Welcome John.  So interesting to see how many fig growers there are around Toronto!  I'm another newbie to this forum, from south of there (near Buffalo NY) but have moved farther East now (near Binghamton NY).  We're zone 5 (I guess Toronto is a bit warmer as zone 6, because of the lakes I'd guess).  I've found one guy growing figs in zone 4 also (northern NY).  Amazes me that there are so many people growing figs in these cold climes.  Best of luck and welcome. 

By the way, another good way to find what others are growing in your area is to search through the "Best figs in your location" topic on this forum, found at http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/Best-figs-at-your-location-4800578

I searched through there to find a couple of other varieties that people are growing successfully in cold places with limited sunlight.

Great looking tree John. I am seeing more and more fig trees every spring at the local grocery stores & garden centers.
I am in Mississauga. This will be my 3rd year of potted fig growing. I have 3 so far but have several cuttings that I hope survive. Nelson, where in Mississauga are you? I am at Winston Churchill & Britannia.

Jeff

I have two of the same tree, last year the one in  ground ripened around end of sept and because of the rain it molded inside, the one in the pot ripened about the end of august, beginning of september and didn't have mold.  I ripped the one from the ground out and potted it to get a better result for ripening and so I could put a different variety in the ground (possibly the Colisanti Dark)  which in one year grow 6 stalks 3-4 feet tall each, seems to put on a lot of brebas and has put on the most growth this year. 

My neighbour has what looks like a big celeste tree, 15-20 feet tall and 6 feet wide by 15 feet wide or so.  She gets a lot of figs on it every year.

Hey Jeff I'm right by cawthra & queensway

John....

My apologies for thinking YOU were the young man in the photo.  No harm.  Welcome anyway...I'm sure your son will also enjoy growing fig trees like Dad.

Happy growing.

Frank

Nelson, Jeff, Michael, Chivas - good to hear from other Northerners!  Thanks for the ID's. 

Ruben - thanks

Chivas - so when you say the trees are in the ground, what do you do for the winter?  Bury them.  Especially the big celeste tree you mention.  My guess is that you are further south towards Windsor.

Is that some kind of a fig-booze in the Avatar pic?

John....
Post # 32.....I laughed when I read: "Frank, you know the younger generation, he just wants to eat them"

John, when you are my age...YOU are the younger generation!!!!  : ) laughing at the irony.

May you share many figs with your son.  God Bless.

Frank

I am near windsor. 

For winter what I have been doing is tieing them up, wrapping them with burlap (or better than burlap *product name*)  then put stakes up with another layer of burlap and pack it full of straw or leaves, which ever I have handy.  Then I will wrap a tarp around it and put a bucket over top.   I also mound the base of the truck just to be safe.

My neighbour has the family help her, they push the tree down to the ground and tie it down, wrap it with foam, blankets and then cover it with a tarp.

There are quite a few people around here with figs, some in pots a couple guys build little houses for theirs and cover with insulation and plastics.

Hi newbie! Very pretty tree with very pretty fruit. I'm sure it tastes delicious. Welcome!

noss and nicole - thanks for the wishes

Welcome to the forum, and I have a great idea for you!  You like Yquem?  Who doesn't?  That Niagara Ice wine is pure heaven!  Enjoy your figs, but why not grow wine grapes, harvest them at midnight first frost, cold ferment it, age it, and bottle it?  There is a great forum for winemakers here.

They may survive with no winter protection, but I think it's a family tradition and I guess a neighbour several doors down gave her the tree but his largest ones were eaten by mice last winter.  I am not sure what he does for his tress other than bury them from what I was told which could mean they just bend it and cover it.

Near north neighbor, hello. What is with us that we seek out adversity, trying to grow tropical things in this climate? Is it just the  bull-headed gene we acquired from our Mediterranean ancestors?

Welcome to the forum John!!!!!!!!

Welcome John-with-the-lovely-fig-tree! Thank-you for making Toronto more beautiful.