You could dig deep enough trench to fit and tie up branches close together wrap with burlap, dig around base of plant and knock it over into trench cover with plywood then lots of dirt piled high up.The plywood helps not to damage plant when digging up in spring. Could build a chicken coop circular cage wrap tree in burlap or roofing paper ,fill with dry leaves cover with tarp. Heard of mice damaging plant in winter. First option grandmother had my uncles do that process each season in Chicago and it worked well. I observed it as a child many times and its a lot of work. There are other options that folks use i'm sure. Martin

Impossible to tell, too young. Looks like a tissue cultured fig. Given good care, it should grow like a weed. It could produce some figs in late summer, 2019, not this year yet, too young. It needs to be outside as soon as frosts are over. I would pot grow it this year until it gets some size on it. In ground from 2019 and on, it will need winter protection every winter if your want a decent crop. Moses

Thomas, I can send you a few cuttings of a hardy fig. It’s either BT/CH, or Celeste. The figs are very good either way.

Hi Lina in 2012 as an experiment i planted our 10 year old potted hardy chicago inground with the intent to leave unprotected in winter to see if near chicago z 5b how long for survival. Following season it died near to ground and grew back as a multi branch plant as the main sprouted multiple branches. Then Jan of 2014 was the cold winter everyone talked about here is picture of plant morning of when temps went to 19 below zero and plant un covered except for the snow. Following season it grew back slowly pictured below 5 months later date stamped June 8 2014 Late September it produced some ripe figs. In conclusion plant would start out low near ground and produce late in season later than the potted figs in yard but it survived non the less unprotected. For several of the plants last years i simply threw over a cheap blue tarp over it held down by large stones and it made the ripe figs come a bit earlier maybe several weeks if i recall. Then its demise came when i notice plant was not doing well and noticed it had a bad ant infestation while looking they were biting my ankles and i had to leave . I burned the area and then later tilled over area. I still have hardy chicago from the original bought many years ago growing in large container and a few others. Hope this gives you an idea of hardy chicago fig plant as mine never grew past the height of fence you see in picture which is 5 feet tall. It was ants that killed it not the winters. Best to You Martin