There may be for example with ours below mind you it is over 16 seasons old.

Our hardy chicago was 10 years old when pulled out of 30g container 5/6 years ago put inground out in open covered for few years with simple tarp dies to ground level each season comes back and produces figs late in season.

The year of the polar vortex have pic showing thermometer around 20 below it did not get figs that following season or just a few very late if it did but main thing it survived.

Lately i just trim back enough in late fall and put a 30g container over it much easier personally to do .

Personal opinion is that taste wise it is a excellent fig to eat if picked at proper time and much under rated because of it being so available .

One very reliable fig cultivar.

Martin

Martin,

Thanks for your input. If a fig tree can perform well in Chicago it is indeed a winter survivor.

I agree that Chicago Hardy is underrated for flavor. It is great tasting and very abundant with fruit production.

Moses

Another nice thing about HC is the eye is tight and has thin skin.

Martin

Sal's (Gene) aka Sal's (EL) seems equally hardy. It may or may not be the same fig.

Florea and a fig called Unknown Chios Dark, after just one winter in ground, have rebounded better after die back than several same-age Mt Etnas in ground and will produce a modest crop this year.

Eboone,

Can you describe the flavor of Florea, and is it an early ripener? Thank you.

Moses

Eboone

How time flies.Many years back i talked over phone to Chris at Bellecare but stated could not ship Sal's to me and to contact EL as they had received the plant from them.

Long story short purchased it grew side by side with also now closed Paradise nursery's Chicago Hardy.

They had similar leaf shape with subtle difference , fig taste between the 2 was C.H. had more of a richer taste while Sal's was more a mild and sweeter.

Herman i believe was 1st person to talk about Florea being very hardy he had it back then as well i think he mentioned it being grown in another country perhaps were family from that has cold climate but not absolutely sure as memory escapes me about his post long ago.

Martin

Florea is one of the earliest main crop figs, along with RdB and Improved Celeste. It is, if well ripened, basically very sweet without a lot if fruity type flavors. It is productive.

Ed

Martin - yes Herman’s father grew it, I think (but not sure) in Serbia. The same fig seems to exist in Bulgaria called Michurinska-10, perhaps in other places as well.

i will see if I can taste a difference this season between Sals and Hardy Chicago- perhaps as they get older and better established. Both are in ground and currently over 7 ft tall

Thanks Eboone for that information to refresh memory i do recall you from F4fun ,Herman has posted here in past hoping he is doing well.

Although never grew Florea the RdB cultivar grown in container was always earliest here just not as cold hardy as i had hoped and mentioned that on F4fun back then .

Martin

Martin are you interested in cuttings from your Violett de Solies? Have them available, let me know.

Bob.

The madeira's i treasure the most for its flavor on palate and still hold out hope as i cannot replace them being UcDavis no longer has the scion program along with one of them i finally was able to have it show FMV symptom free after constant propagating from mother tree i have had since 2008. It is shown above.

Noire de Barbentane just started growing from soil line and Hardy Chicago started sprouting from its limbs.

The 3 year old Madeira that looked fmv free of course only a test would tell for sure from last season.It was a lot of propagating to get to that point with Madeira and heart breaking. Still i look each day at it after cutting it back for a node to awaken even sprayed some old harpin on it had laying around.

Jolly Tiger is totally lost i originally bought from now closed nursery
that first brought it out , it was so expensive back then i had called
and talked to the owner on phone about it but only grew it for the
beauty of its leaves as the taste was not good to a me so no big a deal. Spring started ok
but turned cold un like all other years growing the figs.

Martin

Martin, any idea as what you are going to do next. I am wondering myself as what to do next, got 12 figtree's in large containers 20 gl and 25. Next January i'll be hitting the 8 mark. My figtree's all showing a lot of fruits but the 95 degrees so soon put the ca bass on them, pick a few and they were kind of dry. Hope things will go better for you, Bob.

Bob not really sure as the Mrs want to sell house and move to warm climate and not see snow anymore . Will probably when the time comes make some small plants to take to a new home and if the Madeira makes it then i take it in its large container.Hitting the 8 mark well God Bless you Bob and many more.

Martin

Hi Martin, I can send you a cutting in the fall or start an airlayer of my UCD Black Maderia if you want.

John

Deerhunter appreciate the offer. My UcDavis plant from 2008 after severe pruning now just sprouted 1 tiny 1/4 inch stem with leaf forming another propagated madeira from above parent showed no symptoms of fmv and grew very well going into 4th season has yet to wake up also i gave it a severe pruning same time as its parent plant.

So i must decline offer but thanks for the consideration.

Martin

Ok , In case you change your mind offer is still good.

john