My in-ground Ciccio (fico) Nero (Mt. Aetna type fig) is ripening figs nicely now.  Hoping for a long hot autumn so I can keep harvesting figs :)

This fig tree bush (20yrs old now) didn't get damaged too bad last winter and started growing on time but seems to be 2 weeks late in ripening figs this cold wet year.  

This is a very nice tasting fig, a definite seed crunch, sweet  and real figgy berry taste rich flavour.  
 

Great looking fig Pino, I think you sent me this one.

Nelson

Hi Nelson
Yes I did.  For me it is a keeper since it just keeps producing!

Hi Pino, I agree roots well and eager to produce figs even when only a couple months old I'm thinking of eventually trying it inground.

Beautiful fruit Pino. A long hot autumn? I believe there is a freeze warning for tonite in all of Eastern Canada.

:-(

Nelson, it grows great in-ground but also fine in a container.   My container ones have been producing since Sep 10.  I can post those photos if you like?

Rafael, don't even say the word freeze.  If we get past tonight they are calling for nice weather for the next 10 days:)

Only in Canada where we can have 4 seasons in one week.

Pino, where are you Upper Americans getting such great fig varieties? Good job and 14 year old (bush?) that didn't get damaged, wow!

Very nice fig Pino.

Francisco

Waynea, a lot of ethnic immigrants came and seem to have brought their fig trees.  I think they are not that different than the ones brought in via N.Y. 
I was expecting for it to get damaged last winter given my container figs in the barn got set back. 
But it actually fared better than past years primarily due to the fact that it got very little vole damage.  Where in past years the vole damage was worse.  The mouse population must have got hit last winter.  too bad for them:)

Thanks Francisco!  I wish I knew how to let the figs hang there until they are dripping with honey like you do.   I picked this one a day or 2 early.  The next batch that is ripening I promise I will be more patient and let them fully ripen.

Hey Joe ,

I am looking forward to this one for next year . The plant you gave me is doing very well with lots of shoots and branches . 
I will prune it back for shaping this fall . Its nice to see that it ripens in this terrible weather . If you can post any photos of dripping ripe figs that would be great .

John

Hi John
It is a very dependable cold hardy variety.
Though I don't recall seeing them actually dripping honey.  It has a tight closed eye don't know if that matters.
Maybe it is just me not being able to wait long enough and let them ripen fully. 
I will leave a couple and see if they do any dripping.

Thought I would keep this thread updated with the progress of my in-ground figs since I haven't seen any other in-grounds reported on in zone 6/5.

U. Ciccio Nero is really starting to come along now producing a bowl of figs a day. 
Not like previous years where I was getting 2 3L baskets a day for Sep/Oct.  This is since my real workhorse U. Ciccio bianco got uncovered by strong winds during winter and was cut down to the ground.  He has come back nicely but only has a few figs with still some time to go.

this is what is left of poor U. ciccio bianco
 

Luckily his black brother fared better with last winter here are yesterday's fruits.

  
I thought this Ciccio Nero fig looked funny.  After a few drinks it starts to resemble dall'osso?

 
Below are more photos of figs I picked and many more on the tree coming along nicely. 
I must admit that by pinching the shoots and green figs that wouldn't ripen has made a difference in bringing more figs to ripen together and sooner.

One concern is that there are many leaves turning yellow on the west side where most of the sun shines.  I decided to pick off the yellow and beat up leaves and see if it helps ripen the figs faster.

Looks great Joe, I'm glad I have this one and might even grow it inground.

Thanks Nelson!
It is definitely a reliable supplier of tasty dark figs when grown in-ground. 
Usually they look good so I pick them when they soften and they taste nice.  I finally let one fig get really ripe and it was juicy and had a bright jammy flavour with strong hints of strawberry.   Had no idea it could taste like that.  Have to keep my hands off them until they are ready what a treat.

Looks like it's a prolific plant!  What a joy to be able to have an inground plant produce so nicely in a Zone 6. 
Good job there, Pino!

Thanks Marie!
To be honest it is a lot of work to protect them for winter since they got so big.  Kansas City may be a bit more challenging since a Zone5b vs 6a here.

Thanks for all the great pics + info Pino. I noticed a hoop in one of the shots - are you "cheating" in the spring using a hoophouse or is that for winter protection?We have a zone6a place by a Okanagan lake  and I'm planning on doing a spring warm up with small hoops and poly to protect from late frosts with row cover and if really needed a heater for a few nights. Have you tryed anything like this with small in ground trees?

Are those apples in the background Pino?

Ivan,

I just put the greenhouse hoops up a couple of weeks ago when there was threat of frost.  Haven't used them yet and will be taking them down for now since I need bigger hoops anyway.  I may not need them for this year anyway since I was very thorough with my pinching this year and as of now it looks like most of the figs will get ripened on their own:)  Pinching worked wonders!

Going forward since I am near (deep and cold) lake Ontario for May and June we seem to get constant N.E. winds off the lake that keeps temps very cool for those 2 months.  So my plan is to use a hoop house cover in May/June so the figs get a good start.  I think that will go a long way for my late ripening varieties.  I don't think Ciccio Nero needs the help since he has produced great for the last 19 years anyway. 

Greg, yes those are Macintosh and Northern Spy Apples.

Looks like a great work-horse. How do you protect it?

Calvin,
Covering these isn't a pretty sight.  I bend and tie down what ever branches are flexible, cut the rest of the trees back to 4' high and 8' wide, then pile up dry straw and leaves, do a make shift wall with plywood and then cover with a 2 or 3 layer poly.  The Poly has been reused for many years so it has holes and there is air circulation.  In the past the problem has been the voles/mice not the winter cold.

This year I will be modifying this method and incorporating jdsfrance's method.  Namely will use compost to cover the figs instead of straw and leaves.  This should help with the mice problem and should restore some fertility to the soil. 

Calvin
This is what they look like covered up in winter.  They are approx. 20'x70'.
Sorry to those that can't stand the shock of seeing snow at this time year..LOL

These are my old figs planted 15-19 years ago.  I am planning to put in a new row of cold hardy figs to trial.  For that I will be using a variant of espalier step over method.  I will forego brebas and will try and keep things low to the ground to make it easier covering. 

Very nice Pino.  No need to apologize about the snow pics....helps to remind me why I need to finish splitting my wood!

Makes me think of hunting pheasants and whitetails as a youngster in North Dakota!