I'm sorry I was slow to respond, but it looks like Tonytran had the same experience I did and my figs look just about exactly the same size as his (both the plant and the fruit). As for whether they will ripen or not, I just don't know. I have had 3-4 ripen already, but they seem to be odd-balls since the vast majority of my fruits are still a little larger than marbles. My season, by the way, is about 6 months or so....the last frost is usually in mid April and the first frost usually in mid-October. I am in middle Tennessee, btw. I uncovered my Chicago hardy figs in mid April and they appeared completely dead. I cut the dead wood back to about 8 inches up from the ground, at which point I saw a little green so I stopped. Nothing happened for like a month or so (which makes their eventual growth and fruit more amazing) but then it slowly started to grow back. It grew slowly until around July, then took off and put out fruits as it grew. Its now about 4 foot tall and has lots of small green fruit. Again, my situation sounds and looks very much like Tonytrans, so I guess it isn't THAT unusual after all. BTW....the 10 new figs I planted THIS YEAR are about 3 feet tall and also have a good deal of fruit. They aren't nearly as thick in fruit or brush as the ones that are 3 year old re-starts after winter kill. If you have other questions let me know.

Joe, Just read some of your questions. A five gallon bucket might be a little too small. Sooner or later it will hold your trees back. Better to convert a 18-gallon storage tub by adding drainage holes along the bottom SIDES of the tub, and fill it with a quick draining mix. Plant your tree in this, and you will be good for 4-5 years. Containerized trees MUST have there roots pruned every 3-5 years, and potted back up with new growing mix. You can still use the original, 18 gallon container indefinitely, as long as it is in good condition. Home Depot sells these storage tubs for less than $10.00. They are also straight-sided, so, take up less room when storing. If you group four containers together into a square, a fifth container can be stacked on top where all four corners come together. Saves space. (Use a dolly to roll the trees around. Dollies prevent hernias). An unheated garage will probably be warmer than outside, and the killing, drying, winds will not be a problem. Try to do whatever it takes to avoid the deep, hard freezing around containerized roots. Maybe a thermostatically controlled heater can come on just to keep the trees above freezing....heating cables around the tubs...small light bulbs under each tub...large cardboard boxes, inverted over each tub will hold/trap residual warmth from the cement floor...etc. It depends on how many trees you will plant to store. Even very low-wattage Christmas lights woven around the tubs will help with the warmth, and only costs a few cents a month to use. When growing season arrives, you can place the containerized trees into a shallow hole, container and all, and pile mulch up the sides of the containers. Roots will eventually grow out of the SIDE HOLES of your tubs, then into the ground. Your trees will love the extra, root room in the cool soil. You can run a sharp spade down and along the sides of your tubs when it turns cooler, and time to store the figs in the garage once again. If you drill drainage holes into the flat, bottom section of the tub, wandering roots will be impossible to sever with a spade without a lot of back-breaking digging. Growing your fig trees will be easy. Keeping them alive, and undamaged, from year to year, not so much. You will be able to do it without any problems if you plan for the harsh winters. Your unheated garage will be an asset, and will save your trees. Grow in containers and do the "fig shuffle". Bring trees into, and out of, storage like many other fig fanatics. Like I said....Zone-5 Ohio ain't sunny, Greece. Good luck. Frank

Hey everyone - I have a brown turkey fig I got from a garden center in May - it was on a partly sunny porch in its original container and was re-potted into a larger container - it was very happy and green and producing new leaves so fast , I never pinched or pruned bc I had read mixed reviews about it , I even had 3 baby figs pop up in early July that were growing fast and then suddenly stopped - recently I moved and the fig tree is now in full sun , south facing - the tree is still growing new leaves but they aren't as green as they were when they were small but they are slightly larger than the leaves that are lower than them - they are slightly yellow and I've been trying to keep up my watering we have very hot summers and I've read container figs need lots of water - also the fig is starting to get so heavy it is drooping - I guess my question is - what to do now ?! Prune / pinch the actual fruit to let it concentrate on leaves ? Any advice greatly appreciated - First days on the porch - first fruit Fig tree now ( figs are towards the bottom )

I have a detached shed that I insulated with roll fiberglass insulation, walls and roof. I supplement with an oil fill heater plugged into a thermo cube plug. Turns on at 35 and off at 45 degrees. I have a thermometer which saves the hig and lows, so far my range has been between 28 and 47. Btw, after the last snow storm I shoveled some snow on top of my pots, letting it melt and gradually water the pots. Not a lot, just enough to moisten the pots.