Brown Turkey Fig

Why grow a Brown Turkey Fig?

The Brown Turkey Fig tree is known for producing medium sized sweet fruit that ripens to a brown, reddish-purple color. This variety is known for being an all-around quality fig, enjoyable for eating and good for preserving, making it one of the favorite fig trees for home gardeners.

This is the perfect plant to accent your patio—with the bonus of fresh figs! Enjoy attractive flat, lobed leaves and tear-dropped shaped green fruit that darkens when ripe. Planting in containers will allow this fig to be grown in cooler hardiness zones, so long as the fig is brought indoors during the winter months.

Fig trees, ficus carica, tend to be low maintenance. The Brown Turkey Fig may yield two distinct crops in locations with long, warm growing seasons. It is self-pollinating and heat-tolerant. When temperatures drop below 10°F, protect the tree by wrapping it in burlap.

Using the Fruit and Leaves

Figs have been a favorite fruit tree since Classical times, loved for their sweetness and rich flavor. They are enjoyable to eat fresh and can be used in salads, charcuteries, and with cheese. Chefs use their sweet flavor for desserts, and they can be dehydrated, canned, and frozen.

Figs are a good source of fiber, calcium, iron, potassium, and magnesium. They are also high in vitamins A and C.

Even the leaf is a source of food from this productive tree! The broad, flat leaves are often used for grilling, steaming, and baking, where they impart a smoky flavor to other foods. Additionally, the dehydrated leaves can be made into tea.

Growing Brown Turkey Fig Trees

Grown in the ground, the Brown Turkey Fig can reach between ten to thirty feet tall. In a garden pot, the tree’s height will be reduced by the size of the pot. Some light pruning may be beneficial to the tree, primarily to remove dead or crowded branches and to maintain its shape. These trees need full sun.

Overwintering Fig Trees in Cooler Climates

If you experience temperatures below freezing, then additional winter protection is necessary for best results.

Potted figs should be placed in an insulated, unheated, preferably dark room or cool basement. Water them monthly until just moist so the roots do not dry out completely.

For fig trees planted in-ground, insulate as much as possible by getting creative. Use chicken wire and burlap or surround with straw bales stuffed with leaves. The pliable branches can be bent in to preserve as much as the plant as possible. What is not covered, will likely die back. Figs fruit on new growth and the insulated roots will send out new growth, even if the top dies.

Buy a Brown Turkey Fig tree and enjoy its sweet fruit and beautiful leaves!