There is a Ray Givan with Nafex that loves to talk to growers about figs.

http://home.planters.net/~thegivans/

A lot will depend upon what State you live in. Each State has a land grant College that usually has a Horticulture Dept. with Extension information online.

Describe your region and weather.
If you have mild winters that don't go much below about 10 degrees you should be OK.
Also, Figs do better where the summers tend to be dry.
There are Figs grown on the West Coast as Far north as Vancouver BC, Canada.

Another Fig Zealot in Washington State is 'Kiwi Bob'

http://www.geocities.com/kiwibobg/kiwifruitsalad.html

Hello
Planting outside in Zone 5b will be pushing the limits even with all the coverings around the plant (except a warm greenhouse like structure). It is not the average low temperatures (say in Zone 5b) that may kill the plant but the spurious very low dips in teperature that come once every few years that persists for a week+ that kills the plants. I am in zone 5a and have not tried outside yet to see if at least the roots will survive but that does not mean I will never try planting outside. I will be trying in Zone 5a Celeste, Hardy Chicago for this experiment next winter after airlayering a spare insurance one.
I just saw pictures of Herman's plants in zone 6b thrivng nicely with good fruit. We are paying big penalty for one zone or 1.5 zone difference. I am not praying for a zone change for the same place becuae that can bring unexpeted other changes.

Yes.
Zone 5B is likely to hit fifteen below. Not good. Figs begin to suffer at plus ten. Are you sure you want to grow figs? I'd go with something a bit tougher, or you will need a greenhouse, or you'll have to move them into a garage in the winter. I doubt that anyone else in your County is growing figs.
If you really must have one fig tree, get a very small type tree and grow it in a container that you can move inside in the winter.

Kim, in illinois i grow them in containers and for the winter move them in garage. I have had good results and lots of figs doing it this way.
If worse comes to worse and you decide not to grow outside you can grow them in containers with good results in your area, perhaps others that grow them in yard in your area will chime in with there results.

Martin

Hey Kim,
Where abouts in Michigan are you from?I have some great variety's I can give you that will do great in Michigan.

Thank you all for the information. I have a few other fruit plants I grow in containers and do not have a problem putting them into an unheated garage. I would need to know what would do well in containers that stays smaller. I love to experiment with different plants and would like to try a fig. Do they need 2 to pollinate?

rob5020, I live in a Detroit suburb in Warren Michigan. If you have anything that you think I could get a few fruits from I would love to try.

BTW, what is air layering? How is it done? Why do you do it? Thanks so much, Kim

If you would consider grapes, give me an email off list. That is my real first hobby. A great deal has been done in the Midwest to develop good cold hardy and disease resistant table and wine grapes. The Late Elmer Swenson of Osceola WI, had dozens of super good grapes, and work continues in Minnesota on developing new varieties. Hardiness would not be the problem as with figs.

Here is a link that might be useful: Grape Catalog