Hi guys, I wanted to introduce myself.  I have been growing figs for a few years now, I am super excited to learn from everyone's experiences on this website!  I've known about F4F for awhile now, but just joined a few days ago.  I grow a number of other things, mostly in the ground, though I do have 3 different citrus trees that are in pots... and then of course, all of my figs are in pots.

Has anyone here, in zone 5, been able to successfully plant fig trees in the ground and had them live through the winter?  I know I can grow Chicago Hardy and it will keep on coming back form the roots every year (which I may still end up doing this), but what about less cold hardy varieties?

I saw someone on YouTube tie the branches of the tree together tight with twine, then stuff leaves around them, then wrapped that in burlap and then wrapped tarp over the top of that.  He was in New Jersey I believe, which would probably be a good full zone warmer than me.  Has any one had luck with this, or something like this in zone 5?

I really want to try this this spring!

Thank you!

Hello! I too want to experiment. I'm in 5b/6a, although zone rating is only part of the story! I'm fairly new to figs, so can't offer a lot of advice. You could bury the whole trees, that would work. I also thought about growing them in ground, then in the fall digging them up and putting them in pots for the winter in an attached garage, back in the ground in the spring. I'll be doing this with a Hardy Chicago as i have a few of them. Florea and Danny's Delight are probably hardier than Hardy Chicago.  But I only have one of each so need to root cuttings and experiment.
From many I have talked to wrapping just does not do it in our zone. Most if not all die to the ground. Burying the whole tree is a lot of work. it would be easier for me just to dig them up. I have never seen anybody talk about doing this, I'm sure some have tried it, it should work fine! You would have to root prune somewhat, you're not going to get all the roots, although that should not matter. I have seen 20 foot trees buried each winter, so one could have a huge fig tree. I guess if it got this big you might be able to just heel it in, in the garage for the winter.

Hardy Chicago are supposed to be an excellent fig!  I really want cuttings but not ready to fork out the cash right now due to other projects.  As far as winter protection goes you will find some awesome posts up here by using the search feature.  Winter protection should definitely work for you and if you use winter protection I hear MBVS is a great variety in cold areas, i will know for sure soon.  Personally I like southern Brown Turkey but others up here don't seem to so that's one to think about, Celeste, Brunswick and other similar varieties are somewhat cold hardy.  I know the Mt Etna figs are supposed to be excellent for cold hardiness, Hardy Chicago is a Mt Etna variety.  I am not expert on this subject but you are definitely not limited on varieties, you are limited in your ability to protect the trees.  Some people dig a trench and bury their figs until spring, some build an entire structure around the figs for protection.  Many are going to tell you to just grow in a pot, which is a great idea but I like the idea of planted figs.  Some of the guys up here who know what they are talking about can probably help you better than I can.

Hey Jakeh - nice to meet you! Saw your forum page and was inspired to write my own so I could start interacting with other members. Good luck with your fig growing! :)

Love all fig growers but it is especially nice to meet fellow in ground northern fig growers because we share the same challenges and rewards. 

I have grown figs in ground for over 21 years and my father and his friends had fig trees in ground for long long time before that.

The mount etna type figs that consist of 30 or more varieties, black and white figs are the sure thing for in ground zones 5/6.  They all produce similar excellent tasting, sweet and quality figs that resist splitting in heavy rain and they ripen early compared to most other figs. 

Zone 6 for sure we can also grow many other figs in ground; Desert King, Dalmatie/Stella, Sicilian Black JR, Florea, EBT ....  many more are cold tolerant will grow but they won't ripen figs in time during the prime season so the figs will taste bland or not ripen at all.

Jan 17, I started a post on the best cold tolerant figs for cold climates in ground. 
Hoping to get people with actual experience growing in ground to share what they have found out.  I am currently checking into RDB, LdA, Yugo Black, Malta Black and Atreano as candidates for in ground growing.

Of course growing figs in containers then you can grow most "common type" (and "san pedro") figs.  This will require lots of work and most people are limited by space available but there are people in cold zones (5-6)growing hundreds of fig varieties in containers.

Welcome!  Most of NJ is 2 full zones warmer than you.  In Chicago if you want a tree in ground your best bet is to install heating pipes a few feet down in the soil and build a large green house over them.  Then you could grow any fig you wanted.  Someone experimented with insulating panels but I don't remember the outcome.  I thought it was in Chicago.  If anyone else remembers please chime in.  A search on insulating panels came up empty.

Thanks to everyone for their input!  I really appreciate the help!  I guess I really don't have anything to lose if I plant a few of my plants in the ground this year, so I think I will give it a try.  I have heard about the trenching method before, but I think that may be a little too much work for me. 

I'm going to plant them on the south facing side of a shed, so hopefully this will help.  I'll make sure that I take pictures and let people know if it works, and which varieties were used.

Thank you inkinbrushes, good luck with your figs too!

pino, I really think I need to take a look at your thread.  If you don't mind, I might just put my results up on that same thread.

If anyone else has any more helpful experience, please feel free to let me know how your figs did in the ground!