Overview

Experience the joy of growing your own fruit with these exceptional 10 Chicago Hardy Fig Starter Plugs. Each plug represents a young, vigorous live plant of the renowned ‘Chicago Hardy’ fig (Ficus carica ‘Chicago Hardy’). This variety is celebrated for its remarkable cold hardiness, making it a fantastic choice for gardeners in cooler climates where other fig types might struggle. Also known as the Bensonhurst Purple fig, this self-pollinating tree or shrub produces delicious, sweet figs. These starter plugs provide a perfect foundation for establishing a productive fig patch, whether you’re an experienced gardener or just beginning your journey into growing fig trees. With proper care, these plants will mature into robust specimens, yielding a bountiful harvest of delectable fruit.

The ‘Chicago Hardy’ fig is more than just a fruit producer; it’s also a beautiful addition to any landscape. Its attractive foliage and unique growth habit make it suitable for various garden designs. These Ficus carica Chicago Hardy plants are known for their adaptability, thriving in containers or planted directly in the ground. Their ability to regenerate from the roots even after a harsh winter ensures a reliable crop year after year. Invest in these high-quality starter plugs and look forward to enjoying fresh, homegrown figs right from your backyard.

Key Benefits

The Chicago Hardy Fig Starter Plugs offer numerous advantages for gardeners looking to add a resilient and productive fruit tree to their collection. These benefits include:

• Exceptional Cold Hardiness: The ‘Chicago Hardy’ fig is renowned for its ability to withstand colder temperatures than many other fig varieties. It can often survive winter conditions down to USDA Zone 5 with proper protection, making it a reliable choice for a wider range of climates. This ensures a consistent harvest even after chilly winters.
• Self-Pollinating Nature: Each cold tolerant fig tree is self-fertile, meaning you only need one plant to produce fruit. This simplifies the growing process and guarantees a yield without the need for multiple trees or specific pollinators, making it ideal for smaller gardens or container growing.
• Delicious & Abundant Fruit: Enjoy a generous harvest of medium-sized, sweet, and flavorful figs. The fruit has a rich, jammy texture and a brownish-purple skin, perfect for fresh eating, preserves, or baking.
• Versatile Growth Habit: The Ficus carica Chicago Hardy can be trained as a small tree or a multi-stemmed shrub, offering flexibility in how you integrate it into your landscape. It’s also well-suited for container gardening on patios or balconies.
• Low Maintenance: Once established, these fig trees are relatively easy to care for, requiring minimal pruning and watering compared to some other fruit trees. Their robust nature makes them forgiving for novice gardeners interested in growing fig trees.
• Ornamental Appeal: Beyond its fruit production, the ‘Chicago Hardy’ fig boasts attractive, lobed leaves that add a touch of Mediterranean charm to your garden or patio, enhancing its aesthetic value.
• Rapid Growth & Production: These starter plugs will quickly establish themselves and often begin producing fruit within their first few years, allowing you to enjoy your homegrown figs sooner.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your Chicago Hardy Fig Starter Plugs is straightforward, ensuring a healthy and productive plant. When it comes to sunlight, these plants thrive in full sun, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. If you’re growing fig trees indoors or in containers, choose the brightest spot available, ideally a south-facing window. For outdoor planting, select a location that offers ample sun exposure throughout the day to encourage fruit production and robust growth.

Watering is crucial, especially during the establishment phase and dry periods. Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Allow the top inch or two of soil to dry out slightly between waterings. Overwatering can lead to root rot, while underwatering can stress the plant and reduce fruit yield. Good drainage is key. The ‘Chicago Hardy’ fig prefers well-draining soil with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH. A good quality potting mix for container plants or an amended garden soil with compost will provide the necessary nutrients and drainage. These Ficus carica Chicago Hardy plants are quite adaptable but will perform best in fertile, loamy soil.

The ‘Chicago Hardy’ fig is particularly notable for its cold hardiness, typically thriving in USDA Zones 5-10. In colder zones (5-7), the plant may die back to the ground in winter but will resprout from the roots in spring, still producing a crop on new wood. In warmer zones, it behaves more like a traditional tree or large shrub. Fertilize your cold tolerant fig tree sparingly. A balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring as new growth emerges is usually sufficient. Avoid over-fertilizing, which can promote leafy growth at the expense of fruit. Watch out for common pests like fig rust or spider mites, and address them promptly with organic pest control methods if necessary. Regular pruning to remove dead or crossing branches and to maintain shape will also benefit the plant’s health and productivity.

Size & Details

These 10 Chicago Hardy Fig Starter Plugs are carefully nurtured young plants, ready for transplanting into larger pots or directly into your garden. Each plug is typically 2-4 inches tall at the time of shipping, with a healthy root system developed for easy establishment. While actual size may vary slightly based on growing conditions and time of year, each plant is guaranteed to be a viable starter. The ‘Chicago Hardy’ fig is known for its moderate growth rate, and under optimal conditions, it can reach a mature height of 10-15 feet and a similar spread if grown as a tree, or can be maintained as a smaller shrub with pruning. For container growing, the size will be restricted by the pot, typically reaching 4-8 feet. These plants ship bare root with no pot, ensuring a lightweight and efficient delivery. Expect your Bensonhurst Purple fig to begin producing fruit within 1-3 years after planting, with full production typically achieved in 3-5 years.

The starter plugs are an excellent way to get a head start on growing fig trees, providing a more established plant than seeds. They are an economical choice for those looking to cultivate multiple fig plants. The robust nature of the cold tolerant fig tree means these young plants are resilient and capable of quickly adapting to their new environment, setting the stage for years of delicious fig harvests.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big do these Chicago Hardy Fig Starter Plugs get? A: When mature, the Chicago Hardy Fig Starter Plugs can grow into a tree 10-15 feet tall and wide, or be kept smaller as a shrub with pruning. In containers, their size will be more restricted, typically reaching 4-8 feet.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? How much sunlight does it need? A: The Ficus carica Chicago Hardy is primarily an outdoor plant, thriving in full sun (6-8+ hours daily). It can be grown indoors in a very bright, sunny location, but outdoor cultivation is generally more successful for fruit production.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? Is it good for beginners? A: Yes, the ‘Chicago Hardy’ fig is considered relatively easy to care for, especially due to its cold hardiness and self-pollinating nature. It’s an excellent choice for beginners interested in growing fig trees.
• Q: What condition will the 10 Chicago Hardy Fig Starter Plugs arrive in? A: Your 10 Chicago Hardy Fig Starter Plugs will arrive as bare root plants, meaning they are shipped without soil or a pot. This method minimizes transplant shock and ensures a healthy root system.
• Q: Can I use the fruit from this Bensonhurst Purple fig? A: Absolutely! The ‘Chicago Hardy’ fig, also known as the Bensonhurst Purple fig, produces delicious, sweet fruit that is excellent for fresh eating, making jams, preserves, or baking into desserts.
• Q: How long until this cold tolerant fig tree produces fruit? A: These starter plugs typically begin to produce fruit within 1-3 years of planting, with full production usually achieved in 3-5 years. Patience will be rewarded with a bountiful harvest.
• Q: Will this fig tree survive winter in my zone? What’s the minimum temperature? A: The cold tolerant fig tree ‘Chicago Hardy’ is hardy down to USDA Zone 5. In zones 5-7, it may die back to the ground in winter but will reliably regrow from the roots and still produce fruit on new wood.