The local Lowes store has gotten in some Chicago Hardy Figs. I am wondering if these need a polinator to produce fruit? They only have the one kind stocked so if so I would have to find a pollinator somewhere else. According to the tag, these should survive in my zone.

I suggest you mulch them heavily and wrap them well before freezing weather for the first 2 or 3 years so they have time to make mature wood which can stand the cold better. Also plant them in a protected location which gets as much sun as possible. Decreased sunlight equals decreased fruit production. Claud

"I am wondering if these need a polinator to produce fruit? "

Nope, they don't need a pollinator, it'll produce just fine by itself.

Shoe (fig lover!)

ooo thank you so much! I love that it doesn't need a polinator, I'm gonna try this one!

Let me know when you get your first harvest! I send you a great fig preserves recipe.

will do

I just found this recipe the other day

http://www.landolakes.com/Blog...

Horseshoe said:

Let me know when you get your first harvest!

I had to chuckle at that Shoe... first harvest never gets to house here. Fresh figs taste too wonderful!

And I'll bet I'm not alone!

I have a fig tree in a 10 gallon pot. Its about 4 years old now. I bring it in every winter, then back out again in the spring. It seem super healthy, but it has yet to produce any figs - I keep hoping.

Kristi, I agree. I eat more figs while standing next to the tree than elsewhere! The years I get an abundance, or save them up for a few days, will I make some jam/preserves!

Geof, depending on what variety you have will determine whether it is "pot friendly." Some of the smaller bushes, Kadota comes to mind, are better suited for container growing than others. And keep in mind, feeding it too much fertilizer will also keep it producing mostly foliage and very little, if any, fruit. Just something to keep in mind. From another perspective, I've had in-ground fig trees that never produced til their fourth or fifth year so hang in there. I'm sending you vibrations of hope!

Shoe

Thanks for the tip on over fertilizing - I do tend to over fertilize my potted plants. I'll slow it down next year and see if it helps.

Good advice on the fertilizer. I keep mine in a large container also and was told to side dress it with an organic compost in springtime. Other than that, no fertilizer. Good luck with yours Geof...