For years I have hesitated to join F4F simply because I knew I didn't really need any help in my fruit addiction. I've lurked on the sideline but didn't dare join. So, I've finally joined and now I'm already thinking I should have stayed away. I jokingly told "aphahn" the reason I didn't want to join is that I could hear myself saying, "Hello, my name is Rhonda and it's been 2 months since my last fig acquisition", except that I wouldn't get a pat on the back, I would get, "Oh my, we can remedy that, do you need some cuttings?"
So, I've been putting my little back yard orchard together for 6 years. It took 3 years to cut down at least 12 trees; black locust, ponderosa pine, and hackberry, all near power and cable lines. My maple was spared the saw because, well, it's beautiful, but I can also get the best syrup from it. Of course I had no idea how long it would take to remove the trees, so I had to care for potted trees for the first three years. I started out thinking I could fit maybe 5 apple trees in my humble back yard to actually having more than 50 trees, plus plenty of berries and vines. My little orchard consists of apricots, cherries, plums, shipova, apples, peaches, pears, persimmons, paw paw, jujubes, grapes, kiwi, Chinese magnolia, saskatoons, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, and figs, and probably more but I can't think of everything now.
I don't remember where I got the idea I could grow figs in Colorado but I decided to try it out. I bought 2 Chicago Hardy which I kept garaged in the winter and each year they had to grow back from the roots. I discovered that they need more water in the winter than I was giving them. I also bought a thermostat controlled outlet and attached it to a heater and made a little enclave in the garage to keep my figs from freezing. I also experimented with one of my Chicago Hardys and planted it outside last winter. I made a bunker of cinder blocks around it and it made it perfectly through the winter. It started to produce figs this year but none have ripened yet. This Chicago Hardy has a deeper green in it's leaves and in general looks much more healthy than my other potted figs. This little tree is still green and growing well even though we've had many nights below 32F, and even some snow. I am just watching it keep going every day despite the change in seasons. I am amazed.
So, not to be satisfied with just ONE fig cultivar I have added to my collection by purchasing scion and trees, and ordering from GRIN. I just received my first cuttings from a F4F member and can't wait to get started rooting even more figs. I haven't had a ripe fig from my own trees yet but I am determined to keep trying.