Brown Turkey is the most reliable fig, and well-suited to growing in sheltered drier parts of the UK.
The fruit can be eaten fresh, and is becoming a popular ingredient for dessert cookery. It should ripen in late August.
All pot-grown trees are suitable for planting out in the garden, some are suitable for growing in containers.
Call us on 01759 392007 or fill in our contact form.
Order now for delivery from week commencing 25th November for pot grown trees or December for bare-root or mixed tree orders.
Delivery for a single tree starts at £9.95, it is calculated based on your postcode.
The main issue with growing figs in the UK climate is that whilst the tree will grow quite happily and with little attention, it may be reluctant to fruit. To encourage fruiting, choose a sheltered situation in full sun, and restrict the root growth by planting in a large robust container, or lining the planting hole with paving tiles. Fan-training against a south-facing wall (either in a container or with the roots restricted) also works well.
If you are growing in a container you may wish to move the tree into a cold greenhouse over winter. If outside, a frost-fleece might help if very cold weather threatens.
Make sure the tree is well watered during late spring and summer.
In autumn remove any large green figs that have not ripened, and leave the small immature fruitlets - the large ones will never ripen whereas the smaller ones will ripen next summer.
Like all figs, Brown Turkey is fully self-fertile and usually untroubled by disease.
Brown Turkey is more cold-hardy than most figs, but even so it is not a good choice for areas where winter temperatures are regularly below minus 5-10C.
The origins of Brown Turkey are unknown, but it has been grown in the UK since Victorian times.
Unlike many garden centres and online retailers, the vast majority of our fruit trees are grown in the UK. Find out more.
In addition, all our trees are certified under the Plant Healthy scheme, supervised by the Plant Health Alliance.
Other stakeholders include Defra and the RHS. The scheme aims to improve UK biosecurity by setting standards
for all growers and retailers involved in selling plants in the UK.
Find out more
When you buy your fruit tree from Orange Pippin Fruit Trees we guarantee it for the first season in your garden whilst it gets established. If it doesn't grow successfully, we'll either replace it the following season or offer a refund - subject to some conditions. Find out more.
This variety description was researched and written by Orange Pippin staff. Last checked: 2024.