Got 2 more trees coming from Grow Organic in  Dec-Jan, and Improved B.T. and a Violette De Bordeau and I have a family member that has had a nursery-landscape business an a very successful one I might add, 30 miles south of me for over 50 years, told me I could plant trees as late as early Feb unless the weather is sub artic for here which most of the winters are fairly mild here in my part of Z-7 with the exception of last winter BURR. So question is Should,  I or Should I not, plant these last 2 trees as they will certainly be dormant  then. She says plant trees in late fall and winter to establish root growth and trees need that chill effect on them to grow. Covered and protected of course for below freezing temps. Is this the right thing to do or not. Don't want to loose them they cost me $62.00 and I'm and old retired fart of 59 so money is not over abundant if you catch my drift. Trees will be about 24" to 3' tall when shipped I'm told. Or do I shelter them in my storm cellar until spring which I  am new at for sure and I could still loose them I guess. So what' s the verdict guys and gals.

Hi tnsigger,
I would check for frozen ground and snow.
When at your location, you're done with snow and frozen-solid dirt, and the dirt is not soggy, then plant them. They can take some frosts, that's not a problem.
Here it would be mid-march or start of April.
Your problem then will be to handle the trees in between January and April. You should keep them dormant - if they are still dormant.
If the trees are sent already growing, the greenhouse or inside house option is no longer an option but a must.
Or, if you have a greenhouse, you could greenhouse them til 15th of May -here that is our lasts frosts, adapt the date to fit your locales.
You could already dig the plantation holes now to help you come April.
I would advise you to dig a larger hole, and fill it with dirt from the nurseries; you won't regret it.

Planting fig trees in the ground, in Zone-7.... is ALWAYS going to be a gamble.  Fig trees evolved in  Mediterranean climates, and will not do well in Temperate climates, i.e. unless they are protected from freezing temperatures.  You may think that your climate, or local winters are mild enough, but all it takes is one bad, freezing, winter, and your trees are done.  Fig trees are semi-succulents and must be treated accordingly, or new growth will be damaged from freezing if not properly hardened off.  Many forum members growing in ground, and located in Zone-7, have lost many fig trees and in some cases, whole collections have been wiped out, over the last few, terribly cold, winters.  BTW....fig trees do not need a "chill effect" to grow figs.

Posted on this forum are many suggestions regarding the winter protection of fig trees.  Personally, I would NOT plant young trees into the ground, given your climate, but instead, I'd containerize them, and store them in a cool garage.  If possible, keep the young trees cool enough to stay dormant, but just warm enough to prevent freezing.  Also, keep the root-ball hydrated and damp.

Good luck with your new trees.


Frank

Agree completely with Frank.
If you do decide to put figs in ground, wait till they are a little older and have a bigger root system, then bury that rootball DEEP in the spring, after frosts are done, so at least the roots will survive a bad winter.

Ditto what Frank said.  Improved Brown Turkey will be a disappointment for you if you don't winterize it every, every, every year!  It does produce lots of large purple black sweet figs, but it is not hardy for my climate and I'm in zone 8a (Charlotte, NC).  Only those in 8b and some in 8a can that fig live happily in the ground and put out.  If I were you, I would not plant that tree until frost warning are completely over.  You can pot it up inside an insulated garage until that time but you and I both know we always get one last cold front around Easter.  Good luck to you and by the way...I have 3 Improved Brown Turkey figs in 27g self watering pots.  I had to pull my tree out of the ground years ago because it kept dying back to the ground.

I too live in Z7, and if it was me, I would not plant those figs until spring. If we have another hard winter like the last two they may not make it after a fall planting. I have 3 figs I have started from cuttings, this was their second year in pots. I am going to keep them in a shed all winter then plant them in March.

The only possible drawback to this approach is they may need watering next summer, but that is better than risk losing them to a unexpected extra cold night or three. We have had nights around 0F each of the past two winters, very unusual and very hard on even the most hardy figs if they are newly planted.