Chicago Hardy

[rayray]

Not quite ready but soon. This is a Chicago Hardy that I got from Edible Lanscapes a while back.

If I’m not mistaken, it was either given to or discovered in a Chicago neighborhood by Fred Borne who then distributed this hardy fig to some nurseries, one being to Ediable Lanscapes, the fig had no name but it was hardy and new it was from Chicago so they began selling it as Hardy Chicago hence the birth of the name, Hardy Chicago. I think it was the owner of Edible Lanscapes that named the fig not Fred Borne.

Some speculated that Hardy Chicago and Bensonhurst Purple are the same fig—but I believe there was a poster on the other forum said that Belleclare nursery sold both tree’s the Chicago Hardy and Bensonhurst Purple, the later since the 1960’s and that they were different tree’s.

Anyways here’s a pic of my Chicago Hardy.

 

[ktrain]

Not quite ready but soon. This is a Chicago Hardy that I got from Edible Lanscapes a while back.

If I’m not mistaken, it was either given to or discovered in a Chicago neighborhood by Fred Borne who then distributed this hardy fig to some nurseries, one being to Ediable Lanscapes, the fig had no name but it was hardy and new it was from Chicago so they began selling it as Hardy Chicago hence the birth of the name, Hardy Chicago. I think it was the owner of Edible Lanscapes that named the fig not Fred Borne.

Some speculated that Hardy Chicago and Bensonhurst Purple are the same fig—but I believe there was a poster on the other forum said that Belleclare nursery sold both tree’s the Chicago Hardy and Bensonhurst Purple, the later since the 1960’s and that they were different tree’s.

Anyways here’s a pic of my Chicago Hardy.

I have a few left on my in ground tree, probably not worth eating though.
There are also some green ones that will not ripen.

Good fig in any case.

 

[bushdoctor82]

I always wanted to know who is selling the “true” Chicago Hardy and Bensonhurst Purple. Many trees labeled as CH have different shaped figs and leaves.

 

[rayray]

I always wanted to know who is selling the “true” Chicago Hardy and Bensonhurst Purple. Many trees labeled as CH have different shaped figs and leaves.

Yes, it’s confusing. I understand how there’s all these Mt. Etna’s/Montebello’s figs, but to have all these Chicago Hardy’s even if the CH may or may not be from that region doesn’t make sense.

I should send an email to Edible Lanscapes and find out if the story of them getting a fig cutting from Fred Borne then naming it “Chicago Hardy/Hardy Chicago is true.

 

[rayray]

@bushdoctor82

I emailed Edible Landscaping and asked them if they got this fig directly from Fred Borne, and that they were the one's that named it as they began distributing it to the public.

I read so much in so many places about so many things maybe I get all this stuff jumbled in my head and make up new story's

 

[rayray]

I always wanted to know who is selling the “true” Chicago Hardy and Bensonhurst Purple. Many trees labeled as CH have different shaped figs and leaves.

I emailed Edible Lanscaping and the owner got back to me.

This info came from Michael McConkey, the owner.

Fred Borne was a NAFEX member, who happened to acquire a cold hardy fig from Chicago.

Bob Kurle (a top fruit and nut enthusiast) who knew Fred Borne and Michael McConkey of Edible Landscaping told Michael about this fig and that he should get in contact with Fred and try to get some cuttings from him. Fred happened to be living in Florida at the time when Michael got the cuttings.

Fred Borne got the cold hardy fig from a fella that lived on the lake in a U-shaped house in Chicago, the guy said once the fig tree was established it would fruit even without winter protection. (Michael thinks he still has the letter from Fred Borne but has to find it)

Fred Borne, nor the guy in Chicago had the name or gave this particular fig a name.

Michael McConkey took the info he had recieved from Fred and named this fig Hardy Chicago before he distributed it to the public through Edible Landscaping. So, yes Michael named it Hardy Chicago.

Sometime down the line, Michael got a "Sals fig" from Hank Mathies due to all the hype going around at the time. After growing it side by side, Hardy Chicago and Sals fig he came to the conclusion that they were the same fig.

I told Michael that there was some discussions on fig forums that Hardy Chicago and Bensonhurst Purple were the same fig. That the story went that an Italian moved from the Mt. Etna area of Sicily to NYC before making his way to Chicago taking the fig with him. I also said there was a discussion from another fig forum that Belleclare Nursery (now defunct) use to sell both the Hardy Chicago and Bensonhurst Purple, but that they were different figs, not the same one.

Michael told me the Chicago guy never said anything about Mt. Etna, Sicily.

He would have to find the letter, but if he remembers correctly this fig made it's way to Chicago from Mexico, not NYC.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


So, here's a little history of a fig that came to be named Hardy Chicago.

 

[bushdoctor82]

I emailed Edible Lanscaping and the owner got back to me.

This info came from Michael McConkey, the owner.

Fred Borne was a NAFEX member, who happened to acquire a cold hardy fig from Chicago.

Bob Kurle (a top fruit and nut enthusiast) who knew Fred Borne and Michael McConkey of Edible Landscaping told Michael about this fig and that he should get in contact with Fred and try to get some cuttings from him. Fred happened to be living in Florida at the time when Michael got the cuttings.

Fred Borne got the cold hardy fig from a fella that lived on the lake in a U-shaped house in Chicago, the guy said once the fig tree was established it would fruit even without winter protection. (Michael thinks he still has the letter from Fred Borne but has to find it)

Fred Borne, nor the guy in Chicago had the name or gave this particular fig a name.

Michael McConkey took the info he had recieved from Fred and named this fig Hardy Chicago before he distributed it to the public through Edible Landscaping. So, yes Michael named it Hardy Chicago.

Sometime down the line, Michael got a "Sals fig" from Hank Mathies due to all the hype going around at the time. After growing it side by side, Hardy Chicago and Sals fig he came to the conclusion that they were the same fig.

I told Michael that there was some discussions on fig forums that Hardy Chicago and Bensonhurst Purple were the same fig. That the story went that an Italian moved from the Mt. Etna area of Sicily to NYC before making his way to Chicago taking the fig with him. I also said there was a discussion from another fig forum that Belleclare Nursery (now defunct) use to sell both the Hardy Chicago and Bensonhurst Purple, but that they were different figs, not the same one.

Michael told me the Chicago guy never said anything about Mt. Etna, Sicily.

He would have to find the letter, but if he remembers correctly this fig made it's way to Chicago from Mexico, not NYC.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


So, here's a little history of a fig that came to be named Hardy Chicago.

Cool background information - thanks for taking the initiative and emailing Edible Landscaping.

 

[zone5b-foodforest]

I emailed Edible Lanscaping and the owner got back to me.

This info came from Michael McConkey, the owner.

Fred Borne was a NAFEX member, who happened to acquire a cold hardy fig from Chicago.

Bob Kurle (a top fruit and nut enthusiast) who knew Fred Borne and Michael McConkey of Edible Landscaping told Michael about this fig and that he should get in contact with Fred and try to get some cuttings from him. Fred happened to be living in Florida at the time when Michael got the cuttings.

Fred Borne got the cold hardy fig from a fella that lived on the lake in a U-shaped house in Chicago, the guy said once the fig tree was established it would fruit even without winter protection. (Michael thinks he still has the letter from Fred Borne but has to find it)

Fred Borne, nor the guy in Chicago had the name or gave this particular fig a name.

Michael McConkey took the info he had recieved from Fred and named this fig Hardy Chicago before he distributed it to the public through Edible Landscaping. So, yes Michael named it Hardy Chicago.

Sometime down the line, Michael got a "Sals fig" from Hank Mathies due to all the hype going around at the time. After growing it side by side, Hardy Chicago and Sals fig he came to the conclusion that they were the same fig.

I told Michael that there was some discussions on fig forums that Hardy Chicago and Bensonhurst Purple were the same fig. That the story went that an Italian moved from the Mt. Etna area of Sicily to NYC before making his way to Chicago taking the fig with him. I also said there was a discussion from another fig forum that Belleclare Nursery (now defunct) use to sell both the Hardy Chicago and Bensonhurst Purple, but that they were different figs, not the same one.

Michael told me the Chicago guy never said anything about Mt. Etna, Sicily.

He would have to find the letter, but if he remembers correctly this fig made it's way to Chicago from Mexico, not NYC.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


So, here's a little history of a fig that came to be named Hardy Chicago.

That is so cool to know. I wonder what year he got the Chicago Hardy. I thought it had been around forever but sounds like fairly recent like 20 years?

I got my Chicago Hardy from Stark Bros. and they said on their website: "This plant is also known as the Bensonhurst Purple fig or the Hardy Chicago."

Now I want to know if I have the EdibleLandscaping CH or Bensonhurst Purple

 

[zone5b-foodforest]

It says on the Edible Landscaping website that it was discovered in 70's, so more than 50 years ago!
History:
Discovered in the 1970s through Fred Borne, a North American Fruit Explorer (NAFU), who received cuttings from a man in Chicago. The plant, originally grown in a "U"-shaped house for protection, demonstrated exceptional cold tolerance. Unlike most figs, Hardy Chicago can regrow from its roots after winter dieback and still produce fruit by season’s end.

 

[rayray]

That is so cool to know. I wonder what year he got the Chicago Hardy. I thought it had been around forever but sounds like fairly recent like 20 years?

I got my Chicago Hardy from Stark Bros. and they said on their website: "This plant is also known as the Bensonhurst Purple fig or the Hardy Chicago."

Now I want to know if I have the EdibleLandscaping CH or Bensonhurst Purple

I'll have to look at my emails but I don't know if EL's owner sold CH and Bensonhurst Purple, or is even familair with BP. He did mentioned that Sal's Fig and CH/HC were the same fig after growing them side by side. Even though there is an actual fig named Chicago Hardy/Hardy Chicago the name in itself has been generically used to describe any fig that fits the profile such as Mt Etna's.

Bellacare Nursery (NY) sold both Chicago Hardy and Bensonhurst Purple as separate figs, and there was a poster on the other forum that had both figs for numerous years side by side and he said they were definitely different figs, he personally favored the BP fig but the guy also grew up in NYC too so maybe that determined his decision. I don't think that guy posted in years, and Bellacare owners have been gone for years now.

I'm interested to compare CH to my Mt Etna types I got from my buddy--they came directly from Sicily he brought them over himself in the 1960's and 1970's. I haven't been lucky enough to try them side by side yet.