Hi there. I used to live in Methuen. I grew figs there with success. There are other people growing figs in NH and even in eastern Canada! It can be done, especially in Boston where the low temps are somewhat less extreme because of the urbanization and proximity to the sea.

You can grow figs in the ground but they require protection to survive through the winter. I grew a Hardy Chicago tree in the ground in Methuen and it survived the winter there with protection. You have to wrap the tree or bury it to survive most winters in New England. Containers are a great option too. Trees grown in containers will ripen fruit earlier than in ground trees. But container grown trees will be smaller and require more work than in ground trees.

Do some searching on the internet forums to see what works for people. Also check out this website: http://www.figtrees.net/ That nursery is in Roslindale. Joe Morle, the owner, has been growing fig trees there for decades with success.

Good luck!

Joe

Florea is a variety that's reportedly extremely cold hardy--more than Hardy Chicago even which is already pretty hardy.

Do you have a sunny place for figs during the growing season? That's the critical piece - if you have that you can search the forum for recommendations on pot sizes, potting mixes, winter handling and so on.

If you want to grow one in the ground, right up against the foundation on a sunny south-facing wall is ideal, but you'll need to wrap the top to prevent winter kill. I have no direct experience with doing that, but know of trees in my area (Hartford) that are grown that way. My southern wall is shaded most of the day in the growing season, so that option isn't available to me. Yet.

I'm in Olympia, WA. Quite a different climate from you, but further North in latitude than where you are.

I just took these pictures at a park here.

Yes, those appear to be figs on the tree.

Dec 14