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Encanto Farms Nursery > Topics > Hardy Chicago Ripens in 6A!
 
 


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slingha

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Posted Reply with quote  #1 
This is the first fig tree that I ever purchased(april of this year)I was going to wait until tomorrow but we were about to get slammed with rain(we did). Taste was figgy and jammy at the same time. Less sweet than a Celeste but might be my favorite so far. This tree was from easytogrowbulbs.com. I bought 3 and all are exceptionally vigorous and not a hint of FMV as you can see in the photos. I though unfortunately gave one away to someone who literally killed it in a week. Im not too happy about it. Of the two I have left, one is in ground and is being grown as a bush and the other which you see pictures of below is being left alone to become a tree.

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jpeg fig_on_tree_hc.jpeg (788.63 KB, 72 views)
jpeg hc_tree.jpeg (750.24 KB, 63 views)
jpeg hc_Leaf.jpeg (751.26 KB, 59 views)
jpeg cut.jpeg (338.03 KB, 69 views)
musillid

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Posted Reply with quote  #2 
slingha,

   You have given me so much hope. I actually got ONE ripe fig off my little Violette de Bordeaux last week and I have a Hardy Chicago that I hope will be fruitful next season. It's not quite as big as yours yet.
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Dale
non compost mentis in Zone 6a
pyxistort

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Posted Reply with quote  #3 
Congratulation.  It is great to harvest figs from your own tree.  Hardy Chicago looks good.  I heard it was not doing well in my area, but I think I should try it to see it myself. 
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Scott
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Wish List: Florea , Malta Black, Nordland, Negretta, Nero 600
BLB

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Posted Reply with quote  #4 
Looks good! Tim, several others also like Hardy Chicago as a favorite. I have a little while to go before I get a taste, but I am looking forward to adding some to my harvest.
robertharper

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Posted Reply with quote  #5 
Hardy Chicago Is considered by some fig experts/collectors, to be one of the most flavorful figs there is.

It was the fig that got us interested in trying to grow figs in a zone 5 location.

We bought ours 6 to 8 years ago.We planted it in our number one micro climate location, in the V of our chimney. For the first 6-7 years it kept dying back and or would only produce a couple of figs. As it got older, it got tired of me not being able to figure out what it wanted to grow well. So, it migrated from it's original location to about 3 to4 feet out of the V of the Chimney. The ground in the chimney V location, never froze. So I thought it would be perfect for figs. But it also, meant it would only receive about 5 hours of sun light a day.

I was planning on pulling it out this last Spring. I was thinking I had a miss-labeled fig.

I cut the new sprout down to 2 to 4 feet, and it is now loaded with figs. I left the one in the original location alone. It still produces a very small amount of figs.

So, I'm thinking that Hardy Chicago must have at least 8 hours of sun light to produce a heavy crop of figs. Or it does not like being planted in warm soil. Also, Paul Tracesky, a fig collector who did cold hardy fig evaluating, in Connecticut, in the 1990's, felt that Hardy Chicago was not as cold hardy as others, such as Sal'e EL.       

Would those of you who have Hardy Chicago planted in the deep south, please chime in.

Bob - Zone 5 Connecticut
slingha

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Posted Reply with quote  #6 
Bob,

I've got 1 in ground that is growing like a weed with only a few figs on it which only formed as a result of pinching. The one pictured above is in a pot and I have done nothing to it other than fertilize it and watch it grow and it's pretty "figged out" for a 1 year old tree.
Maro2Bear

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Posted Reply with quote  #7 
Hi guys

Since we are on Hardy Chicago production, I thought I'd pass along a bit of info on our HC.  We purchased our HC from Lowe's in about April 2011, and put it into the ground next to our house/fireplace "nook" facing Southeast.  It grew pretty well last year, and we had about 6 good ripe figs.  Once Autumn arrived, i surrounded it in chicken wire, and filled that with mulched leaves of various sorts.  Survived the winter perfectly.

This spring, which came about pretty early in late March, early April, I took down the wrapping, and only one small bit appeared frozen.  As things warmed up, everything sprung into action, and our 1 year old HC put out lots of nice new branches from every place that it coulld.  At every leaf joint, appeared a nice fig.

Last year, a handful of figs, to this year's bounty of already more than 50 or 60, with plenty more to pick.  I think we got lucky with a good tree, coupled with good weather and protected from the elements.

Here is a picture of yesterday evenings collection waiting to be sampled:

Attached Images
jpeg HC_Aug27.jpg (694.04 KB, 43 views)
jpeg HC_Aug27_cut.jpg (1020.51 KB, 19 views)


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Mark B., Glenn Dale, MD Zone 7a

slingha

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Posted Reply with quote  #8 
Do you have a photo of your tree?
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Posted Reply with quote  #9 
That is very high production for a one year old tree. It must be happy where you planted it Mark.
Maro2Bear

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Posted Reply with quote  #10 
All

Thanks for the comments guys. We have been really pleased with our HC this year. Seems like the tree just kept growing larger and larger all spring and early summer, filling all axials with new figs. The last two weeks have really been productive and I've picked welll over 50 this year. At first wifey and I were enjoying, then we shared with neighbors and co-workers; all amazed at the good sweet taste of figs grown from our tree here in MD!

I'm starting to plan my winter protection layer now.. Last year when tree was much smaller, I wrapped chicken wire and filled with dry leaves.. This year I'm thinking to mimic the same, then wrap with a few layers of weed barrier, to keep it drier, and more protected from winter winds.

I think I'll bring my smaller, potted Brown Turkish inside, and see how that turns out. Maybe keep it growing for a few months, then put it in the garage, to chill and go dormant..
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Mark B., Glenn Dale, MD Zone 7a
DesertDance

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Posted Reply with quote  #11 
Congratulations to all of you!  Your figs look delicious!  I have a few cuttings that are in the process of leafing out (Little cute babies).  We don't get your harsh winter conditions here, and I'm hoping HC is as productive and delicious with Mediterranean conditions as it is in the North East. 

Thanks for sharing!
Suzi
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Zone 9b, Southern California. "First year they sleep, Second year they creep, Third year they leap!"  Wish List:  I wish all of you happy fig collecting!  My wishes have been fulfilled!
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