Took a different street walking to work today and recognized at least 5 fig trees growing without protection. One or two appeared to likely have died back last year and grew from roots, based on the size. The ones pictured here did not. If these made it through last winter and this winter unprotected, that would be pretty impressive. Two of them were street side and the others were in the front yards. I will keep an eye on them next year to see if they are alive and producing figs, since I know many people on here are interested in very cold hardy varieties.

They look like good candidates for cuttings!

I keep trying to get my coworker who lives in Astoria to take cuttings from his landlord's tree. He's already taken some green cuttings which didn't work out for me. The trunk - I can't remember where the picture is - seems to be about 6 inches thick. Loaded with green - I think? - figs every year.

YES!!
Please keep us apprised of their progress.
Maybe even a few cuttings if the owners are agreeable.

Good work finding those in wintertime!  Updates would be great as the season progresses.

Hopefully another unknown fig varerty to add to our list.

Those who are interested can see my posts 67 & 96 for some fabulously cold hardy trees in Queens at this thread:

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/95-if-not-all-fig-tree-died-in-queens-ny-disaster-6888363?&trail=50&full_version=1

I have already distributed a few cuttings from the second tree to a few members here, and I grow it myself.

Figinqueens,
  The 2nd and 3rd ones pictured look especially hardy.  There isn't even a sign of dead wood on them, and there's no way they grew to that size in 1 year!  It is definitely worthwhile to keep an eye on those.
Cheers,
Jim

Thanks all. Needaclone I thought the same thing. The 3rd picture doesn't do justice to how big that tree is. Rafael- not too far from you for a night time mission...I'm just saying. Lol. The streetside trees should be fair game, that is public property.

Sure thing, the second one looks like is growing on the curb! Great work! Is this Flushing?

Wanted to circle back to this one now that things are progressing. The one closest to the curb had about 80% top kill, which is impressive that any of it lived considering the winter we had last year. The other two look to have been completely top killed and coming back strong from the roots with shoots reaching 4 feet. Judging from the size of the trunks they must have made it through winter 2013-2014 unscathed. Two of the three have figs and fig buds. I'll keep a further eye out once they start ripening. Any potential guesses based on leaf shape?

Looks like it could be a good one for our area...

First plant:English Brown Turkey
Secon :Chicago Hardy
Third:Possible Chicago Hardy,too, but could be Italian Black,a fig resisting better to souring,with thicker shape leaves and shorter finger,this one need to be examined ,next to Chicago hardy to see if it is different when fruits are ripe.
It has a tighter eye,and is much more productive,compared to Chicago hardy.

wow, i very rarely see fig trees out in the open.  good find.

Thanks all. Herman, I will keep an eye out as the figs ripen. there are a few other street side trees I have seen around. I'll have to find them again.

D

I find most trees in Queens were severely damaged by this winter. The is a beautiful, protected Brown Turkey on 12th Avenue and 149 street that is fully intact and leafed out with fruit, as if we had a warm winter. A rarity, believe me.