a consistent growth cycle. Dale is a precious little guy 💙 his first taste got a one lip smack...the second one got 2. I think he likes the second one better 🙃
I'm not the best authority on what varieties are the hardiest because I am growing in Zone 8. I would tell you to check out Big Bill's channel, which is "Off The Beaten Path Nursery." He is growing a ton of varieties in-ground in Zone 6a, Lancaster, PA. He has several orchard tours, and his success is incredible given his very cold temps. I would look at his videos and select the best performers if hardiness is an issue.
You said the Chicago Hardy is by far not the hardiest. Could you tell me some varieties that are the hardiest? I am in St. Louis, MO which by one map is Zone 6 and by another map is in a tiny Zone 7 pocket. I would love to grow more than just the single Chicago Hardy plant that I got at Lowes. You are right, too, in that it can bounce back from a 100% die back. 😂
@@happity This comment was a couple years ago but since then I’ve put a few more varieties in the ground - Celeste, Alma, Verde, Violette de Bordeaux, Ischia Green, Brown Turkey, Little Ruby, and Beers Black. Only Brown Turkey, Little Ruby, and Beers Black have not shot up new growth out of the ground yet. When I transplanted the Brown Turkey it had a huge root mass from growing in a 10 gallon grow bag for a couple years so having roots at least 16” down means in probably survived and has new shoots working their way up. I think the additional challenge is ripening the fruit before it gets too cold. My Hardy Chicago gave me 6 golf ball-sized figs last year but I had to pick the final two before they were completely ready due to a cold snap that was coming. I’m hoping to get double that amount this year from that bush and maybe 6 each from each other if they have the time to ripen.
@@jeremybyington I have had a very similar experience as you. Those varieties get off to a late start. Brown Turkey grows fast, though, during the summer and ripens early. It's reliable, just not that impressive of a fruit. Have you found a favorite? Little Miss Figgy has been the clear winner so far for me in the hot, humid south.
Is fig tree in general drought tolerate and prefer wet soil? I see that you placed your fig tree pots in the open with full sun exposure. What do you do to check when to water them? Thanks.
Figs are fairly drought tolerant when planted in-ground once well-established (they are not in containers and you cannot let your containers dry out or it can damage the tree). They have an extensive root system, but they benefit from a thick layer of mulch to help maintain even moisture. They will do better than most trees in arid climates since they're from the Mediterranean where it basically doesn't rain from June 1 to September 1. With containers, you cannot let them dry out. I have to water them every day in my very hot summers. You know they need water when when potting mix begins to pull away from the sides of the container.
So I live in Richmond VA and I like to make fig jam. I bought a Chicago Hardy and am now concerned about flavor. I'm looking for a classic Figgy flavor and a fig that handles the humidity and rain.and I'm container grown as well. Any thoughts on a good classic fig flavor fig for my area? Thank you!
There is no significant difference between the hardiness of figs. Chicago Hardy is no hardier than any other variety. Chicago Hardy is just very early, so it has the ability to be killed to the ground, grow back and still ripen in places with ~180 day growing seasons. You want early types like Ronde de Bordeaux, Celeste, Olympian, Florea, Smith, etc.
I have two Chicago hearty six arriving today that are the 1 gallon size. I live more on the western side of North Carolina. I was going to put them into the ground but now I’m thinking maybe they need to be in containers for the first year or two? What would you recommend?
If you're in western NC, you're going to start seeing freezes very soon (if not already). I would recommend planting them in the spring after your last frost date. While figs are tolerant of frosts and moderate freezes, they should be established before subjecting them to hard freezes. If your tree gets killed back, you'll need it to regrow from the base. It will likely die if it freezes solid now, because the roots won't establish.
What is a good fig variety to plant in Tampa, FL? I am learning so much that I would like to try planting another fig variety. I have a Chicago Hardy fruiting for the first time.
You will want varieties that are especially resistant to rain. The most rain-resistant fig I've ever seen is Celeste, so if you want a fig that tolerates the Deep South's climate, Celeste is the one. Other very rain resistant types are the Mt. Etna types, like Chicago Hardy and Marseilles Black VS. The Col de Dame varieties do better in the rain for me, as well, as does Smith.
The heat stressed my Celeste's and caused fig drop. Didn't get any at the end of the day. I so far had the best success (by far, actually) with the Missed Figgy (VdB variety). It has a tight eye and tolerated the rain. Madonna, Hollier, and Verte / Ischia are all growing fantastically, but not fruiting. Miss Figgy outperformed other VdB's I had. So, for the south, for me so far, it's the clear winner.
I am in CANADA and so happy to see your Chanel today . I want get a fig tree couple years ago but it always no luck and today I just got one a Chicago fig tree (so happy)some body told me I need to know this is female or male and need to get one opposite with the one I got .Otherwise it will not product any fig at all. Is that true and how can I know it’s female or male. Please help .Hope can get your reply soon and Have a great evening.
Yes. There are many fig growers in Washington State. In fact, the Olympian fig is named after Olympia, Washington, where the original mother tree grew. The key to success in Washington state is to grow figs that have a very early main crop and also a breba crop. Breba crops do well in Washington state. Olympian and Chicago Hardy are common choices. Desert King is also very popular, but that only has a breba crop, because the main crop drops without pollination. Growing Desert King means you must prune the tree for breba production.
@@TheMillennialGardener thanks for your detailed information. I have chicago fig since from last year, last year i put in garage, it sustained in winter and now i placed it outside which started growing figs. As the planter is too heavy , this year i am planning to keep it outside itself even in winters and snowy days, hope it will live long.
Hello sir. I am a novice grower. I live in Berlin near the coast of Maryland near Ocean City. I currently grow Celeste and I bought Chicago Hardy several years ago but the figs are midsized and green. I recently watched your 10 must have and ordered I258, Olympian, and Negra d'Agde. I also added Violet De Bordeaux. I was just wondering about the Chicago. I make jam and last year I harvested over 2.000 figs off my Chicago Hardy. I was just wondering if it is a Chicago Hardy or not
A Chicago Hardy fig is never green. If the figs are ripe and still green, it 100% is *not* a Chicago Hardy. Wherever you got it from mis-labeled the fig or sold you the wrong tree. Keep in mind there is no way to identify a fig tree by the leaves or fruits, so the only way you can know for certain is to trace its origin. If you got yourself a mis-labeled tree, unfortunately, you'll never be able to truly identify it for sure. Wait til you try the I-258. It's going to be so far above the other varieties, it's going to blow your mind 😂
Fig varieties have no significant difference in cold hardiness. Chicago Hardy is no hardier than any other variety. Chicago Hardy simply is a very early fig, so it has the ability to be killed down to the ground, grow back, fruit and still ripen some of the crop in a place with a 180-200 day growing season whereas most figs don't.
Those were really good sized Chicagos. I don't think I've ever had any that size but mine usually die back overwinter. Does your BMKK grow faster than your Chicago?
My Chicago Hardy is a poor grower. I'm going to replacing it with another rooted cutting that is performing better. Black Madeira isn't as vigorous as some varieties, but after 3 season, it's finally growing like a champ. It took a few seasons of proper fertilizer to get it really growing. Black Madeira is a heavy producer, though. It pumps out tons of fruit.
Overwinter 2 of them in Minnesota zone 4a, but never got more than 2 leaves on the tiny little stumps I ordered from baker's creek. Any thoughts? I used organic fruit tree fertilizer, worm castings and chicken manure, but only a small amount of each.
I only used fertilizer once when I got them from Baker's Creek. The fig tree only grows about 1ft and stopped. I planted one outside last year at -18C(zone 6, recorded low temp) for 3 days without protection. It grew back this year without any fruit, but it did survive. Now the outside fig is 5ft high, I will protect the root only to see if the branch will survive. I also planted the other fig in the bucket in case anything happened. The figs in the bucket produce fruits this year, around 15ish. I only fertilizer the figs twice this year, once with fruit tree fertilizer and chicken manure. I also used triple 10 later after 3 months passed. Remember to use mulch. I mean, thick mulch.
🤣Before I forget, most plants need around 5C to grow; don't mention the size of the figs when it's too small. I have yet to learn about 4a, but you may want to move figs inside or try to plant them in the bucket. Having a backup plan is always good if you want to save time. The CH or HC needs around 10c to grow, I guess. I mean 10c at nighttime.
Oh, the watering may be another question for your zone. Fig only needs to water once a week. If you water your fig at nighttime, and the temp is too low, you may damage the roots, then slow-growing later. I'm not saying watering at high temp, aka high noon, is a good idea. It would be best if you watched your local forecast closer.
@weitang1196 thank you! These baker's creek varieties are hardy zones 5-10. I've created a mini micro climate where there is a lavender hedge I stayed from seed thriving. My lavender and five have both survived multiple play vortex with a temp drop off -30 and cooler at times with windchill. No intense mulching or amending. They like healthy just stunted. Not sure they're going to grow much more after being sighting for the first few years bc I was not tending to them.
Wouldn’t it be great to have someone who really knew how to grow these in a Chicago climate actually explain to the rest of us how to do it? Seems like every grower has a different theory of what might happen.
Black Mission is one variety out of tens of thousands. It's like asking the difference between a Red Delicious apple versus a Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, Pink Lady, Golden Delicious or other varieties nothing alike.
I have never seen a dog that likes plants so much. Kale, carrots, tomatoes, sweet potatoes...Dale is a better omnivore than most people. He has the soul of a person. He’s a special guy.
I have three Chicago figs here in northwest Ohio. They die back completely. Recover in the spring and produce small figs. Taste is not the greatest, but hey it’s a fig.
You may be able to get better figs if you protect the tree. After a few light frosts causes and/or the leaves naturally drop in the fall, try cutting the tree back to a single 24" tall trunk, then protecting it. You can wrap it, you can build a cage around it and stuff it with leaves or pine straw, then throw a white trash bag over it, etc. If you can prevent the trunk from dying back, you'll get a huge headstart in the summer. That will likely mean larger, better quality figs.
@@TheMillennialGardener Thanks . I do protect the trees. They dye back anyway . I’ve had mild winters and they still dye back. There in a place where the wind is blocked from all directions. But they still come up from even the Hardest winters. I still cover them anyway.
Figs are not self-pollinating. The only way to pollinate figs is via cross-pollination. The figs I grow, and the fig varieties most commonly grown across the US, have a mutated allele for parthenocarpy. Parthenocarpic varieties persist on the tree without pollination and are referred to as "common figs" or "persistent figs." The "fig wasp" only exists in tiny pockets of California where farmers established them by importing them from Europe back in 1899. The fig wasp has not been able to migrate out of California, because they are extremely cold sensitive. All figs grown outside of these regions of California in the US are common figs and are unpollinated, so they do not contain wasps. However, the "fig wasp" isn't what you think it is. It's the size of a tiny gnat, and they fly into the fig early into its maturity. By the time the fig is ripe, the wasps have long been digested by the natural enzymes of the fig, and there is no trace of them. th-cam.com/video/Qg--BR_AxG0/w-d-xo.html
@@TheMillennialGardener thank you for all of this great information, I bought the chicago hardy fig and they told me it was self pollinating. So I would need two trees after all ?
I just purchased a Chicago Hardy fig and it was just delivered the other day. It has a couple of tiny figlets it and I’m in Cleveland, OH. Should I removed those figlets after the leaves fall off or just leave them on the tree?
Hi, Mid Michigan gardener here. Zone 6A according to the USDA chart. If I order these and start inside in my green house, will the be OK outside in late sprin? Will they last the winter here if I transplant outside? Any advice appreciated
Figs are hardy to Zone 6, but they will die back significantly. Probably to the ground every year. If they die back to the ground, they may not have enough time to grow back and ripen their fruits. In your case, you would want to plant in-ground after last spring frost and protect it in the winter by pruning the tree to a single trunk about 24-36 inches tall, building a cage around the tree with some fencing and stuffing it full of straw. That will insulate the tree and prevent dieback. Alternatively, plant it in a container and store it in your garage over winter. This is what most people do, because it is easy when you only have a couple trees.
@@lizbradbury2486 Most varieties of figs won't make it over the winter here in the north. Millennial Garden explains well about how the tree would die back to the ground and re-sprout in the spring. It then depends how bad of a winter we get for it to have enough time to regrow and make fruit
Chicago Hardy is a common fig, meaning it is parthenocarpic and does not require pollination. All my figs are common figs, requiring no pollination. I'm in North Carolina, so I'm 3,000 miles away from the nearest fig wasp.
@@TheMillennialGardener thank you for your reply. i live in turkey inner region which is quite cold its hardiness zone 7a Mediterranean type figs is not suitable for where i live. native figs are grown costral region where hardiness zone 10a 9b Chicago Hardy seems solution for those people like me who loves fig.
Lowes had one on clearance in a one gallon pot. Figured Id pick it up. I know you are in a colder climate than me 9b but what about buying super late varieties? Since our winters are sooo dry in the south. Wouldn't really have to Worry about humidity and rain.
I wish my winters were dry. We still get 3-6 inches of rain a month in the winter. My growing season is long enough and warm enough to grow any variety of fig, so you being in 9b should be no problem at all, unless you're somewhere like San Francisco or northern California where it lacks heat. If you're in the south - I'm guessing Texas, Arizona, Louisiana or Florida - you shouldn't have to worry and can grow anything.
@@TheMillennialGardener I'm in Florida. South east of Orlando. Less than 5 miles from the beach. But this year from January- March we got less than 2-3 inches of rain. I think it's the beach the causes the dry winters. But thinking about getting some late varieties. See what fruits here
The lack in flavor may be due because your growing this fig in a bucket, from my experience plants grown in containers just dont get a consistent amount of nutrients and are stunted in their true growth in some way.
It isn’t due to being grown in a container. If that were the case, it would be true across the board. The problem with Chicago Hardy is that I am comparing it to these other varieties, and most are simply superior in terms of flavor. Chicago Hardy just can’t hold up compared to these other varieties. I have 2 Chicago Hardy trees, and they both have the same issue. It’s an ok fig, but it is all relative.
I am in Minnesota, and bought my first Chicago Hardy fig tree. Well...I hope it is as hardy as they claim...Mine arrived during a heat wave, and a few days later dropped all of its leaves and all the unripe fruit. Made me so sad! I am hoping that it will come back. I paid more for a larger plant with fruit on it, but now I am back to square one. Would you keep your potted Chicago Hardy outside during a rainstorm? Should I protect it from the rain so I don't overwater?
Yes, you can keep them outside till really cold weather starts. Would be better to wait till all leaves drop from the plant. You can keep them in garage. Put some fertilizer on Fall. Fertilize the plant on Spring and take it out during the day and put it back indoor when is cold below 40 F. By the end of April fig should start having fruits and by middle of July they should be ripped. mine are less than a year old plants and I have fruits ripping already.
My personal opinion is that all fig varieties are close to equal in hardiness. There may be some genetic variations here and there, but I don't detect any difference in any of my varieties. It sounds like your tree underwent extreme drought stress. I would recommend if you cover it with a shade cloth or keep it in a shady area, and water it in very well with fish emulsion. Fish emulsion will help with the recovery.
@@TheMillennialGardener Thank you for your response. The fig tree is growing new leaves and coming back beautifully. I covered the top of the soil with mulch (followed your videos advice - Thank you!), and watered it well. It is recovering. I am still hoping to get fruit this year.
It varies. I don't really have a favorite. I-258, Del Sen Jaume Gran, White Madeira #1 and Col de Dame Blanc are some of my favorites, but there are many others.
Chicago Hardy is one of the best tasting and low maintenance berry figs. I just had one today and compared it with the others in a taste test at a Fig Fest.
If you are getting a melon flavor, you are picking them too early. Picking figs is a little bit of an art, because a perfectly-ripened fig looks like it's on the verge of going rotten to the untrained eye. Experiment with different levels of ripeness. Let them go longer until they're very soft and drooping so badly they look like they're going to drop and that melon taste will go away. It's a berry fig.
'Texture' is not just a noun. It is also a verb and an adjective. That's why you can 'texture' something, and a surface can be 'textured.' While the noun version of the word translates to overall consistency, 'texturing' something indicates giving a roughness or sharpness of a surface, so the texture of something mealy is without texture.
@@TheMillennialGardener and something being mealy isn't relating to flavor therfore it's relating to a feel. Which corresponds with texture. You can take that bs somewhere else 🤣
I grow Chicago Hardy in 7a at the Delaware beaches. It survives our worst winters without significant die back, ripens into December, and propagates readily. I’ll often pick them right off the tree when passing by and have a snack. I am not a fig connoisseur, but I do enjoy growing them.
I have the Chicago Hardy planted in ground in West Virginia. I find that it is much more flavorful when we have a hotter, dryer summer. I've had mine for about 7 years now.
Was just watching a video saying the same.
The Chicago Hardy is thin skinned and quite sweet! Growing nicely in SC.
Figs are coming on later this year because of a flood in March when the plant was underwater for over 24 hours. Thought that the plant was dead, but it new shoots began appearing from the ground a few weeks later.
Pretty Hardy!
Oh no. What happened? Creek or river flooding? That's terrible. Glad to hear it came back.
hello fellow sc chicago hardy grower
We have one plant that's more than 10 years old. Did not protect two years ago and died back to the ground, along with a brown turkey and celestial. they had grown back to small bushes. This is by far the most productive tree now. Celestial tastes the sweetest.
It is impressive how early it ripens compared to most varieties. It seems rain-proof. It doesn’t have the best flavor, but it is consistent and still turns out good figs when the “top tier” varieties split, burst and spoil.
@Brian Cook I have never fertilized my figs. Only mulched with wood chips and leaves. Maybe they will be more productive if I do fertilize them.
I just received my Chicago hearty as a birthday gift, and just planted it, I hope it does well. I used to grow up eating figs in Greece from my grandfather's trees....those trees were huge (20-35ft, not sure what breed) and produced excellent figs. I can't wait to see this tree start producing and tasting the figs. I am not a picky fig person and I appreciate your honest opinion on the texture and flavor of this tree.
I believe this is the variety my parents had in FL. You want these figs to be super squishy before eating. Makes a great jam!
I Planted my 2 year old Chicago hardy in the ground early this year and I already picked some weighing in at 25 to 30 grams compared to last year in the container about less than half that size, not a bad tasting fig..it is what it is, I hope it gets better with age if it survives the NJ winter.
Good luck. I think it'll do fairly well in NJ. It will likely die back annually if you don't protect it. I suggest a thick layer of mulch around the base of the tree to insulate the root ball. You can also consider building a cage around the trunk and burying it in straw or hay to add winter protection. It may prevent some dieback.
@@TheMillennialGardener Thanks! I like the cage with straw idea! will try that, also the tree is planted close to the house on a south facing side and its protected from any harsh wind.
Giankees I used this method to protect my bananas and it worked to fruit them. If it can protect a banana, which can’t take any freeze at all, in Zone 8, it’ll certainly protect a fig: th-cam.com/video/Eq8xGdPR3ko/w-d-xo.html
You can see my method in the video above. If you want to use this method, you’ll probably want to cut your tree down to a 24 inch trunk, or several 18-24 inch trunks. If it works, allowing them to bud out from 18-24 inch trunks instead of making them send new growth from the roots will probably add 30-45 days of growing season. That’s a huge deal.
I live in the Niagara Region of Ontario, my Chicago Hardy tree is 5 years old and about 9 feet tall. It produces a lot of fits as I have in a large container that is normally used for trees.
The Chicago Hardy is great. It's the only one that grew in Northern New Jersey with fruit.
Thanks for watching!
Did you plant them into the ground?
@@jessefig5281 Both the ground and containers
I planted a sidling on Chicago Hardy in my central NJ home back yard 7 years old. It gown now to 10 fit high and about 20 fit wide. I get about 250 pounds of figs during month of August and half September and it still going strong. Collecting 6-8 pounds every day. It has 7 big main branches so I wonder if this should be considered one tree or 7, or one bush. I was covering it with garden warm cloth, insolation which used for attics and tarp all around for 5 years from December to May and last 2 years just with cloth and tarp.
My Chicago Hardy in Tennessee doing great too🙂 thanks for the video and all the information
Thanks for watching!
3 years ago I planted 2 Celestes and a Chicago. My Celeste's both produced very well the first and second year, while the Chicago produced I think 2 figs. This year it finally looks like its going to produce. Very slow maturing.
Thank you for sharing your great video, keep doing what you are doing, I will be coming back.❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🙏🙏
I happen to pick up a Chicago Hardy in my local grocery store earlier this year. I trans plated into pot and wasn't doing well. I them transplanted in the ground and we go a late frost and the rabbits seem to eaten it. Eventually what was left fell off and then later I want say early July I noticed it was coming back. I now have a 2 foot tree with a good number of leaves. I would like to know what do to protect it in the fall and preparing for winter? My grandfather used to have a fig tree when I was growing up and we had to bend it over and bury it covering it with cardboard, leaves and tarps every fall for the winter. I understand you don't need to do this with the Chicago Hardy but need to do some form of protection with leaves and mulch. Just would like your take on what to do. I live in Northern IL close to the Wisconsin Border.
I am in Wisconsin and just got a couple of these trees. Hopefully they will do well for me when I finally plant them when it warms up a bit!
Just found your channel and subscribed. Dale is definitely a star!!🥰
How'd they turn out in Wisconsin?
“Just right squishy” 😂
I have been very neglectful of one I bought months ago from Home Depot. It was in one of those cardboard boxes with plastic containing the dirt and roots. I left it on a table on my deck during the hottest part of an SC summer and only gave it water after I noticed leaves had fallen off twice. I just put it in a pot last night and although it didn’t really grow any it is still alive. I’ll try to treat it better from now on.
Great video. We are looking to incorporate these into our food forest project in zone 6B. Very informative video.
Glad it was helpful! I would also recommend you look into Negra d'Agde, Olympian and Sao Miguel Roxo. They are similar in terms of earliness, but I believe they are superior in flavor to Chicago Hardy. The downside - they're a little harder to find. You can get a Chicago Hardy plant at Lowes and Home Depot now for $10 indoors by the strawberry bare roots.
@@TheMillennialGardener thank you so much! I will do my best to find these. I have found that it has been difficult lately to get a lot of plants/seeds/starters. Going to try to find these ASAP.
So sweet & cute. I love your baby.
Dale is the best. Thanks for watching!
Can you do a video on your best cold hardy/shortest ripening time trees? I'm in the UK so need early varieties
TeamLucas that’s a great idea! I’m wondering the same thing! Great name! That’s my youngest sons name!🙂🌱
Do your Chicago Hardy still yield fruit that ripens before winter if they die to the ground without being winter protected?
Give it a few years. It’s not my favorite but it’s a nice fig once they get to a consistent growth cycle. Dale is a precious little guy 💙 his first taste got a one lip smack...the second one got 2. I think he likes the second one better 🙃
I agree, he has good taste. The second was much riper and sweeter!
What's hardier than Chicago Hardy? Are there better varieties for up north? Legitimate question, thank you.
I'm not the best authority on what varieties are the hardiest because I am growing in Zone 8. I would tell you to check out Big Bill's channel, which is "Off The Beaten Path Nursery." He is growing a ton of varieties in-ground in Zone 6a, Lancaster, PA. He has several orchard tours, and his success is incredible given his very cold temps. I would look at his videos and select the best performers if hardiness is an issue.
this was a great video! thank you!!
You're welcome!
My Chicago trees aren`t ready here in the north east but I am looking foward to them. If Dale liked them I am sure I will.
Dale is an expert connoisseur. He recommends you wait until they're very ripe.
Nice video! Is it possible to grow on Kentucky ...zone 6, now zone 7 since 2023.
I love this channel. ❤️
Thank you! I appreciate that very much.
You said the Chicago Hardy is by far not the hardiest. Could you tell me some varieties that are the hardiest? I am in St. Louis, MO which by one map is Zone 6 and by another map is in a tiny Zone 7 pocket. I would love to grow more than just the single Chicago Hardy plant that I got at Lowes. You are right, too, in that it can bounce back from a 100% die back. 😂
I think he has mentioned Olympian as being early.
Would love to hear the same as which varieties are more hardy?
Possibly Celeste?
@@happity This comment was a couple years ago but since then I’ve put a few more varieties in the ground - Celeste, Alma, Verde, Violette de Bordeaux, Ischia Green, Brown Turkey, Little Ruby, and Beers Black. Only Brown Turkey, Little Ruby, and Beers Black have not shot up new growth out of the ground yet. When I transplanted the Brown Turkey it had a huge root mass from growing in a 10 gallon grow bag for a couple years so having roots at least 16” down means in probably survived and has new shoots working their way up.
I think the additional challenge is ripening the fruit before it gets too cold. My Hardy Chicago gave me 6 golf ball-sized figs last year but I had to pick the final two before they were completely ready due to a cold snap that was coming. I’m hoping to get double that amount this year from that bush and maybe 6 each from each other if they have the time to ripen.
@@jeremybyington I have had a very similar experience as you. Those varieties get off to a late start. Brown Turkey grows fast, though, during the summer and ripens early. It's reliable, just not that impressive of a fruit. Have you found a favorite? Little Miss Figgy has been the clear winner so far for me in the hot, humid south.
Is fig tree in general drought tolerate and prefer wet soil? I see that you placed your fig tree pots in the open with full sun exposure. What do you do to check when to water them? Thanks.
Figs are fairly drought tolerant when planted in-ground once well-established (they are not in containers and you cannot let your containers dry out or it can damage the tree). They have an extensive root system, but they benefit from a thick layer of mulch to help maintain even moisture. They will do better than most trees in arid climates since they're from the Mediterranean where it basically doesn't rain from June 1 to September 1. With containers, you cannot let them dry out. I have to water them every day in my very hot summers. You know they need water when when potting mix begins to pull away from the sides of the container.
The Millennial Gardener thanks.
So I live in Richmond VA and I like to make fig jam. I bought a Chicago Hardy and am now concerned about flavor. I'm looking for a classic Figgy flavor and a fig that handles the humidity and rain.and I'm container grown as well. Any thoughts on a good classic fig flavor fig for my area? Thank you!
Would love to know what figs are more cold hardy than the Chicago, please.
There is no significant difference between the hardiness of figs. Chicago Hardy is no hardier than any other variety. Chicago Hardy is just very early, so it has the ability to be killed to the ground, grow back and still ripen in places with ~180 day growing seasons. You want early types like Ronde de Bordeaux, Celeste, Olympian, Florea, Smith, etc.
@@TheMillennialGardener Great explanation! thank you so much.
I have two Chicago hearty six arriving today that are the 1 gallon size. I live more on the western side of North Carolina. I was going to put them into the ground but now I’m thinking maybe they need to be in containers for the first year or two? What would you recommend?
If you're in western NC, you're going to start seeing freezes very soon (if not already). I would recommend planting them in the spring after your last frost date. While figs are tolerant of frosts and moderate freezes, they should be established before subjecting them to hard freezes. If your tree gets killed back, you'll need it to regrow from the base. It will likely die if it freezes solid now, because the roots won't establish.
What is a good fig variety to plant in Tampa, FL? I am learning so much that I would like to try planting another fig variety. I have a Chicago Hardy fruiting for the first time.
You will want varieties that are especially resistant to rain. The most rain-resistant fig I've ever seen is Celeste, so if you want a fig that tolerates the Deep South's climate, Celeste is the one. Other very rain resistant types are the Mt. Etna types, like Chicago Hardy and Marseilles Black VS. The Col de Dame varieties do better in the rain for me, as well, as does Smith.
The heat stressed my Celeste's and caused fig drop. Didn't get any at the end of the day. I so far had the best success (by far, actually) with the Missed Figgy (VdB variety). It has a tight eye and tolerated the rain. Madonna, Hollier, and Verte / Ischia are all growing fantastically, but not fruiting. Miss Figgy outperformed other VdB's I had. So, for the south, for me so far, it's the clear winner.
What variety is cold hardy and better tasting? I’m in the north east and just got this one but I’m interested in getting more. 🙏
I am in CANADA and so happy to see your Chanel today . I want get a fig tree couple years ago but it always no luck and today I just got one a Chicago fig tree (so happy)some body told me I need to know this is female or male and need to get one opposite with the one I got .Otherwise it will not product any fig at all. Is that true and how can I know it’s female or male. Please help .Hope can get your reply soon and Have a great evening.
No you do not need a male and female, they are self pollinating
I am in Seattle Washington, can we place this plant outside through out the year? Especially in winters? TIA
Yes. There are many fig growers in Washington State. In fact, the Olympian fig is named after Olympia, Washington, where the original mother tree grew. The key to success in Washington state is to grow figs that have a very early main crop and also a breba crop. Breba crops do well in Washington state. Olympian and Chicago Hardy are common choices. Desert King is also very popular, but that only has a breba crop, because the main crop drops without pollination. Growing Desert King means you must prune the tree for breba production.
@@TheMillennialGardener thanks for your detailed information. I have chicago fig since from last year, last year i put in garage, it sustained in winter and now i placed it outside which started growing figs.
As the planter is too heavy , this year i am planning to keep it outside itself even in winters and snowy days, hope it will live long.
Hello sir. I am a novice grower. I live in Berlin near the coast of Maryland near Ocean City. I currently grow Celeste and I bought Chicago Hardy several years ago but the figs are midsized and green. I recently watched your 10 must have and ordered I258, Olympian, and Negra d'Agde. I also added Violet De Bordeaux. I was just wondering about the Chicago. I make jam and last year I harvested over 2.000 figs off my Chicago Hardy. I was just wondering if it is a Chicago Hardy or not
A Chicago Hardy fig is never green. If the figs are ripe and still green, it 100% is *not* a Chicago Hardy. Wherever you got it from mis-labeled the fig or sold you the wrong tree.
Keep in mind there is no way to identify a fig tree by the leaves or fruits, so the only way you can know for certain is to trace its origin. If you got yourself a mis-labeled tree, unfortunately, you'll never be able to truly identify it for sure. Wait til you try the I-258. It's going to be so far above the other varieties, it's going to blow your mind 😂
How hardy is this fig? How low can temps drop before it's too cold?
Fig varieties have no significant difference in cold hardiness. Chicago Hardy is no hardier than any other variety. Chicago Hardy simply is a very early fig, so it has the ability to be killed down to the ground, grow back, fruit and still ripen some of the crop in a place with a 180-200 day growing season whereas most figs don't.
Those were really good sized Chicagos. I don't think I've ever had any that size but mine usually die back overwinter.
Does your BMKK grow faster than your Chicago?
My Chicago Hardy is a poor grower. I'm going to replacing it with another rooted cutting that is performing better. Black Madeira isn't as vigorous as some varieties, but after 3 season, it's finally growing like a champ. It took a few seasons of proper fertilizer to get it really growing. Black Madeira is a heavy producer, though. It pumps out tons of fruit.
@@TheMillennialGardener where do I find black Moderia
Do you get still get fruit the same year if it died back to the ground?
Overwinter 2 of them in Minnesota zone 4a, but never got more than 2 leaves on the tiny little stumps I ordered from baker's creek. Any thoughts? I used organic fruit tree fertilizer, worm castings and chicken manure, but only a small amount of each.
I only used fertilizer once when I got them from Baker's Creek. The fig tree only grows about 1ft and stopped. I planted one outside last year at -18C(zone 6, recorded low temp) for 3 days without protection. It grew back this year without any fruit, but it did survive. Now the outside fig is 5ft high, I will protect the root only to see if the branch will survive. I also planted the other fig in the bucket in case anything happened. The figs in the bucket produce fruits this year, around 15ish. I only fertilizer the figs twice this year, once with fruit tree fertilizer and chicken manure. I also used triple 10 later after 3 months passed. Remember to use mulch. I mean, thick mulch.
🤣Before I forget, most plants need around 5C to grow; don't mention the size of the figs when it's too small. I have yet to learn about 4a, but you may want to move figs inside or try to plant them in the bucket. Having a backup plan is always good if you want to save time. The CH or HC needs around 10c to grow, I guess. I mean 10c at nighttime.
Oh, the watering may be another question for your zone. Fig only needs to water once a week. If you water your fig at nighttime, and the temp is too low, you may damage the roots, then slow-growing later. I'm not saying watering at high temp, aka high noon, is a good idea. It would be best if you watched your local forecast closer.
@weitang1196 thank you! These baker's creek varieties are hardy zones 5-10. I've created a mini micro climate where there is a lavender hedge I stayed from seed thriving. My lavender and five have both survived multiple play vortex with a temp drop off -30 and cooler at times with windchill. No intense mulching or amending. They like healthy just stunted. Not sure they're going to grow much more after being sighting for the first few years bc I was not tending to them.
Wouldn’t it be great to have someone who really knew how to grow these in a Chicago climate actually explain to the rest of us how to do it? Seems like every grower has a different theory of what might happen.
Chicago here growing! Only my first year, I’ll get back to you lll
@ParqForrest your one year verdict please. I just ordered one. In NW Indiana. Wondering if I should bring it into the garage to over winter. Tyia
I got my first fig this year ,second year. The size of a shooter marble. Meh flavor. Fingers crossed for next year.
What is the difference between this and Black Mission Figs?
Black Mission is one variety out of tens of thousands. It's like asking the difference between a Red Delicious apple versus a Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, Pink Lady, Golden Delicious or other varieties nothing alike.
You sir could be a hand model. Couldn't help but notice. Anyhow, thanks for the review!
Really? Not if I flip them over. I have more callouses than you can imagine 😆 Thanks for watching.
Dales mouth was watering 😂
I have never seen a dog that likes plants so much. Kale, carrots, tomatoes, sweet potatoes...Dale is a better omnivore than most people. He has the soul of a person. He’s a special guy.
Thats a really good size for chicago. Small figs will usually double the size next yr comes.
I have three Chicago figs here in northwest Ohio. They die back completely. Recover in the spring and produce small figs. Taste is not the greatest, but hey it’s a fig.
You may be able to get better figs if you protect the tree. After a few light frosts causes and/or the leaves naturally drop in the fall, try cutting the tree back to a single 24" tall trunk, then protecting it. You can wrap it, you can build a cage around it and stuff it with leaves or pine straw, then throw a white trash bag over it, etc. If you can prevent the trunk from dying back, you'll get a huge headstart in the summer. That will likely mean larger, better quality figs.
@@TheMillennialGardener Thanks . I do protect the trees. They dye back anyway . I’ve had mild winters and they still dye back. There in a place where the wind is blocked from all directions. But they still come up from even the Hardest winters. I still cover them anyway.
Since this one is self pollinating, would that mean that this variety of figs wont have the wasps that die inside of them. ?
Figs are not self-pollinating. The only way to pollinate figs is via cross-pollination. The figs I grow, and the fig varieties most commonly grown across the US, have a mutated allele for parthenocarpy. Parthenocarpic varieties persist on the tree without pollination and are referred to as "common figs" or "persistent figs." The "fig wasp" only exists in tiny pockets of California where farmers established them by importing them from Europe back in 1899. The fig wasp has not been able to migrate out of California, because they are extremely cold sensitive. All figs grown outside of these regions of California in the US are common figs and are unpollinated, so they do not contain wasps.
However, the "fig wasp" isn't what you think it is. It's the size of a tiny gnat, and they fly into the fig early into its maturity. By the time the fig is ripe, the wasps have long been digested by the natural enzymes of the fig, and there is no trace of them. th-cam.com/video/Qg--BR_AxG0/w-d-xo.html
@@TheMillennialGardener thank you for all of this great information,
I bought the chicago hardy fig and they told me it was self pollinating. So I would need two trees after all
?
Wow ,nice fig👍。
Thanks for watching!
I just purchased a Chicago Hardy fig and it was just delivered the other day. It has a couple of tiny figlets it and I’m in Cleveland, OH. Should I removed those figlets after the leaves fall off or just leave them on the tree?
They will probably drop on their own, but if they don't, yes, you'll want to remove them. They will not ripen for you at this point in the year.
I bought 2 seedlings from bakercreek they’re tiny but hopefully by next year I can get some fruit.
Hi, Mid Michigan gardener here. Zone 6A according to the USDA chart. If I order these and start inside in my green house, will the be OK outside in late sprin?
Will they last the winter here if I transplant outside?
Any advice appreciated
Figs are hardy to Zone 6, but they will die back significantly. Probably to the ground every year. If they die back to the ground, they may not have enough time to grow back and ripen their fruits. In your case, you would want to plant in-ground after last spring frost and protect it in the winter by pruning the tree to a single trunk about 24-36 inches tall, building a cage around the tree with some fencing and stuffing it full of straw. That will insulate the tree and prevent dieback.
Alternatively, plant it in a container and store it in your garage over winter. This is what most people do, because it is easy when you only have a couple trees.
Why call this a Chicago hardy fig if the only way to grow it in a Chicago zone is in a green house?
@@lizbradbury2486
Most varieties of figs won't make it over the winter here in the north. Millennial Garden explains well about how the tree would die back to the ground and re-sprout in the spring. It then depends how bad of a winter we get for it to have enough time to regrow and make fruit
is it self-fertile or do we need pollinator?
Chicago Hardy is a common fig, meaning it is parthenocarpic and does not require pollination. All my figs are common figs, requiring no pollination. I'm in North Carolina, so I'm 3,000 miles away from the nearest fig wasp.
@@TheMillennialGardener thank you for your reply. i live in turkey inner region which is quite cold its hardiness zone 7a Mediterranean type figs is not suitable for where i live. native figs are grown costral region where hardiness zone 10a 9b Chicago Hardy seems solution for those people like me who loves fig.
@@TheMillennialGardener what kind of hardy fig species you have and do you sell grafting branch? if you do, what is the price
Self pollinator
Yasss. lead the revolutionnnn.
Lowes had one on clearance in a one gallon pot. Figured Id pick it up. I know you are in a colder climate than me 9b but what about buying super late varieties? Since our winters are sooo dry in the south. Wouldn't really have to Worry about humidity and rain.
I wish my winters were dry. We still get 3-6 inches of rain a month in the winter. My growing season is long enough and warm enough to grow any variety of fig, so you being in 9b should be no problem at all, unless you're somewhere like San Francisco or northern California where it lacks heat. If you're in the south - I'm guessing Texas, Arizona, Louisiana or Florida - you shouldn't have to worry and can grow anything.
@@TheMillennialGardener I'm in Florida. South east of Orlando. Less than 5 miles from the beach. But this year from January- March we got less than 2-3 inches of rain. I think it's the beach the causes the dry winters. But thinking about getting some late varieties. See what fruits here
The lack in flavor may be due because your growing this fig in a bucket, from my experience plants grown in containers just dont get a consistent amount of nutrients and are stunted in their true growth in some way.
It isn’t due to being grown in a container. If that were the case, it would be true across the board. The problem with Chicago Hardy is that I am comparing it to these other varieties, and most are simply superior in terms of flavor. Chicago Hardy just can’t hold up compared to these other varieties. I have 2 Chicago Hardy trees, and they both have the same issue. It’s an ok fig, but it is all relative.
I am in Minnesota, and bought my first Chicago Hardy fig tree. Well...I hope it is as hardy as they claim...Mine arrived during a heat wave, and a few days later dropped all of its leaves and all the unripe fruit. Made me so sad! I am hoping that it will come back. I paid more for a larger plant with fruit on it, but now I am back to square one. Would you keep your potted Chicago Hardy outside during a rainstorm? Should I protect it from the rain so I don't overwater?
Yes, you can keep them outside till really cold weather starts. Would be better to wait till all leaves drop from the plant. You can keep them in garage. Put some fertilizer on Fall. Fertilize the plant on Spring and take it out during the day and put it back indoor when is cold below 40 F. By the end of April fig should start having fruits and by middle of July they should be ripped. mine are less than a year old plants and I have fruits ripping already.
@@yllidema8088 Thank you!
My personal opinion is that all fig varieties are close to equal in hardiness. There may be some genetic variations here and there, but I don't detect any difference in any of my varieties. It sounds like your tree underwent extreme drought stress. I would recommend if you cover it with a shade cloth or keep it in a shady area, and water it in very well with fish emulsion. Fish emulsion will help with the recovery.
@@TheMillennialGardener Thank you for your response. The fig tree is growing new leaves and coming back beautifully. I covered the top of the soil with mulch (followed your videos advice - Thank you!), and watered it well. It is recovering. I am still hoping to get fruit this year.
I love fruits, it is look like a strawberry.
Which fig is your favorite in taste?
It varies. I don't really have a favorite. I-258, Del Sen Jaume Gran, White Madeira #1 and Col de Dame Blanc are some of my favorites, but there are many others.
@@TheMillennialGardener do you sell any of these said fig trees you mentioned?
Chicago Hardy is one of the best tasting and low maintenance berry figs. I just had one today and compared it with the others in a taste test at a Fig Fest.
This is the first year I’ve eaten my Chicago Hardys. Taste like watermelon
If you are getting a melon flavor, you are picking them too early. Picking figs is a little bit of an art, because a perfectly-ripened fig looks like it's on the verge of going rotten to the untrained eye. Experiment with different levels of ripeness. Let them go longer until they're very soft and drooping so badly they look like they're going to drop and that melon taste will go away. It's a berry fig.
How can something be mealy but have no texture?
'Texture' is not just a noun. It is also a verb and an adjective. That's why you can 'texture' something, and a surface can be 'textured.' While the noun version of the word translates to overall consistency, 'texturing' something indicates giving a roughness or sharpness of a surface, so the texture of something mealy is without texture.
@@TheMillennialGardener and something being mealy isn't relating to flavor therfore it's relating to a feel. Which corresponds with texture. You can take that bs somewhere else 🤣
My mom tried this kind and said it tasted like Candy. She's begging me to grow this one. I think I will get one
Bro. Nice nails.
Do you sale yours hardy fige
I will have cuttings in 2-3 weeks. I will post an official video when the time comes.
Do you sale yours hardy figs
I live in Colorado
I make cuttings available in January when my trees go dormant. I will announce when they're available, so keep an eye out after Christmas.
Dale eating a Chicago Hardy: “This is fine...”
Hey there, I've sent you an email. Please check it out!