Hello. My name is Robert and I'm a retired vet. I am new to fig growing but I'm excited. Was wondering if anyone can help me out with some fig plants or scion that is from a plant that is first hand known to be cold hardy. Any help would be highly appreciated.

Welcome to the forum Robert and thanks for serving us and our country. God Bless America!!

I live too far south to be of much help on cold hardy varieties but we have a bunch of northern members that will chime up soon I'm sure.
Good luck,
"gene"

Thanks Gene!

Gene's right, Bob. Try Negronne, Vista, Black Mission or any of that type; Ronde de Bordeaux; Chicago Hardy, Sal's EL, Sal's Corleone, or any of the Mongibello types; Celeste varieties. However, noto bene, "cold hardy" is a relative term. Some Say don't put a tree younger than five years on the ground. Most say you still have to winterize. I keep all mine in pots and garage them in the winter. Someone out there will offer you more and better advice than this.

Thanks Dale. That sounds like pretty good advise. So you put yours in the garage without heat or wrapping?

Robert, I grow all of my figs in pots here in zone 5. Mine also go into my barn for cold storage in the winter. My barn is kept at 40 degrees. I don't cover them. I lightly water them about every 6 weeks in the barn. Some of the more common figs I have had luck with ripening in zone 5 are Atreano, Alma and Celeste. Are you in zone 5 or 6? I have never left a fig tree in the ground during the winter in zone 5, but I think with protection, some varieties can be left in the ground in zone 6.

Just look at whatever Herman2 recommends . He's tried many varieties inground protected and not .

John

Robert,
I am in Zone 5 (upstate NY) and I have 2 fig trees in the ground, a Brown Turkey and a Celeste. I protect them by wrapping them with burlap and then surrounding them with paper bags of leaves on all sides and on top. I then cover with carpet, and then a tarp, and place stones all around the tarp to hold it down to the ground. This is the first year I did this and the fig trees held up to -10F and looks to have made it through the winter unharmed. Other years I bent them to the ground and covered with layers of carpet padding and carpet. Both methods worked but they got too big this past year to bend to the ground.
I also have a large Vern's Brown Turkey tree in a pot that I have drilled holes around the bottom edge of the pot to let the roots out into the soil. I cut the roots in the fall and bring the tree into my attached garage for the winter. This is by far less work than permanently planting outside.

Paul

Thanks for all the advise and replies guys. Any replies and advise i get I'm very grateful for. I am in SW Michigan. The latest info I've got says I'm in zone 6a but other zone maps say zone 5b. So after reading replies I'm hoping to get some cuttings and put them in movable pots that I can wheel into my garage for the summer. If they make it for a few years and build up some woody stems ill try planting in ground and wrapping for winter. I think I'm way ahead of myself on plans but we shall see. My fingers are crossed.

WELCOME and  BOB !

And GOOD LUCK !

Thanks Baust! It's good to be hear!