Hello everyone. I have been researching different figs and their hardiness zones but would be interested in some hands on experience! What varieties do best, in ground, in zone 5 or colder. Looking for varieties that will ripen, have good crop, and have good flavor! A lot to ask for I know!

Photos would be awesome!

Here is a list of some that, from reading, might be good choices? Let me know what you think and your experience with these varieties!

Hardy Chicago
Celeste
Desert King
Marseilles VS

bigbadbill on this forum has a wonderful unknown fig variety that is supposedly extremely cold hardy, also italian honey and palermo red.

Thanks! I'll have to check into his fig variety!

I see you like "living on the edge" lol! I like you already! Okay so I'm no pro by any stretch, but I've been hanging around these good folks for a little while now and have picked up a lil bit from their shared experience.. Besides the varieties you already mentioned, I think you may want to check out Florea, English Brown Turkey (a few different named varieties out there), Grantham's Royal, Nexoe, Sal's (EL or Gene), Brooklyn White and perhaps even Malta Black? probably many more too.. I'm sorry I don't have any pics to share, but the different varieties I mentioned should come up readily in a search. I think no matter what though in zone 5 we are talking major protection every winter.. Also you may want to get the trees established a few years in a pot before putting them in ground to give them the best shot possible..

I'm sure others will be along shortly though and perhaps they can give you the pics and other details you are looking for :)

Hey thanks a lot! I will have to look into those varieties! I had already considered the fact that I may want to wait till any cuttings grow into more mature trees to handle the cold. I have seen many methods of overwintering in ground figs. I think one that might be feasible is to have a ring of fencing/chicken wire around any figs I planted in ground, then fill with leaves and wrap with a tarp or burlap. I have seen that some people even bury them, but that doesnt sound like something I want to do!

Burying the tree is ,best and my opinion the only way to get ripe fruits ,in zone 5 or colder.
Other wise the tree will not die but will start from soil level every year and so be late to ripe,possible never ripe.
You can bury using the method of cutting half roots on one side and tilting tree on opposite side and place a plywood in top and soil in top of plywood.
That will make your tree come out of Winter with all wood intact,and Breba fruits on already starting to be visible,and those fruits will ripe in July.
Grow a cultivar with two crops and cold resistant like Takoma Violet and yes  you will be successful.
Leaves ,tarp,are not enough in zone 5 or colder,that i can tell you for sure.

I came across this chart somewhere. It might give a few ideas. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ihfyIwZ8l5DyVMFvTOAthQf65jn-2bRRMPGR57AKSyw/edit?pref=2&pli=1#gid=1415597439

very helpful topic

but it is quite risky to grow figs at cold area. 
it is a fun process though.

I was hoping that by asking about varieties that do well in colder than zone 5, I might come across a few varieties that wouldnt need so much protection during winter months? Just a little wishful thinking, I guess! Lol

Hello
If there is a will there is a way.  There are many people growing figs in Zone 5.  As Herman2 mentioned you will need to protect them very well for the winter.

In Zone 6 I have some 17 trees in ground and planning another 12 or so to go in this year. 
 The last 2 years I have used jdsfrance's bucket method with great results (use search to locate).  Before that I was building a box around the trees and covering with insulation and poly plastic.  Both methods worked for me.

If winter protected any of the 30 or so Mt. Etna type figs would grow and ripen figs in your area.  There are other figs as well so you can have figs from most of the flavour groups.

Here is a recent topic that people have shared information on their experience with figs they grow in ground in cold climates.

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/favourite-in-ground-figs-for-cold-climates-7892590?pid=1291666108

Latest updated PDF of the figs reported on in the above topic is attached.

Good luck

Thanks so much for all the info! Everyone is so helpful and I know with all this info I will be sure to have some success with figs! :-D

You might want to keep back up plants in pots should your experiments be unsuccessful.

I have been growing figs in-ground for many years in zone 5. I can't say it's been easy because there are so many different ways to protect the trees during the winter that it will make your head spin! Every year I learn something new and something goes wrong that I did not account for. For instance this past winter was so warm that I had lots of humidity and mold, thus I will add for more ventilation next year. The year before was so cold all the plants were eaten by starving voles.

As far as my potted figs, they have been producing much better since I started planting them in-ground for the summer and then I dig them up, put them back in pots and put in garage for the winter (credit goes to Pino for this suggestion).

Pino: I could not find info on jdsfrance's bucket method. Could you describe or post a link to info on this?

I was referring to jdsfrance's posting on winter protection;

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/winter-protection-6910093?highlight=winter+protection&pid=1289972832

A modified version worked well for me the previous 2 years of record cold. 
I assume the figs did well this year as well although I haven't uncovered them yet.

Instead of the 80L trashcans I use 220L barrels and I fill them with a mix of compost, soil or woodshavings.   Also since this is a new method for me I have been covering the barrels with a tarp for an extra insurance for zone 6.

You need to experiment and find the best way for you.  As they used to say "all roads lead to Rome". 

My father buried his trees for years and that worked well.  For me digging is too much work and I am happy with my results.

Tying and trimming branches to fit the barrels is easy and still allows for a large fig tree and full main crop.   If you use dry dirt or compost to fill the barrel then essentially you are burying it above the soil line.  I have never had mold issues this way.

 I did the barrel method with my desert king last year so it will be interesting to see if I get a good breba crop.

Here is a photo of 1 of my finished covered figs.

 



 

Hi figgygoose,

IMO, packing in straw is calling for rodents to come in, especially at winter time - they seek for hides and sheltered areas .
I pack them with dirt from the nurseries, because dirt won't attract rodents that much. And dirt holds the warmth acquired from the sun hitting the dark colored trashcan during the day.
I don't cover the top of the trashcans. I don't want to cook the trees. Even here, during the winter, I get some sunny days. During those days, the protected trees can get hot and cooked.
I'd rather use a higher container be it a trashcan or a 200L barrel, and fill it with dirt from the nurseries. You could pile two containers one above the other. Just stack them so that the top one doesn't slide and fall.
I would top the trees so that they fit inside the container.

Here on some of my trees, I used a dark plastic bag that I put over the trees . The bags had holes to keep some airflow .
One bag once had no holes, and I got lucky I caught the problem on time, as mold was starting to set in inside of the bag.
Here I can unpack my trees by the 1st of March, and I rush to unpack them. They really need the airflow.
This year, I left some empty trashcans longer around some trees to protect the stems a bit longer. But by now, all trashcans are removed, and the trees can breath as they want.
So far, so good ... This past winter (it is Spring already :) ) was luckily a mild one .

This is great thread.  I'm in Zone 5 too and working on expanding my collection. I'm working on a high tunnel to grow them in to make my zone 5 into zone 4!

I came across this article that mentioned figs.  someone told me that they grew figs right up against their house with luck but if they were 3-4 feet out they would get too cold.  Wouldn't it be neat to have a maze of figs! 

Anyone have any experience with anything like this?

https://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/japanese-fig-growing-method-fabulous-photos-4374293
I want to try this in zone 6

Wow, that is impressive! I find japanese culture interesting. Lots of patients, discipline, and hard work! Gorgeous results though! I like the rows of bent over trees, just a long row of connected figs!

Definitely some great information on the links to Japanese fig growing.

Keep in mind Japan is somewhere zones 8-9.  To duplicate these practices in Zone 5 - 6 will require a greenhouse or some very creative thinking.

I tried a 1' below ground level espalier last year. Figured would be easy to protect for the winter. 
Unfortunately you need very short people to pick the figs and the fig branches/cordons were at the right level for the rodents and rabbits to munch on...lol