Brown Turkey Fig Tree
Begins shipping early September.
Pollination Not Required
Begins shipping
early September
Pollination Not Required
Why grow a Brown Turkey Fig?
Figs have been around for centuries, and for good reason—they are beloved for their decadent texture and candy-sweet flavor. The Brown Turkey variety is famous for producing medium-sized fruit that ripens to a rusty-red/purple color. It is a high-quality, all-purpose fig that can be enjoyed fresh but is also excellent for preserving, perhaps the main reason home gardeners grow this fruit.
The semi-tropical look of the plant, with its large, beautifully-lobed leaves and teardrop-shaped fruit, is so attractive on a deck or patio. The added bonus of succulent fresh figs is impossible to resist. If you plant this fig tree in a container, you can grow it in cold climates, as long as you protect the tree by wrapping it in burlap when temperatures drop below -12°C (10°F). Better yet, bring it indoors for the colder fall and winter months.
Generally speaking, fig trees are easy to care for. They are self-pollinating and will tolerate heat well. If you live in a warmer growing zone, you can expect two crops of figs each season!
Using the Fruit and Leaves
Brown Turkey figs are exquisite for fresh-eating, but can also be incorporated into appetizers and desserts, or featured in charcuterie and cheese boards. Professional chefs prize them for their versatility and use them in both sweet and savory dishes. Aside from fresh use, figs can be canned in syrup, frozen and dried.
Figs provide a good source of vitamins A and C and provide high levels of calcium, fiber, potassium, iron and magnesium. Use the flat, wide leaves for steaming, baking and grilling, as the leaves impart a pleasant smoky flavor to foods cooked in them. The leaves may also be dried and made into tea.
Growing Brown Turkey Fig Trees
Fig trees require full sun to grow and produce their fruit. They prefer even moisture, but can tolerate short periods of drought. An annual top-dressing of compost (6 mm (1/4″) gently worked into the area around the tree base) will help keep the soil rich and nourish the tree. Fertilize in the spring with an application of 10-10-10 fertilizer to produce the most fruit.
Grown in the ground, the Brown Turkey Fig can reach 3-9 m tall (10-30′) tall. If grown in a container, the height will be smaller, depending upon the pot size. The tree can also be kept small with light pruning.
Give yourself (or a fellow gardener) the gift of a Brown Turkey Fig tree and enjoy its luscious, nutritious fruit for years to come!
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.
Characteristics
| Fruit Color | Brown |
| Fruit Size | Small-Medium |
| Ripens/Harvest | JUNE |
| Soil Composition | Loamy |
| Taste | Mild, Sweet |
| Soil pH Level | 6-6.5 |
| Soil Moisture | Well Drained |
| Years to Bear | 1-2 |
| Shade Level | Full Sun |
| Texture | Fleshy, soft |
| Years to Bear | 1-2 |
| Hardiness Zone Range | 5-9 |
Size & Spacing
Pollination
This variety is self pollinating.
In many cases, you may still want to plant pollinating partners to increase the size of your crops, but with self-pollinating varieties doing so is optional. You’ll get fruit with only one plant!
George Faulkner –
It appears the Brown Turkey Fig was too tall for the box, so someone grabbed the top and just broke the main stem by hand along with the bamboo support. It is just sad to see that anyone would ruin a tree like this. I have probably ordered 35 fruit trees from Stark over the past 4 years. This is the first time I contacted customer service. I am still waiting for a reply after 3 weeks. Stark used to be a really good company,
Marina Reese –
The tree was delivered a little later than scheduled but in a very good shape. I already had a hole, so planted it with a big amount of perfect soil. Looks like the tree is happy.
Randall Akulick –
This was the first fig tree I purchased for my Central Alabama home (zone 7B). I received it in the spring of 2018 as a 1’6″ stick on a stake. It put out leaves, grew about six more inches and put out a new lower stem last year. We had no cold weather this year, and all the trunk and branch growth is dead this Spring – despite I had protected the plant well with pine straw. It is now putting out small new growth and leaves from roots that were still living in the ground. It is again getting Stark Tree Pep each ten days – so I will see what happens this year. My two Stark Chicago Hardy Supreme trees are planted in the same area and both are doing great – already adding new Spring growth to their same trunks this year. Last summer, the Chicago Hardy Supreme I received the Fall of 2018 and planted, leafed profusely, and produced around 30 delicious figs – so I bought another in 2019. So Far, the Brown Turkey fig tree has never done anything much but make leaves, a little growth, and makes me think; “What A Turkey!”. Maybe I should just dig up the small Turkey root growth and replace it with something else?
Anna Davis –
Purchased my Brown Turkey Fig late 2018, 2019 I had over 12 beautiful figs in my first harvest, second harvest was over 20, but they were killed by the frost. I love love love this tree, my co-works and I can’t wait for the harvest in 2020. A must purchase..Zebulon NC
Ioannis Stratigos –
Had fruit by end of first summer. Amazing delicious figs
remnjava remnjava –
I bought a Brown Turkey Fig 6 years ago. First couple of years I had it in a glass sunroom, zone 5b. Got 5 figs from it. Tree was 4’ when i got it and hasn’t gotten taller. No side branches, just tiny stumps. Grow on north side of house when above 30 degrees. Wintered in spare bedroom. Cut heat to that room. Closed shades. 13 figs last year. I allowed suckers to grow this year and only got 3 figs.I don’t know why the tree remains the same size. 3 gallon pot, I’m guessing.I bought a Chicago Fig yesterday. Wasn’t sure if I should get one that was straight with only one stem, or one that had a lot of foliage on the bottom. Thank you!
Walter Ralls –
Planted July 18 in Shenandoah Valley VA. Had a couple of figs that year and vigorous growth, but in spite of covering it, it completely died in the winter and I thought i had lost it. It did come back this year surprisingly and has a couple of figs growing on it. i live in zone 6B so it may be a little cold for it here even though its rated ok for this area.
Sarah Miller –
It survived an exceptionally cold winter in my garage. I hope it will produce fruit next year.
Melvon Olds –
People say it can’t be done fig trees will grow here. You may not be able to get figs every year, but the plant will come back. I think if it was under cover it would produce well. It is a conversation piece anyway.
Jill Scott –
I’m in Western Mass, Zone 6A and even with a cover the fig didn’t live through the Winter. I don’t recommend it for zone 6 or below.