Zone 5b Fig Tree, Year 2

Two year old Chicago Fig.

It's now well into year two for the little Chicago Hardy Fig Tree I planted in my backyard last spring, and it seems to be quite healthy despite dying back almost to the ground during the winter.

I am located on the border of USDA zones 5b and 6a, much north of where figs are usually grown. I was a little worried that this variety of fig wouldn't be as hardy as it's name suggested, but those fears seem to be unfounded. However, I cannot evaluate the claims that the roots can survive down to minus 30 Fahrenheit, my climate just doesn't get that cold. 

The top of the trunk received frost damage during the winter, so I cut it back to a foot tall and it's sent out lots of growth over the summer. I suspect the protection I gave it over the winter wasn't enough to fully insulate it from the weather (I separated a bale of hay and wrapped it aound the trunk).

I know some gardeners around here that say they bury theirs in a trench and others who say they don't protect them at all and let them grow back every year. After seeing how well this one has rebounded, I suspect the later strategy might be a viable option. Still, this fall I plan on protecting it again, but with more mass to insulate it.

I did get one fig develop towards the end of June. Then, I left it to ripen on the tree while I left on vacation for a week, expecting to be able to harvest it on my return...

Yeah, that was a bad idea. I don't know what ate it while I was gone, but I'm sure it enjoyed eating a fresh ripe fig. Still, I might just get a harvest from it sometime in the fall, before the first harvest.