New "Hardy Chicago" Figs

Cameron_z6a_N.S. · Post by **Cameron_z6a_N.S.** » Sat Jun 04, 2011 10:42 am

These fig trees arrived earlier this week. "Hardy Chicago" is one of (if not the) hardiest varieties you can get. Most fig trees produce figs on 2 year-old wood, so their branches need to survive the winter intact. "Hardy Chicago" is different, because it produces figs on 1st year wood. This means that you can cut the trees down to the ground in the fall, protect them more easily, and new wood will grow during that season, producing figs by the end of the summer! I'm planning on siting them well, and simply mulching them during the winter. In case you're wondering where the name "Hardy Chicago" comes from, it's thought that the original figs were collected around 3000 feet in elevation on Mount Etna, in Sicily. They were brought over to Chicago, where they grew for many years, before being discovered and brought into the nursery trade

In the box:

Unpacked:

Closer up:

Cameron.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Jun 04, 2011 10:55 am

Great looking seedlings!

Hopefully you'll be keeping one or two to plant out?

Fruiting on this year's wood is the only way I'd ever see them produce.
I'd love to try this.

Barb

Cameron_z6a_N.S. · Post by **Cameron_z6a_N.S.** » Sat Jun 04, 2011 11:07 am

Barb, I'm planting all of them out!

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Jun 04, 2011 11:16 am

Must've thought you were selling some, along with your monumental seedling stock!

Barb

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Sat Jun 04, 2011 4:14 pm

DUDE!

I love those things! My neighbor ended up having one ( he gave me some grape cuttings too

). He brought it back from italy years ago he said hes calebrese? From "the heel" of the boot, the hotter area ( i actualy think that area is zone 10)

Ive read up on the "chicago hardy" type a briefly. Why didnt you go for the mainstay "Brown turkey?" Just because so many people have it?

You can also bend the low branches to the ground, and bury them in trenches ( sort of liek hilling in roses). Regardless, with multch itll at least come back from the roots.

Good buy dude!

Cameron_z6a_N.S. · Post by **Cameron_z6a_N.S.** » Sat Jun 04, 2011 4:47 pm

Thanks! I wanted the hardiest ones possible, so I went with Hardy Chicagos.

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Sat Jun 04, 2011 5:20 pm

Are they not rated reletively the same?

Cameron_z6a_N.S. · Post by **Cameron_z6a_N.S.** » Sat Jun 04, 2011 5:24 pm

I think the branches of most fig varieties all have about the same hardiness, but the roots of "Hardy Chicago" are likely a bit more cold-tolerant.

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Sat Jun 04, 2011 5:29 pm

Ah excellent.

Good luck dude! Make sure they are WELL drained ( lots of organic matter) and get tons of sun and heat. The best part is they can take some moisture in the winter

sidpook · Post by **sidpook** » Sat Jun 04, 2011 6:04 pm

Nice. I love figs! I have trees that bare so much fruit i end up throwing them out in september bc they waste on the ground or just rot on the trees. I wish people would come pick them.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Jun 04, 2011 6:17 pm

Is Cameron's variety the one you have, Mike?

Or do you bend the stems down to the ground and mulch them for winter?

Barb

sidpook · Post by **sidpook** » Sun Jun 05, 2011 5:18 am

Hey barb.... My trees are very old now. At least ten years in the groubnd and they are huge. I do nothing to them and they always thrive. I originally got the roots/stems from italy ona trip there and have split and shred them many times over with neighbors. Figs grow like crazy here. All Italians have them in their yards ( esp over in the city with what little yards /if any they have.) I'll put up some pics soon. These two large trees even give me two harvests a year: one in July and one in September. One is Black mission fig tree and the other is a Kadota fig.

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Sun Jun 05, 2011 6:26 am

Awsome Mike!

My buddy got a brown turkey ( north carolina). It died back last winter ( mabey just not acclimatized ). Ill tell him they grow in Jersey, thatll give him some good news!

The one I have apperantly gives THREE crops a year! Unfortunatly dont know the cultivar or anything. The guy is 80 years old ( who i got it from), so id have to assume it isnt one of the commercial types, probably a bit more "pure" !!

Please show some pics.....

Cameron - I just remembered paul (ont) showing me someone in southern ontario with a HUGE fig tree!. They dig it up every winter and store it in the garage apperantly, but the thing is wicked! ( its on one of the threads here, but which one escapes me)

sidpook · Post by **sidpook** » Sun Jun 05, 2011 7:27 am

canadianplant wrote:DUDE!

I love those things! My neighbor ended up having one ( he gave me some grape cuttings too ). He brought it back from italy years ago he said hes calebrese? From "the heel" of the boot, the hotter area ( i actualy think that area is zone 10)

Too funny...My grapes are also from cuttings from italians in the area...LOL

JackLord · Post by **JackLord** » Sun Jun 05, 2011 7:07 pm

I am a recent convert to figs. Never thought much about them although I always enjoyed eating fig newtons. Then my boss started bringing in figs she grows in her yard. She wrapped them in burlap for a couple of winters but now does nothing.

I bought a Brown Turkey in March but am keeping it in a container as I have no room for it. My newest activity is "find the Fig tree" while driving Jack Jr to school in the morning. They are quite a few around here. Two blocks from where I grew up is a yard with three huge ones. Loaded with figs.

They are really nice looking trees.

CTPalm · Post by **CTPalm** » Sun Jun 05, 2011 8:08 pm

Oh great Cameron - everyone here just keeps enticing me. Now I'm going to need a Fig tree too! LOL - I just planted two Pawpaws last month. Just Kidding, I hope your Figs do well, they look very cool. Paul

Cameron_z6a_N.S. · Post by **Cameron_z6a_N.S.** » Sun Jun 05, 2011 8:40 pm

Thanks everyone!

Paul, good luck with the Pawpaws! I need to get a few sometime

I planted the Sabal minor "McCurtain" and the "Hardy Chicago" figs out today. I've actually had plants die in the area where the Sabal minor and this fig are planted because of the amount of heat/sunlight that are reflected in that spot! Hopefully that means it'll be a great spot for the palm and fig

JackLord · Post by **JackLord** » Mon Jun 06, 2011 6:10 am

Should do fine. If I, a fig novice through and through, can offer one tip, that would be to give the fig enough water. Figs love the sun, but the leaves will yellow and drop if they do not get enough water.

What are you going to use for fertilizer?

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Mon Jun 06, 2011 6:25 am

Paul - Paw paws are awsome trees!, just be prepared to wait a bit for them to grow. Make sure they get soem shade!

Cameron - Looks like you worked in some perlite. GJ. They LOVE heat and if you realize they are getting baked, mabey put some annual vines behind to take in some of the heat ( morning glories are vigerous enough i think) They apperantly take a bit of a hit when repotted or move, so dont be suprised if it doesnt do much for a week or 2.

Jack - Thats good advice. But too much water can be really really bad for them. My neighbor warned me not to water the one I have ( in a pot), till the leaves just start to wilt. Mabey its a bit different in ground....... Then again, any new planting should be well watered for the first year no? Mabey a nice layer of straw multch to keep the roots a bit cooler and to keep the moisture in?

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Mon Jun 06, 2011 7:13 am

Looks good Cameron-
It will be interesting to see how fast they grow.

Sabals at that size are less
hardy than their bigger brothers,try and
protect as much green tissue as possible
over winter for best results/maximum growth....
lot's of heat and water!

Cameron_z6a_N.S. · Post by **Cameron_z6a_N.S.** » Mon Jun 06, 2011 9:22 am

Thanks everyone!

Jack, I'll make sure to keep the figs well-watered. I'm not sure how I'll fertilize them yet. BTW, the poncirus seeds are sprouting now, some are a couple of inches tall already!

Canadianplant, I've started using "Pro-Mix HP", available at Rona. I've found that it works really well, and Banana Joe uses it too

Jim, I'll make sure to keep the sabal protected in the winter!

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Mon Jun 06, 2011 9:38 am

Great they're in the ground Cameron.

This guy grows lots too:

http://www.figtrees.net/

Barb

igor.glukhovtsev · Post by **igor.glukhovtsev** » Mon Jun 06, 2011 10:16 am

JackLord wrote:Should do fine. If I, a fig novice through and through, can offer one tip, that would be to give the fig enough water. Figs love the sun, but the leaves will yellow and drop if they do not get enough water.

What are you going to use for fertilizer?

Unlikely the fig likes much of water. Look at thees two pictures taken in Petra, Jordan.

Cameron_z6a_N.S. · Post by **Cameron_z6a_N.S.** » Mon Jun 06, 2011 11:54 am

I'll have to try to find a balance as far as watering is concerned. I think the amount of rain my area receives should provide most of it!

JackLord · Post by **JackLord** » Mon Jun 06, 2011 12:41 pm

igor.glukhovtsev wrote:
JackLord wrote:Should do fine. If I, a fig novice through and through, can offer one tip, that would be to give the fig enough water. Figs love the sun, but the leaves will yellow and drop if they do not get enough water.

What are you going to use for fertilizer?
Unlikely the fig likes much of water. Look at thees two pictures taken in Petra, Jordan.

Jordan is one place. I can only say what happened last week in Maryland. Some of the leaves on my fig suddenly yellowed and dropped. The soil was bone dry. Daily saturation has brought it back to its lush glory.

Just something to watch out for.

sidpook · Post by **sidpook** » Mon Jun 06, 2011 2:47 pm

JackLord wrote:
igor.glukhovtsev wrote:
JackLord wrote:Should do fine. If I, a fig novice through and through, can offer one tip, that would be to give the fig enough water. Figs love the sun, but the leaves will yellow and drop if they do not get enough water.

What are you going to use for fertilizer?
Unlikely the fig likes much of water. Look at thees two pictures taken in Petra, Jordan.

Jordan is one place. I can only say what happened last week in Maryland. Some of the leaves on my fig suddenly yellowed and dropped. The soil was bone dry. Daily saturation has brought it back to its lush glory.

Just something to watch out for.

I've never watered figs when they're estabished unless there is a month or so without rainwater. I could see however why one woruld want to do so with smaller trees.

Paul Ont · Post by **Paul Ont** » Mon Jun 06, 2011 2:55 pm

Jesse- Here is the fig. Downtown Toronto, pic is from 2007??

<a href="http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/pho ... yUDS"><img src="http://inlinethumb31.webshots.com/47454 ... 600Q85.jpg" alt="Fig Tree"></a>

Cameron_z6a_N.S. · Post by **Cameron_z6a_N.S.** » Mon Jun 06, 2011 3:03 pm

Great pic, Paul!

If you ever take the GO train from the east end (Scarborough) to downtown, you can see a lot of small sheds/coverings in backyards in East York. That's what the Italians would use to cover their fig trees in the winter!

sidpook · Post by **sidpook** » Mon Jun 06, 2011 4:55 pm

Paul Ont wrote:Jesse- Here is the fig. Downtown Toronto, pic is from 2007??

<a href="http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/pho ... yUDS"><img src="http://inlinethumb31.webshots.com/47454 ... 600Q85.jpg" alt="Fig Tree"></a>

Cool pic...i betthat baby ain't been wrapped in years!

sidpook · Post by **sidpook** » Mon Jun 06, 2011 5:10 pm

canadianplant wrote:Awsome Mike! Please show some pics.....

Here are some pics for you ....Enjoy. I just finished trimming them back again for the third time since May 1st...they get nutty!!!!!!

Titan "Guardian of the Figs!"

I want to recount a funny story of how South Philly Italians are sooo very proud of their figs. When I first became a teacher in the city we lived in a very Italian neighborhood where most of the elders didn't speak English (only Napolitan dialect). My roomates and I used to shovel snow and do odd jobs for the older Italian couples and the women were fiercely competitive when it came to their food and figs especially. Every September, they used to pay us back with loads of figs, homemade wine and homemade mozzarella cheese. Well, one year, I made the mistake of saying that Carmelina's ( a neighbor lady) figs were delicious....My next door neighbor Antonietta, screamed at me in dialect and told me "that whore down the street has no figs and her stuffed shells suck too" i about pissed myself laughing....FigWars !! Woohoo!

Cameron_z6a_N.S. · Post by **Cameron_z6a_N.S.** » Mon Jun 06, 2011 6:36 pm

Great pics and story, Mike!!

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Tue Jun 07, 2011 7:02 am

Thanks paul, thats the one !

Mike - Those figs are sexy....

Im aware of the "italian wars". My closest neighbor is from the south, and my other neighbor ( passed away a few years ago), was from the north.... ALways intersting convos between them!

The good thing also is my neighbor also makes wine, gave me a bottle... god that stuff is strong. 25% alcohol wine, great way to wake up in the morning LOL

JackLord · Post by **JackLord** » Tue Jun 07, 2011 9:21 am

I've never watered figs when they're estabished unless there is a month or so without rainwater. I could see however why one woruld want to do so with smaller trees

Indeed. Both his and mine are new. And mine is in a container which made it very vulnerable to the first heatwave this year. Now it gets a daily drenching and is loving it.

You got some nice trees there.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Jun 07, 2011 11:18 am

Mike that's a great story...those feisty European ladies.

We have friends whose family is from Malta.
Gifts of wine, pesto, homemade pasta noodles, etc. etc. are frequent.
They always accompany each with "eat, eat, eat...you're too skinny"

Nobody will steal your figs with Titan guarding 'em

Love your yard!
Barb

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Tue Jun 07, 2011 12:02 pm

Great post Cameron! I read what Bob from Winston-Salem wrote about them tasting much better then brown turkey (which I have) plus the part about figs on new growth is really cool too. I'm going to look into getting one now, there are some huge tree's around here that I come across from time to time.

Bill

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Tue Jun 07, 2011 12:03 pm

Nice pictures of the ones in your area to Mike. I need to go check on the big ones around here to see how there doing.

Bill

Cameron_z6a_N.S. · Post by **Cameron_z6a_N.S.** » Tue Jun 07, 2011 2:13 pm

Thanks, Bill! I'm not sure if you'd have enough extra space in your yard to fit another fig into!

sidpook · Post by **sidpook** » Tue Jun 07, 2011 4:33 pm

canadianplant wrote:Thanks paul, thats the one !

Mike - Those figs are sexy....

Im aware of the "italian wars". My closest neighbor is from the south, and my other neighbor ( passed away a few years ago), was from the north.... ALways intersting convos between them!

The good thing also is my neighbor also makes wine, gave me a bottle... god that stuff is strong. 25% alcohol wine, great way to wake up in the morning LOL

Nice! My grandom was from the north and my g'pop the south: they fought every day of their lives and then died within 4 weeks of one another out of grief!

sidpook · Post by **sidpook** » Tue Jun 07, 2011 4:34 pm

lucky1 wrote:Mike that's a great story...those feisty European ladies.

We have friends whose family is from Malta.
Gifts of wine, pesto, homemade pasta noodles, etc. etc. are frequent.
They always accompany each with "eat, eat, eat...you're too skinny"

Nobody will steal your figs with Titan guarding 'em

Love your yard!
Barb

Right...No thieves here: Titan guards them and Bianca the shepherd lies under them to get cool int he heat of summer....Good times!

sidpook · Post by **sidpook** » Tue Jun 07, 2011 4:35 pm

JackLord wrote:
I've never watered figs when they're estabished unless there is a month or so without rainwater. I could see however why one woruld want to do so with smaller trees
Indeed. Both his and mine are new. And mine is in a container which made it very vulnerable to the first heatwave this year. Now it gets a daily drenching and is loving it.

You got some nice trees there.

I think they do like to be root bound for the first few years in containers until you put them into the ground. At least that is what all the old timers told me. i never lost a tree that way either. Enjoy the figs! they are so cool!

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