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Chicago Hardy/Hardy Chicago, Fig reports

LOL, I see them listed by nurseries under both names.

Been a while since I've been in here, but I wanted to report some results from the cold edge of zone 7, about 35 miles S. of Tulsa, OK.

I've about given up growing potted figs---way too much work for the crop.  I've given almost all of them to my kids and friends in Texas.

I had a Plattner Violetta in a large terra cotta pot that I left out on the SE side of my house last winter.  We had at least one night of minus ten F.  The plant died to its roots, I set it in the yard and it is coming back.  Next year it should bear again. 

I have a Celeste and a Joe Morle Paradiso in a bed on the S. side of my house, next to a brick wall.  Despite the cold, neither froze back and the Celeste is bearing good fruit.  The Paradiso is carrying figs but has not ripened one yet. 


Two figs out by my barn, planted on the S. side of the building, suffered some damage but came thru and are setting fruit.  One, the Hardy Chicago had a few ripe fruit a month ago, ripening others now.   The other fig is a Pakistan Black.  It suffered more damage but is setting fruit, not yet ripe. 

As for fruit quality, none exceed the Paradiso--I got a few figs from it in the past.  It has one weakness though; it has an open eye and will sour if rained on. 

The Hardy Chicago gets a very low rating in my opinion.  It will bear after being frozen back, but here the fruit is so tasteless as to be close to worthless to me. 

I've had the Plattner Violetta for several years.  It has borne large fruit of excellent quality in the past.

To the lady with the snake:  I've had large bull snakes here.  They will eat eggs, small chickens and guineas, doves, pigeons--as well as mice and rats and other snakes.  If they would guarantee one gopher for every half-dozen eggs they eat I'd establish a cafeteria for them.  
Ox

Hello Ox,
Thanks for the commentary, I'm always interested in hearing about fig cultivars being grown in colder zones.

well, ox, i'm the snake lady. thanks for mentioning eggs. i'll leave some out for her, and if necessary, i'll get baby chicks for her. i hate rattlers n mice, plus i really don't wanna mess around with bird netting.

Hi Ox its nice to see you posting again.

I have a Chicago hardy thats been in the ground for 3 years now. This is my first year getting figs off of it. The first one was very ripe and absolutely delicious. Being a newbie I didnt know not to pick the others that were almost ripe. The 2 others I had were good but not as good as the very ripe one. I just got lucky and as I was walking past the tree I noticed it had a dark fruit on it and it was soft so I picked it and ate it. :). I have to say, its the best fresh fig I have ever had but also the only one :).

I have a question about HC.... Mine fruited this year for the first time and had 4 figs from it. The skin was a little rubbery.. is that common or did i just not let them ripen enough. They tasted great though.

I'm not an expert but the one I had the other day was very soft. The 2 I had after that were a bit firmer and the ones still on my tree are definitely still firm but ripening more everyday.

Hi Ox,  thanks for the comments.  I am not too far from you in N.E. Ark so it is good info

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