Years ago, when I got my first fig tree, I didnt pay attention to what variety it was. Honestly, I didn't realize how many there were. I figured a fig tree is a fig tree. I've had the dark purplish figs and white/ yellow figs( which I preferred ). So to me, there were 2 varieties . Then, like you, I started researching, and are across the Chicago hardy, and ran out and got one. It would produce, but as mentioned before , they wouldn't fully ripen ( I needed a few more weeks, which is what happened to my dads tree). Then I came across an article on wrapping figs, and started to do that, and still couldn't get the extra few weeks I needed for the figs to ripen. at this point, sit became a challenge I was determined to conquer. I joined the online local fig group. I figured ( no pun intended) that hooking up with a group that is local would be the best source to learn from. They even have a biannual ' Fig Fest" where we all gather, educate, trade and sell fig trees/ cuttings). Thats when I learned about the unlimited varieties out there, their pros and cons .... That his also when I started keeping many varieties in pots, which is a pain in the butt, bu tit works. keeping them watered so they dont dry out, and having a place to putt them in the winter are the biggest challenges. I still have several in the ground which I wrap, always looking for new and better ways to do it that would extend the season for them. I ve seen cardboard. burlap wraps, insulation wraps, people building structures around them... Ive never had one fully die from the cold, but last year, although a relatively mild winter, we had a week of very cold temps ( in the teens) and that was enough to do some decent damage to the branches. I was able to prune them off once unwrapped, but it set them back a bit. Another year, I was trying to be clever and add my own twist to wrapping them, and I didnt leave a vent for moisture/ humidity to escape. Sure enough, a lot of the branches got moldy and died. Didn't kill them, but a set back. This year I wrapped 4, left another 4 or 5 unwrapped ( they have bizarre shapes ( cause I didnt prune them properly in the last) that make it difficult to wrap. The unwrapped ones are looking pretty good actually ( we only had 1 or 2 days that were really cold). I didn't unwrap the others yet , although some in the fig group have started unwrapping this past weekend. My guess I'll unwrap tin the next week or two depending om the extended forecast . As far as the potted ones go, the ones from the cuttings I made , I have so many that Im experimenting with them. I really have nothing to lose, so Some I just moved outside with no protection, others in the make shift green house, some in the garage opening the door on nice days . They are all guinnea pigs to help me find the best methods moving forward. Having a science background, experimenting with them is really fun for me, so Im getting a kick out of it, but my main goal is the predictably and reliably get figs each year from both potted and in ground plants , by skill, and no just by luck.
