skip to main content

Chicago Hardy Fig in ground - Buffalo, NY

Sunrise Vineyards

11 years ago

Hello,

In the summer of 2012, I purchased a Chicago Hardy fig at Lowes. It was an impulse purchase and couldn't really find a good spot to plant it at my house here in Western NY. I ended up giving it to my girlfriends Dad. Her parents live on Grand Island, and the tree was planted on a slope along the Niagara River well above the water line. This fall, we wrapped it up in burlap to protect it from the wind and critters.

What can we expect in 2013? Will the above ground wood survive or will it just come up from the ground? Can we expect any fruit in 2013?

Thanks!

PS - I did a little research on the "Chicago Hardy" fig variety. It was actually cultivated in Sicily and has nothing to do with Chicago IL (other than possibly growing there.)

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

tony_c_m
11 years ago
What to expect is;
A. It will either make it thru unscathed, which is very possible, depending on your lowest temps and how well it was wrapped.
B. the top growth could freeze to the ground in which case it will regrow but it will also cut down on how many figs it will have.
C. It might not get froze but voles or mice can chew the branches to the ground and sometimes even chew up the roots killing the tree. I've had that happen to my own and a friend had a 6 foot tall tree completely disappear from rodents. You never know until it's time to do the unwrapping.
You can buy stuff to keep rodents from chewing the tree, I think it's called "Scoot". If you can't find it you can grind up garlic and rub it on the trunk and lower branches. I couldn't find anything in the stores around here so I went with the garlic, this is my test year for that too.
Be prepared for the worst case scenario.
Best of luck to you
fignewbies
11 years ago
Hi,

I put sturdy chicken mesh wire at the base around my fig tree so I can stuff in lots of fallen leaves, convered with old carpet, then
put bags of fall leaves around the tree to winterize my fig tree.
There are cats in the neighbour so rodent is not a problem in
my area.

I wonder if putting the sturdy chicken mesh wire at the base of the fig tree can deter mice in your case.
I've also read planting rue is good because rodents detest this
herb. I will plant some rue around my fig tree this summer.
Related Discussions
i just got a chicago hardy fig do i have to do anything for figs?
Q
Comments (1)
3 feet tall, I will not be supprised to see you have figs this year. It might be only a handfull this year. Good luck and congradulations on your new addiction.
...See More
Ronde de Bordeaux and Hardy Chicago Figs
Q
Comments (5)
I have 2 Chicago hardy figs planted in the ground. The trees are going into their 3rd winter and I have gotten fruit every year. I cut them back to 2-3 feet after frost and burry them in leaves. Last year they got a little frost damage on the ends of the branches but came back full force with plenty of water. Here is my question; The trees are 5-6 feet tall, loaded with figs the size of a US quarter but I have harvested only about 20 out of probably 200 figs because they seem to sit at the quarter size for a long time, then all at once in a 2 or 3 day period they get full sized and ripe. I only have 14-25 days to frost. Is it possible to encourage the wasps that pollinate the figs so that I get to harvest more of the figs before frost? Is it the wasp that the fruit is waiting for or is it simply a matter of the fruit (flower) reaching a maturity that allows pollination? One more question; When I eat the figs am I eating the eggs of the wasp? If so I am fascinated, figs are remarkable and so tasty.
...See More
Chicago Hardy Fig Tree
Q
Comments (18)
It might not be too late but my guess is if you have tender green growth the damage is probably already done, however, I recommend that you wrap your tree as soon as possible to prevent further damage. I wrapped 6 trees last year with only minor tip die back. The tips died back because they were not sufficiently covered. Here is my process but I recommend you search this forum and find a technique that suites you and whatever resources you have readily available. 1. I tie up my fig tree in a conical form. 2. I drive in 2 seven foot metal posts on opposite sides of my tree. Each post is about 1 1/2 feet from the base of the tree. 3. I then overlap and cut 5ft wide chicken wire (overlap about 10 inches). I intertwine the excess wire on both ends of the chickenwire making a contiguous circle. 4. Next I insert tarpaper inside the posts and intertwined chicken wire. 5. I take dried leaves and run them through my chipper shredder and then pour them inside the metal post, chickenwire and tarpaper barrier. If you don't have a chipper shredder use a lawnmower to chop the leaves up. 6. I try to make sure that there is at least 4 or 5 inches of protection between the tree and the barrier. 7. Most people put a top on that minimizes the entry of moisture (rain or snow) but permits the escape of moisture that finds its way into the barrier. A typical top is a plastic bucket turned upside down with holes drilled in the sides. I don't use a top and I haven't had a problem. I believe the finely chopped leaves provide an efficient breathable barrier. Good Luck!
...See More
Hardy Begonias in Buffalo, NY
Q
Comments (3)
Results are in! B. Sp. 'Barbara Rogers'- apparently died B.Ravenii BSWJ1954 - Emerged in middle of June. B. cucullata coll.#A1AG-286 - apparently died, but have self sowed seedlings in my Arisaema starter pots, so I did not lose my money completely!!! B. grandis 'Heron's Pirouette'- hardy and spreading well! B. grandis with deep red backs on leaves that I shall call 'Oklahoma Red' as that where it came from. - emerged, but do not know if it had any bulbils last fall. My source is Plant Delights Nursery. ~Gerry Who is hoping for rain in Hamburg...
...See More
noss
11 years ago
Maybe instead of chicken wire around the base of the tree, could you use hardware cloth with the tiny openings? Is that what you meant by sturdy chicken mesh rather than regular chicken wire?

noss
fignewbies
11 years ago
Hi,

To be exact what I had used to surround my little fig tree for winter, please see the image enclosed!
noss
11 years ago
Sure looks very strong. The openings look larger than the hardware cloth I was thinking of, but mice, rats and voles have little mouths and still might be able to gnaw the tree through the openings. Was just a thought. :)
noss
tony_c_m
11 years ago
One thing to think about is that a mouse can squeeze through an opening the size of a dime and a rat can get through a nickel size hole. They will also burrow under the screen if they can't get through it. If they're hungry they will do whatever they can to get that meal. That is where some other kind of protection can help such as, traps, mothballs, rat poison or one of the rodent deterrents that you put on the bark of the tree to make it un-appetizing to them. It seems like there is always some other critters that like figs as much as we do.
imcuban22
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
I live in Chicago and there is over 100,000 Italian immigrants when Chicago was founded a lot of them brought MANY fruits and veggies to Chicago from there home land. I personally have seen the fig trees. There are Micro climates in Chicago 6a-7a. Grown between buildings and in court yards. I have my own its in open area I do protect it very well using what I call arctictropical method. Arctictropical is a gentalman from Utah zone 4 who posted on this board a while back used insulated box as his winter protection.

Related Stories

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Great Design Plant: Retreat to the Shade of Hardy Catalpa

By Jocelyn H. Chilvers

Big foliage and a towering height provide a shady respite in summer, but that's not all hardy catalpa offers dedicated gardeners

LANDSCAPE DESIGN 15 Great Ideas for a Lawn-Free Yard

By Laura Gaskill

End the turf war for good with hardscaping, native grasses and ground covers that save water and are easier to maintain

FRUIT TREES How to Grow Your Own Persimmons

By Marianne Lipanovich

Sturdy and easy to care for, these trees offer bright fruit through winter — and keeping them in bounds is no sweat

FARM YOUR YARD Houzz Call: Home Farmers, Show Us Your Edible Gardens

By Stacy Briscoe

We want to see where your tomatoes, summer squashes and beautiful berries are growing this summer

LANDSCAPE DESIGN See 5 Unexpected Ways to Use Vines

By Falon Mihalic

Vines can grow over slopes, trail off pergolas and add seasonal color to the garden

LIFE Hard Winter? 9 Ways to Battle Cabin Fever

By Becky Harris

We know a lot of you are trapped where it just won’t stop snowing. Here are some ways to survive

SAVING WATER Houzz Call: Are You Letting Go of Your Lawn?

By Annie Thornton

Many facing a drought are swapping turf for less thirsty plantings. If you’re one of them, we’d like to hear about it

GARDENING GUIDES Garden-Friendly Native Alternatives to Overplanted Exotics

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

There are lots of gorgeous, wildlife-friendly native plants ready to make an appearance in your garden

SAVING WATER Xeriscape Gardens: How to Get a Beautiful Landscape With Less Water

By Jocelyn H. Chilvers

Conserve water and make gardening much easier with the xeriscape approach’s 7 principles

COMMUNITY Get a Bird's-Eye View of America's Housing Patterns

See the big picture of how suburban developments are changing the country's landscape, with aerial photos and ideas for the future

Sponsored

More Discussions

Hello everyone...

1

Spring is here and fig season just in front the gates

3

Winter Fig Tree concerns

3