New "Hardy Chicago" Figs

[igor.glukhovtsev]

Igor, that's an amazing survival temperature for your fig! Make sure to post a pic!

You are right, Cameron. I was surprised too. I put some straw and PVC on it. At the time when that terrible cold arrived there was no a much of snow outside.

[seedscanada]

I trench and bury our largest fig tree. When timed right, and carefully unburied, I have had figs in June and a second crop in September. That does not happen to the figs I leave exposed (only Sept.) I've had a double crop for the past four years.

[Cameron_z6a_N.S.]

Igor, that fig looks very healthy!

Adam, do you know what variety you have?

[seedscanada]

I think our largest, from Grimo, is a Brown Turkey Fig. We have two others I completely neglect.

[Cameron_z6a_N.S.]

Here is the same "Hardy Chicago" fig:

[TimMAz6]

it's ALIVE! Nice. Mine has some new shoots showing now too.

[Cameron_z6a_N.S.]

Tim, that's great to hear! All six that were planted out here have buds forming, so I'm really pleased.

[Cameron_z6a_N.S.]

Pic of one of the figs, taken last week:

[TimMAz6]

your fig looks good Cameron.......just needs more heat. Here's a comparison shot with mine. My fig leaves are already wilting and it's only in the low 80's right now.

<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/ ... b9027e.jpg>

[DesertZone]

Tim, that fig looks good.

[Cameron_z6a_N.S.]

Here's my tallest "Hardy Chicago" fig. Out of the six that I planted, one died over the winter. This one is around 3.5', which isn't bad considering that it was in a 2 inch pot last year:

[Cameron_z6a_N.S.]

HC fig at the end of the season:


Same HC fig after -6 C. The figs and every other outdoor plant withstood -3 C with no problems:

[TimMAz6]

your figs look good Cameron.......fruit next season??

[Cameron_z6a_N.S.]

I've definitely got my fingers crossed for fruit next season! I'll be cutting down most of the figs like last winter, but will be leaving one intact to see if the wood can survive this winter.

[Cameron_z6a_N.S.]

I took some cuttings from the figs today to root over the winter. One plant was left with branches intact to see if they survive to see the spring.

Cuttings:


Green ends (softwood):


Hardwood cuttings:


Dipped in rooting hormone:


And planted:

[canadianplant]

I had good success getting F carica cuttings to root and I have trouble trying to root woody plant cuttings usually. Seems 3/5 worked so far, and about the same in past experience. Mine are in baggies because i dont want the new leaves to dry out. I just open up the baggies for a few hours every 2 days or so to make sure they dont get moldy.

[lucky1]

Good luck with those Cameron.

Your pics remind me...we did that with grapevines years ago.
And then I forgot which way was up on the cuttings
But most made it.

Barb

[Cameron_z6a_N.S.]

Canadianplant, I tried the bag method last year, but am pretty forgetful, and the cuttings ended up rotting!

Barb, I hope most of these will make it too!

[TimMAz6]

that a lot of cuttings! Keep us updated on their progress.

[Cameron_z6a_N.S.]

Here's an update on the now rooted fig cuttings. The first buds started emerging about a week ago:

[TimMAz6]

nice rooting job Cameron..........I never protected my fig above the mulch........I'm sure the branches are all dead above the snow line......since we hit 5F.

[Cameron_z6a_N.S.]

Thanks, Tim. I didn't mulch my figs this year, I just threw some extra hay over them. My area has also hit -15 C (5 F), so we'll see how they do in the spring.

[lucky1]

Cameron,
Are those the hardwood cuttings that are popping?
If so, was it the wrong time of year to take softwood/young green wood?

Barb

[Cameron_z6a_N.S.]

Barb, so far it has just been the hardwood cuttings that have budded. However, since I was cutting every portion of the fig plants down for the winter, I figured that it was worth a shot at rooting the softwood cuttings, rather than just throwing them out! Soon I'll have a better idea if the softwood cuttings have rooted or not.

[lucky1]

worth a shot at rooting the softwood cuttings, rather than just throwing them out!

It would be good if both hardwood AND softwood worked during winter.
Especially as both are available that way.

Look forward to the results.

Barb

[hardyjim]

Maybe this was asked already but how hardy is the wood on the Figs?

[Cameron_z6a_N.S.]

Jim, I think the wood on "Hardy Chicago" figs is slightly hardier than on regular figs. I remember seeing pics from someone on the HPS board in Pennsylvania, and he didn't cut back his fig in a zone 6b. However, for people growing figs in zone 5b or colder, they would likely have to either protect the entire plant, or cut it down entirely.

Out of my five plants that survived last winter, I left one still standing as a test. I'll keep cutting the rest down until one season's growth is fast and strong enough to definitely survive a zone 6b winter here with just mulching.