I continue to wonder sometimes about all the time and effort growing figs in containers here in zone 7 - watering, fertilizing over wintering in garage etc and hoping to get a few choice figs. Then I look at my only in ground fig- my prized Chicago Hardy which consistantly provides hundreds of incredibly sweet large figs. I cover it somewhat in winter and it usually dies back and then roars ahead rewarding me with more figs than I can eat and share. What a great variety here in NY and so little effort required. Had a couple of nice Marseille vs figs as well but I think the chicago hardy is my clear favorite. Air layering a back up by placing brick on low branch and looks like rooting well. I gave some rooted cuttings of the CH to friend in Georgia and hope it does equally well. Wondering how much (and when) pruning I should do as it is about 7 feet tall?

HC is a wonderful variety!

My friend prunes his HC back to two or three nodes on the fruited limbs every year after it goes dormant.  One year he missed and it grew tall as the house.

   

I tasted my 1st Chicago Hardy fig yesterday, it tasted really good, I am wondering that how can I avoid "Breba" fig?,  I do not want breba because I find that it does slow down ripen main crop.

HC is productive and flavorful. If I were to have one fig HC would be it. I think it deserves a spot in most collections.

Very Exciting.  My Chicago from Hirts has a single, lonely, raisin-y, little fig growing.  Hopefully it will rise to meet everyone's description next year.

@ricky: cut them as they pop. It is that easy.

I have been growing a HC here on the island in a container for a few years. Didn't get much fruit this year but the ones I got were very good. Probably needs to be root pruned and up potted. This upcoming winter may be it's last in the garage and I may add it to the in ground collection this next spring. The trick is going to be finding a spot.

Here is one from this year,. Love this fig!

Yes I have noticed that ci hardy is an excellent all round fig.  I'v only been growing figs for 3 years   but the ci hardy (2, second year trees) have produced about 1 doz each and at least that many more still on the tree.  2 tex everbearing  and an local unknown all seem to be the same or close to the same and are as productive.  The local fig lasted many years unprotected (11" trunk) untill the -15 degree polar vortex in 2013.  It has a good reputation as a fig for those of us that want productivity.  This is true for me as the only space I have is my driveway.

bill e  maryland

what zone is this tree in ?? wow it's really nice wow ~!

I ordered some cuttings last year of the3 cuttings I got of CH only one rooted and struggled with FMV in spring, the Good Lord was good with us (Long summer). 
It now is 3 Feet high with 2 main braches and no signs of FMV.
Hope it produces next season.
By the testemony and pictures that I see from members here, my expectations from this little darling are big.
Let's hope for the best and, congratulations to the people who are enjoying them allready.
By the way chuck nice specimen you show on that pic.

When I lived in zone 5. Chicago Hardy never lived up to its name for me. We had a, mild for Chicagoland, winter on year it made I through. After that it would die all th way to the ground. I have yet to understand why it is called HC when it will not do good there? I know live in zone 8 would love to try on here.

I'm rooting some cuttings of a HC bought on ebay.  With the various reviews I see about HC I wonder if there are several varieties of it or maybe considerable effects of mislabeling.

Hardy Chicago is very hard to beat.  Folks new to figs should taste 4 figs at one time, Brown Turkey, Celeste, Hardy Chicago and Black Mission or Black Italian.  If you do and depending on which Brown Turkey you try......you will give Brown Turkey to the hogs!

Hardy Chicago is so hard to beat.  But a ripe Marseilles Black is in the same category, but you have to pick it at the right time or the flavor won't be there.

I might have had a mislabeled Chicago Hardy when I lived in Illinois. I got a couple figs I didn't find a taste that jumped off the page @ me. I wonder myself if there is more than one variety. Would love to try one of the good tasting ones. Hope to get a cutting of HC and the Marseilles. I hear so many good things about that one. I have a LSU Gold in the ground now.

Hello.
I would prune it enough to send me some cuttings :)

Vito

That would sound good. Let me PM you.

If you like cuttings, I have CH, I am new so my CH is one year old tree, However, I should have some small cuttings, by the way, I am in Canada.
MY CH does not have healthy leaves, I checked with nursery where I got them, They all look same, They do grow quite fast to 6 FTer and bear some figs with good taste.
I have another fig tree, Nursery call them " Purple Jordon", It does bear amazing fig in 1 year old tree,  very large figs, ripen even in cool climate here.
https://s15.postimg.org/um44jncqz/Purple_jordon_2016_breba_inside_Oct2.jpg
https://s11.postimg.org/n23qj3fkj/Purple_jordon_2016_breba_Oct1.jpg



>> I ordered some cuttings last year of the3 cuttings I got of CH only one rooted and struggled with FMV in spring, the Good Lord was good with us (Long summer). 
>>It now is 3 Feet high with 2 main braches and no signs of FMV.
>>Hope it produces next season.
By the testemony and pictures that I see from members here, my expectations from this little darling are big.
Let's hope for the best and, congratulations to the people who are enjoying them allready.
By the way chuck nice specimen you show on that pic.