Comparing "named" Hardy Chicago Figs

Zone 7A - Greater Philadelphia
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[@jedd.5407]

Lowe's was mass selling Chicago Hardy Fig trees this Spring by the hundreds per store. I already had one, and easily made several cuttings. It's AMAZING how easy this type of fig tree can root, while my in ground White Marseilles honey fig doesn't seem to tolerate cutting-rootings at all. I've tried fig-pop, water rooting, and coconut coir box rooting and out of 20 cuttings I have TWO to root and grow. Makes fig trees even more fascinating. Thanks Ross!

[@firstname7769]

Hey bro, this my first month growing figs 😅. I purchased a Chicago hardy from the local nursery. I am now interested buying a few more varieties. What variety would you suggest for taste/cold-hardy? I’m in north east. I’m planning on growing them in pots and bringing them into the garage in the winter. 💯🙏 great work with the videos bro

[@stingalingaling7359]

Thanks for the video Ross. Makes you want to explore more of these types. They are definitely underrated.

[@OldMotherLogo]

I would love, for sentimental reasons, to grow a Hardy Hoboken. I was baptized in Hoboken. My grandfather, who lived in Jersey City, had a fig tree and it is because of him that I love figs. The cuttings I have seen for sale, when they were available, were way outside my budget. Hoping they become more available. By the way, something you can do for ants: make ant traps of sugar, borax, and a little water. Look it up. It is easy to find a recipe and it has worked well for me.

[@wolfebilt]

Hardy Chicago "types"? This is a new concept to me. I can understand people getting unnamed cuttings or plants and calling them what they think the variety might be. I'm just curious, do the varieties that you are calling hardy chicago types have the same zone 5 cold hardiness across the board? I'm growing about 20 Hardy Chicago, all originally were cuttings from the same 2 plants, several years old. I would love to grow more hardy types, as I'm in zone 5b.

[@RossRaddi]

Nothing will survive 5b unprotected. Hardy Chicago can survive 0F unprotected in the right location. They all have similar but varied hardiness, vigor, production, flavor, etc...

[@danielsmith336]

@wolfebilt Aka Mt Etna figs You'll find more information if you search that term rather than "Chicago Hardy type"

[@RossRaddi]

@@BlackJesus8463 I'm talking about the tops.

[@wolfebilt]

@@danielsmith336 thanks I will be looking those up, much appreciated.

[@davecphotographyuk]

I'm surprised they don't sell this variety in England as it would be highly suitable for the same reasons as in the U.S

[@nmnate]

Have you had any Dark Portuguese trees? I'm going to finally put one in the ground next spring. I always thought it was a little different, the leaves are quite fuzzy. I'm probably going to put my Bardonnex Petite Violet in the ground too and maybe a Ronde de Bordeaux if I can get one early next year. I'm not sure about the Bardonnex hardiness, but I'm willing to give it a try in 6b.

[@dr.j5642]

I don't have Azores Dark, but I have Kesariani here in SoCal and it is fantastic

[@imaeatit4953]

Is Bill calling it Sicilian Black now? When I bought one from him 3 years ago it was labeled as Sicilian Dark. Doesn't really matter though, just wondering. It does give really good tasting figs. I'm surprised he thought it wasn't as good as other HC types. My best tasting fig of all last year came from that tree, though I only had about a dozen varieties fruiting last year(including Hardy Chicago and MBVS). This year it has stiffer competition with twice as many varieties fruiting and Malta Black has been edging it out as the best so far.

[@RossRaddi]

Sicilian dark. That's right. My mistake.

[@SunnySydeUp]

I had so many ants this year! They took over the yard and invaded my house. I had to use an ant pesticide for the first time. At least my garden hadn’t been invaded yet, so it remains pesticide free.

[@tonyb7319]

Are they Hardy Chicago types or Mt Etna types? I thought Hardy Chicago or Chicago Hardy are Mt Etna.

[@tonyboca4848]

How do you keep birds away?

[@Msetmoi]

Is Chicago Hardy type the same as Mt. Etna type?

[@RossRaddi]

Yeah. Mt Etna is a bad term if you ask me. I call them Hardy Chicago types.

[@Msetmoi]

@@RossRaddi Do you mind explaining why you prefer calling them Hardy Chicago rather than Mt. Etna?

[@RossRaddi]

@@Msetmoi Mt Etna is believed to be the origin of Hardy Chicago. There's 0 proof to back up that statement. Why name an entire group of figs after a volcano where not a single Hardy Chicago fig has been found?

[@ebarriger]

Zone 5b here should I grow these?

[@RossRaddi]

Absolutely. You'll need to grow it in a pot.

[@tylerwernli1193]

I do bet if the Kesariani tree were as mature as the azores dark it'd be as good.

[@ericbeecham1757]

New subscribers get cuttings right 😂

[@roblong8497]

Ross would you please name all the Chicago hardy types for me

[@AllYourRAw]

Look on his variety spread sheet

[@RossRaddi]

What he said. There's 80 of them listed in the spreadsheet.

[@kingjames4886]

what? hardy chicago IS a named type. Ficus carica 'Hardy Chicago'