Chicago Hardy overwintered indoors has broken dormancy

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

My Chicago Hardy Fig – potted, and brought into the house for winter - broke dormancy, and has started growing. This happened about 5 WEEKS earlier than it did last spring. It’s in a tucked away position so new growth was 6” tall before I noticed. Last winter I had it in the basement, which is darker, though not really colder than the rest of the house. This year I kept it next to an outdoor wall in the hopes it would stay cooler; but it’s not dark. No direct sun, but not dark.

I have very little good light indoors, so it’s bound to get leggy.

Its 2 + years old, and shaped like a lopsided Y, one branch about 4 feet tall, the other 2 ½ feet tall. I have so far not been successful at inducing branching. I’ve cut off the tips; it just produces a new leader.

Anything in particular I should do? I’m tempted to cut off these 2 new sprouted tips to slow it down and avoid it getting leggy.

I am in Zone 5 Chicago area, this tree will not be able to spend much time outdoors until mid May. Thanks for your advice

Featured Answer

Shawn H.

8 years ago

Id feed it and keep it by a window and let it grow, get your figs earlier this year :). shaping the trees is up to your liking, but like posted above hard to suggest without a picture. I put my figs outside in a heated green house already to get them going early this year, im in zone6. not too early to get them going...

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Comments (8)

Moses, Pitt PA, cold W & hot-humid S, z6
8 years ago
Linnea,

Can you provide a photo of it as it is now? All is not lost!

Moses
W Y
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
I'm in Chicago Logan Square.

I will purchase a pot of Chicago Hardy this Spring from Christy Webb, and was wondering... why did you bring the potted plant indoor? letting the plant sit in the pot in the cold could kill it?

or is it because you want to give it a good start early?
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linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago)
Original Author
8 years ago
W Y, From what I researched after buying this plant, "hardy" is relative. It was an impulse purchase and the word "hardy" sucked me in. It won't survive in the Chicago area without protection. If in the ground, it has to be bent over and buried for the winter. More than I want to get into. So I planted it in a large pot. That means it definitely has to be hauled in for the winter. Some keep them in an attached garage, but if it's really cold, I know mine will get below 30 degrees.
dieseler
8 years ago
linnea56 been storing fig plants 30g in attached garage against wall for years now our garage can get into the teens in January and they do fine . When i feel temps like a few years back get to cold i threw some old sheets over them and they were ok.

We are in Illinois also.

Martin
linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago)
Original Author
8 years ago
dieseler, do you put the pot against that part of the garage that is against the house? My garage space is very limited. But maybe I can move something. What variety do you have?
dieseler
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
linnea56 one side yes and other sides also.

Hardy Chicago and some cultivars that are long season .

Martin
linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago)
Original Author
8 years ago
I finally got it moved to where I could take some photos. The long stem (that sprouted 7 weeks ago, is now 2 feet tall. The second smaller branch is now 18" tall. There is one TINY side shoot a few inches long. First side branch it has ever produced. It stands 5 feet tall. I need some fullness on this scrawny tree!