Hi Olga, Years of gardening experience has thought me to use my garden hose to spray with a fine mist fresh water over the trees and their leaves. This must be done early in the morning before the sun is up. I just sprayed my fig trees this morning and for the past few mornings that are out with no covers on and sporting figs as well as leaves. I had about five days of frost to deal with. Just donÂt use a heavy spray that may knock off the young leaves. Be sure to spray every leaf so the frost is sort of washed off. Lou

Yes, any one can grow figs in ground in a zone 5, in the north. We have been able to grow them. We have been growing and testing for figs that can be grown in our zone 5b/6a location, for around ten years. We have in test plots or pots around 26 different figs, that are suppose to be cold hardy and or rare. After ten years of testing we found 3 figs that do very well in our zone 5b/6a Connecticut location, grown outside, in ground. In order to grow figs in a cold climate, you need more then just a fig that is cold hardy. You also need a fig that is rain resistant, when the fig is ripening. If not you will end up with all the ripening fruit exploding, just before they are ready to be picked A fig that is late winter/early spring, sun resistant. Your cold hardy fig might make it through the winter, only to be killed by late winter sun. A fig that will ripen early enough to beat your first frost. If it does not, you will end up with a lot of green figs, that never ripen. A fig that produces more then just a hand full of figs. That is if you want enough figs for fresh eating, fig wine, preserves, and so many you can share with your friends. A fig that is FMV resistant. Or at least a fig that can over come the disease if and when it is infected. If not the fig will never be cold hardy. A fig that can produce sweet figs even in cold northern soils. I can send to any one who request it, a list of northern climate, cold hardy figs we are testing, and the results of our testing. Along with the names of the only three figs that we recommend for main crop figs, for northern gardeners. We are still working on the best breba crop figs for the north. We have several that are showing a lot of promise. These three main crop figs, make growing figs in ground easy, and enjoyable in cold climates. We feel these three figs are more cold hardy then Hardy Chicago. If interested, send request for list to robertcharper@gmail.com Bob Harper zone 5b/6a - Conneticut

a few years ago I successfully grew Chicago hardy figs in Zone 5. it was my first experience with figs, and they tasted amazing! There are better tasting figs out there and there are a few different flavor profiles you can get with Figs. If in the ground is necessary, get the Chicago hardy, know it will die to the ground each year, and it may not show new growth until May/June from the roots. If you can keep it on the south side of your house, you will likely have even better success. If you are willing to look after pots and move them into the garage or an unheated shed for winter, you could grow a whole slew of different figs.

Bluemoonlight. because of what you said I bought two Negronne and I am going to give one a try in ground. I think it's too late to let any one fig tree to get established but I will plant as soon as spring hits and keep them asleep on my cold porch for now. That dark fruit looks so tasty and sweet! Thanks everyone, it's so good to see some have having productive trees grown in winter climates as cold as I get! Dee, I plant mine up almost against my home on the side that faces south and out of wind to create a different zone for it. Probably a zone 7 or even better on how well I insulate it. Then I will tie all the branches together once they are bare for the winter and then wrap insulation around them from the top to the ground, then put a plastic bag over the insulation to keep it dry. I also mulch mine about a foot up all around the trunk and 2 feet away all around. That's ii. That is my way. Many different ways to do it. Some use chicken wire and make a circle that fits over the tree that allows you to fill leaves all the way to the top and then mulch the trunk area in. This works too. I have done that. As long as the ground does not freeze hard and that you protect the branches and trunk from sub- 0 weather and the cold nasty winds, you should be fine. We are lucky that trees go dormant and need to during this time. You should try it.