If you had to chose one of these two for sweetness, flavor and rain resistance, what will it be?
I'm looking to put one of these two in ground(zone 6b)

For sweetness and rich flavor, Negronne is far superior to me and the wife on our outdoor trees.  As far as resistance to rain, so far after 4 years they do about the same (not great) in eastern NC.

I can't comment on Negronne, I don't have one. As splitting goes for Hardy Chicago, I have only had about two figs split in the past few years, so I wouldn't worry about splitting for that variety. A big splitter for me is Paradiso, you just mention the word "rain" and they burst open.

Negronne preferred. Hardy Chicago is very good too.

Hardy Chicago is a great old standby and I've never had splitting problems with it but Negronne's flavor is superior in my mind. But HC is far more productive and hardy.
Although I only have one HC - it is 7 or 8 years old - I have several Negronnes - 3 are 4 years old and 2 are 1 year old. I'm learning that some figs definitely get better with age (ex. LSU Purple) so I don't like to say with absolute certainty which figs are better. Another example is I have 2 different Conadrias that are both 7 or 8 years old and last year was rainy and the figs were bland. The 3 harvests before last year I thought the Conadrias were superb. So I think things do vary a lot.

I agree with most that negronne is a much better tasting fig but would not put it in the ground and I am in zone 7.  But hardy chicago is more cold hardy and still a pretty good tasting fig.  As far as splitting, my experience is they are fairly equal.  Finally my negronnes are much more productive than my hc's

Planting in ground, hands down Hardy Chicago. But with more winter protection Negronne could probably work. They have different taste profiles, I like Hardy Chicago better, more fig taste with a complex finish, but Negronne is sweeter. The Negronne was more productive and a faster grower than the Hardy Chicago last year. Did not experience any splitting of these two varieties in my limited experience.

HC grows like a weed. i have HC Paradise Nursery from very generous forum member and it's been growing great. can't wait to taste the figs. i got my VdB as one of the first fig trees, it's also from Paradise Nursery. the first bite of the VdB was just pure "WOW" moment. 

there are so many great figs out there. you should try as many as possible and start eliminating them as you develop your taste for the figs. i love VdB, and it's one fig that i'll keep for sure. but there are some figs that are not as impressive as VdB, but still have that certain something that tugs at me. like Paradiso Gene.. that figs will blow up when it rains, and it will attract everything and anything that flies around it, and taste isn't exact "impressive". but it has that very "comfortable" taste that you won't get tired of. 

i mean, i can eat VdB all day long, but after few it's too rich. but with Paradiso Gene.. i can comfortably eat all day long without getting tired of. 

I like both. Hardy Chicago has thin skin, while negronne tends to have a tougher skin with very rich flavor.

So as for cold hardness can Hardy Chicago or Negronne (VdB) be left uncovered in 5-15 degree winters with dry cold winds around 20 mph? I am talking about a tree that is say 5 years old and planted in the ground.  This is how my winter is here.

Zone 8
South West TX

I like both, but for zone 6b in ground, I'd say Hardy Chicago would likely do better.  

For zone 8, you could probably do either of them in ground, though with 20mph cold dry winds you'll need wind protection for either one.  

Mike   central NY state, zone 5

Thanks Mike, Yes I agree the cold dry wind here in West TX is the killer.
I only have start plants this year and plan to keep them in pots for a few years before going into the ground. Will put the pots under cover for the winter.


Zone 8
South West TX

I've had a Hardy Chicago in the ground for 20 years and it routinely goes below zero here.  Sometimes it dies to the ground but often it doesn't.

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