A Fig Tree Grows in Chicago: New Chicago Hardy Fig Tree

With this post we welcome Joanna Miller, who is filing some correspondent reports from Chicago. Give Joanna a warm welcome there in the Windy City!

We've long dreamed of growing our own fig tree, but living in Chicago, we assumed it would take a move to the West Coast to make our dream come true. Little did we know the fig tree would come to us. The Chicago Hardy fig, also known as "Hardy Chicago" and "Bensonhurst Purple," is a relatively new variety that originated in Sicily.

Fresh figs in the North, grown in our own apartment, by late summer! Is it possible? Read on...

Suitable for USDA Hardiness Zone 6 and higher, the Chicago Hardy will die back in the fall and grow again from the soil line in the spring. The Chicago Botanic Garden recommends it for container gardening, making it a great choice for apartment dwellers.

Chicago Hardy's fruit will be sweet and ready to eat by late summer or early fall. We're imagining leisurely August and September evenings spent sipping wine and nibbling cheese and freshly picked figs. To be honest, the thought seems almost too good to be true, at least to a winter-weary Chicagoan who's afraid to pack away the winter coats just yet.

In Chicago, Chicago Hardy trees are available at Gethsemane Garden Center, and online at Logee's.

-- Joanna

(Images: Joanna Miller and Logee's)

Comments (4)

Figs are finicky at best (in Chicago), once the weather starts cooling off they just stop ripening, so you'll be really counting on Indian summer to keep them going a get a few more. Some years a tree will feed the neighborhood, some years you get just a few to ripen, in general its worth it but don't kid yourself about calmly nibbling the figs, you will be treasuring each fig you get while keeping evil squirrels at bay.

I've been daydreaming about figs for months, but thought I would have to resort to buying them at the store. I have no yard and a small deck. Thanks to your info, I purchased two fig trees from Logees and hope they will arrive next week. I'm so excited!

They sell these at Lowes for $10 for a tiny slip. Probably take 3 years for you to get any fruit on something that size (if that pic is your 'tree').

Almost all my transplanted relatives from Italy have a fig tree in their Chicago yards and have had for YEARS. Somehow this has become 'trendy' now for everyone else - I don't get it myself.

My great aunt in LaGrange, IL had a couple 20' tall fig tree she's been growing since probly the 1950's...produced a TON of figs every single year. Unbelievable flavor. But don't fool yourself: growing Figs in Chicago takes a certain touch and great devotion to get your Fig Tree to reach this level however.

If ground planted, you need to bundle it up each fall, tarp it TIGHTLY, insulate with a layer of leaves, throw another tarp over that again TIGHTLY, and then throw another layer of leaves as far up the tree as you can "pack them" along with soil to keep everything insulated. This *should* get your Fig Tree through the winter until Mothers Day when you can unpack it. Or just bring the tree inside to winter over - only put it outside after frost (Mothers Day or later).

And hey good luck with the fig! I hope it makes it! :)