I've been trialling container-grown fig varieties for going on 20 years in southwest Wisconsin without using a greenhouse.  They key is always which figs can ripen during the season (and there seems to be quite a variation here in degree growing days).  The old standbys are Celeste varieties with LSU Improved Celeste being the earliest of them all. Hardy Chicago, LSU Gold, Conadria are the other varieties that ripen here. My season is typically May 15 - Oct 25.  What are your earliest ripening varieties and how is the taste?

You might want to grow a variety that produces good brebas crop. For main crop I think St. Anthony is pretty early, RdB, floria to name a few.

South of you near Chicago and doing the spring fig shuffle during mid March to slowly awaken them we can get even the longer seasonal figs to ripe by mid October.
The key in colder climates is to get them out of dormancy and put the pots on rocky surface or cement in full sun.
If possible near cement wall facing South is even more ideal condition.

Ronde and Hardy Chicago start first in later part of August in our yard.

Just like you said,Improved Celeste and Ronde de Bordeau.
I know an earlier main crop but in my location is damaged by rain while ripening ,in most years:Florea,so I eliminated it.
For Cold climates with dry Summer Florea can be earlier than the 2, I mentioned above.
Of course For Breba fruits, St Anthony is very good,and Atreano for Breba and main,but care is to be taken to protect Embryos trough the Winter otherwise they will drop.

Herman
What is the care to be taken for the Embryos?
Vito

Nice information, thanks for sharing.

Best,
Tam

Frost Protection,in any way possible,dry,leaves blankets,corn stocks,tarps over,etc.
Breba buds are there on the tree since December,so they must be protected from frost.
If not you will have an ornamental fig tree,No fruits, ,come Spring

Thank you Herman.
Vito

Vito like Herman says ornamental fig tree .
Thing Charlie Browns Christmas tree with lights on it !

Beyond - Dark Portuguese came to mind also as it ripened early like HC but discarded cause of similar taste to it.

By the way, there's a reference thread on this sort of information:
http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/Ripening-order-2858750

I get quite a few brebas on various varieties tho nothing compares to DFIC0164.1 from UC-Davis.  I'm not that happy with the breba flavor, here in WI they tend to be sort of watery, punky and overlarge.

Also this year I lost most of the Hardy Chicago crop to Asian beetles, so some reason the beetles only attacked the darkest figs and left the light figs alone.

Hi Martin
I live in upstate NY. All my trees are in pots in my garage where it is nice and cool, while my wife's car is sitting in the driveway. I guess I could put lights on her car. :-)
Vito

Vito thats a good one !

Florea and desert King are good.

Beyondista,

Ronde De Bordeaux first year fruited but had earliest figs for main crop, Desert King was first with breba though it was my only proper winter stored breba fig, the other tress had brebas fall off from cold temperature fluctuations.  Celeste was around the same time as Ronde though for me.

milehighgirl

I'll have to see if I can find my original order from Davis, the descriptor for DFIC 164 isn't jogging my memory.  It didn't set much of a main crop and didn't ripen any of the main crop either.