Most fig trees are only hardy to 12 to 15 degrees F though some are hardy down to 0 to 5 degrees F. Therefore top growth often will not survive our winters. However, some varieties will resprout from the roots and produce a surprisingly large “shrub” by the fall. Since fruit is borne on new wood, Kansans can often enjoy a late harvest before cold weather shuts down growth.
Many figs are self-fruitful and will bear fruit without requiring a second variety. Others require cross-pollination and therefore you must have two different varieties in order to get fruit. Read the variety descriptions to determine whether you need two different varieties for fruiting.
Choose only the hardiest varieties. Chicago Hardy, Stella, Olympic and Peter's Honey Fig were all recommended by Matt Bunch with "The Giving Grove" out of Kansas City. Florea is recommended for cold climates by One Green World. I chose Chicago Hardy and Florea for my garden.
The flowers of figs are borne inside the fruit and therefore not visible. Therefore do not be concerned with the lack of visible flowers.
Chicago Hardy and Florea fruit turn purple at maturity though the color of mature fruit varies with variety. The fruit is quite mushy when ripe and will not keep well. If you produce more fruit than you can eat, consider drying as dried fruit can keep for six to eight months.
As mentioned earlier, figs bear late in the season. This year, both my Chicago Hardy and Florea produced their first ripe fruit on October 9 even though fruit was borne much earlier. Chicago Hardy was planted last spring and Florea planted this spring and so the age of the plants may have affected how quickly fruit became ripe. I am still having fruit mature but that will likely end soon. In some years, an early freeze might mean no fruit at all. However, I grow both peaches and apricots and am used to not having fruit every year.
If you have the space, I believe figs are worth trying. (Ward Upham)