Two years ago I bought a Hardy Chicago fig from Edible Landscaping online. It was a last minute whim purchase that I added to my order last minute.

I'm in Northern Michigan along Lake Huron. When the fig arrived it was very small I potted it up, and didn't really expect much. I did some research and decided I didn't think the south side of the house was feesible for me to plant and I would just keep the fig potted.

Well in the two years that fig has grown considerably, it is now 5 ft tall. It actually gave more fruit than I was expecting this year. The fig will have to be re-potted or put in the soil.

Last winter I kept the pot in the kitchen by the sliding glass door for light. Once the days grew warmer I would carry the pot outside and bring in when the evening cooled off. I have bad arthritis in my arms and shoulders carrying it in and out come spring is going to be too hard for me especially once I repot it.

Part of me would like to put it outside. The west side of my house gets full afternoon sun and the northern part of the yard has a thick bamboo privacy fence which I think would help to buffer it from wind. But I am afraid that even if I wrap it to protect it, I will lose it to a harsh winter.

I could re-pot in a large 17 gallon tub (with the rope handles) and keep it in the garage for the winter. The garage is attached to the house but it is not heated and I have had water jugs freeze in there when it has been an exceptionally cold winter. If I pick up a small dolly I could move it in and out of the garage.

Now should I re-pot it now so it has time to adjust before fall weather sets in or should I wait and re-pot it in the spring ?