Jason, I posted picture of Hardy Hartford fruit and leaf last year If you did not see them, let me know and I will email the pictures to you.
This year we have about 45 fruit on two trees. The in ground plant has around 30, and the in pot plant has about 14.
The in ground plant has not started ripening. The potted plant started ripening around the middle of August. The same time as Marseilles Black VS. In Hardy Hartford's first year i ground. it beat Marseilles Black VS in ripening, by 3 to 5 days. This year Marseilles Black VS beat Hardy Hartford by about 3 days.
The first year it ripened, Hardy Hartford had a figgy flavor. This year it's flavor is closer to Marseilles Black VS.
We sent cuttings out to about 20-30 collectors. But, so far no one has been able to identify it.
It appears to be maybe from the same family as Hardy Chicago. But, ripens earlier along with Marseilles Black VS. I do not think Hardy Hartford will be as cold hardy as Marseilles Black VS. But, It's being grown in Hartford, CT. without any winter protection.
71GTO, I'm impress that your plant had very little winter damage it's first winter in ground without any protection. Did the guy you bought your plant from say how long he had been growing the original tree in hos present location?
Can you describe it's flavor?
Bob