For me growing figs in NH has meant that I do an annual shuffle between the garden and the basement. In past years I grew only three figs so it was no big deal. However in the last few months that number has increase to about 20 figs in pots. So I started looking at what might be considered hardy figs just to see if there was something that just might survive into the zone 5B-5A region.

Initially I thought Bayernfeige Violetta might be promising but as I researched Violetta I decided it was not as hardy as I first thought. Showing damage at -11-12°C (10°F) in the following link.
http://www.fruitiers-rares.info/articles57a62/article59-Fig-growing-in-Sweden-Ficus-carica.html

I was impressed by the hardiness attributed to Laradek's fig, but was somewhat skeptical. So I did a little research and found what possibly is the source info about Laradek's fig.
The source info is different from what I had previously found.

http://fikovniky.com/
The third image down is Laradek's and if you click on the green arrow below the image you'll go to the full article. Yes it's in Czech, so I used Google translate. It's a little awkard but it works. It also quotes an email from Laradek. What I managed to get from the translated email is that at -20°C (-4°F) the tree had significant freeze damage above 30cm (11-12 inches). (This could be the snow line). I suspect close proximity to the masonry surface of the building has also helped.

Here is a YouTube video of the Laradek fig in warmer weather. The color tone is off but the the building and fence are the same as the previous images that I've seen.

I am from louisiana but isnt hardy Chicago really good up north?

Hi Johnjay,
Fig trees are considered hardy down to Zone7, and already in Zone7, it is tricky to get some figs at all , or some decent figs .
So, in Zone5, you should consider pots and shuffle or greenhouse with (better) or without shuffle. There is a pic here about fig trees in Danemark and England being glass caged to provide some winter protection and spring head-start .
There are plenty of posts here and at Baud's www about cold hardy varieties.
For now my better success is with Dalmatie, Goutte d'or, BrownTurkey (the real BT) and an unknown "Unknown from the Italian gardener" .
Sultane (first tree died to 2012 winter) , Longue d'aout (Trying to learn how to grow), Ice crystal (pollination needed), Pastiliere (although still under test, but some aborted figs last year) have been a pain !
I have other strains under testing, so no comments on those for now... 2012, OMG ! Damn 2012' winter !
For now Dalmatie leads the herd !
Good luck !

John,
 I'm growing the 'Laradek' (we suppose it is some EBT clone) for some 5 years and I can confirm it is one of the hardiest variety. It can ripen even in less suitable conditions - for example at the end of the season when the temperatures are quite low already. Last year I picked some ripe figs from the plant several days after it completely defoliated and the taste was still acceptable.
About the winter hardiness - don't expect this variety will survive some exceptional temperatures close to -20°C. Of course the mature wood can tolerate some short drops below the usual fig limit temperatures (about -15°C) but unprotected tree will die to the ground like the others if the temps go down for a longer time. As you can see on the video the mother plant is situated at the south facing wall which helps a lot during the freezing winter nights (radiates some heat for many hours).
Anyway - I still recommend this variety for all the hardy fig growers who wanna try planting it in the ground with the winter protection. It is fast growing and got both the breba and main crop.

figpig_66: Yes Hardy Chicago is good up north, gives some breba figs and later main crop. However I bring the trees in in late October.
I think Z5 is a bit much for most figs. The past February here had 13-14 days with below zero temps and some days into the negative double digits.

jdsfrance, moonvil  I like your suggestions. I have just purchased a Goccia d'Oro, at least I hope it's the same as your Goute d'or. It was described as having early ripening small green breba figs and an early main crop. Next season I will look for Dalmatie and for a Brown Turkey type of fig, maybe Laradek's. Moonvil indicate is grows and fruits well in less than ideal locations.

I'm growing Laradek here in New Mexico. It bears two crops. Nice large figs with excellent flavor. I actually prefer the Laradek over the Bayernfeige V. for taste. Our zone is marginal but I protect the young trees in a shed. 

I emailed Laradek last year to get some clarification on the name.  I didn't get much success with that but he was nice and sent me a link to this page which seems to indicate his tree endured -27C and that he's been growing it since 1993 without protection. http://www.fikovniky.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=51

I got mine from a generous former member of this forum and hope it fruits this year.  Glad to read of your favorable report, Leon.

-27 Degrees Celsius for figs is a death for the above-ground parts. Fantasy author, probably for promotional purposes.

I don't believe you have any basis to claim this has been done for promotional purposes.  To the best of my knowledge, he is not involved in any sales.  I suggest you grow it and try it out yourself.  Obviously, there can be some natural protection provided by snow cover but such details are not available.

Харви, Россия сортовые инжир вырос более чем в 100 лет. Это протестировали более 375 сортов и гибридов инжир со всего мира по всем параметрам. Испытания проводились НБС Ялта и субтропических культур научно-исследовательский институт в Сочи. Есть научные труды советских ученых на фиг. И это доказано, что порог мороз выносливые инжир, без крова, -20 градусов по Цельсию. Многолетние отдельные фиговые деревья могут выдержать несколько часов температура -22-23 гр. Я живу в месте, где температура зимой опускается до -18-19 градусов и увидел умирают от холода субтропических культур, инжир, хурма, гранат, киви в 2006 году.  

Harvey, Radek (the owner of the mother plant called "LaRadek") sure can be trusted and I believe that some older parts of his plant really survived the -27°C. But such a temperatures are quite exceptional here in the Czech republic and usually last just for a few hours (the peak) before the dawn. If you add the location of the tree at the base of the house (the buildings here are made of quantum of concrete and massive bricks) you get the result. Several frosty days below -15°C will kill the  branches of this plant like any other hardy one as you can see on the last set of pics on the link you mentioned.

The conclusion is: this is really a hardy variety, I recommend it to all northern growers but don't believe it can withstand the temperatures below -20°C without any protection for more than a couple of hours

moonvil  ,I fully agree with you.

About this hardy fig all I can say, I think the given temperatures are too high, I think its impossible to a fig to survive colder temperature than -23C. I saw some photos about this fig plant, and it's location, and that fig is located next to a heated house, on a hillside. There is a valley at the bottom of the hill, where the cold air can stuck, and the warmer layer, is coming up to the higher attitudes. As we now this conclusion has came from the simple Physics. This perception can stand on it's own feet, here in Hungary the relief is very similar to czech's, and thanks to this perception we have a lot of places where we are able to grow figs on hillsides, for example we have a 7 acre big Fig Orchard in Zala county, but maybe we have more than 1000 acre place where we could grow this wonderfull fruit. So a lot of thing is depend from the relief.
But, by the way this variety is very valuable, cause the czech republic has less summer heat, and sunshine than in our country, and in addition of this factor it's able to ripen it's figs.

Moonvil, I agree with that.  I only disagree with comments by Vladis that this was some sort of promotional claim.  In his email his name is shown as Laradek, not Radek.  He only shows on the web site that the coldest temperature the tree has endured is -27F but makes to statement as to what damage was sustained.  I would imagine that anything that was not covered by snow was killed.

Harvey, I believe he says -27°C not -27°F.

Also the following link says that the tree sustained damage above 30cm (abut 12in) when exposed to prolonged temps of -20°C (4°F).
http://www.fikovniky.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=153&Itemid=1
Hope I read the interpreted text correctly. What do you think.

Yes, snow does offer protection as long as the really cold weather comes after the snow pack.
This past winter my blackberries showed die back above the 4ft level, below everything was fine. However the butterfly bushes died to the ground.
The same would apply to fig trees to a certain point.

John, that's correct.  I did type 27C in post #7 but mistyped in post #14.  It also seems that your interpretation of 30cm above the ground is correct.

I also see on your link that he does show his name as being Radek Lamer.  His email just said "Laradek" and his forum ID is "laradek", so I guess that is a nickname.  The fig name has been written as Laradek and LaRadek.

In Russia, the grade "Laradek" knowledgeable gardeners would identify as "Brown Turku." And where is the new variety?

You're right in this, but that's why a lot of gardener says Laradek English brown turkey. Maybe its just a brown turkey, but there can be some mutation, and there is some differences among the strains.

Christian, this variety is grown so long that certainly strains in different countries will vary, but only slightly.

Firstly, is that a body of water near this property where LaRadek's EBT is planted in the video that johnjay7491 posted?

Secondly, I think it's noteworthy to mention that this wall that it is planted up against is white, giving maximum reflection of light toward the tree. Perhaps this is part of why it is able to withstand such cold temperatures (not to say it isn't super hardy).

Any thoughts on this?

Hard to add much, but here are archived photos that Laradek had posted:

https://web.archive.org/web/20141101045535/http://fikovniky.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=51

In the Czech Republic loves to invent new names known varieties. Several years ago, a gardener named ordinary "Kadota" new name, "Blue Kadota". Then the cuttings are sold in Russia. An illiterate gardener or a crook, I do not know.