By Julie Christensen
Fig trees are heat-loving plants and most of them are hardy only in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 11. Brown turkey fig tree (Ficus carica ‘Brown Turkey’) is a cold-hardy variety that grows as far north as zone 6.
Growing a Brown Turkey Fig Tree
Besides its cold hardiness, brown turkey fig tree is an easy tree to grow in almost all aspects. Like most fruit trees, it grows best in full sun. It prefers loose, well-draining soils and is often found in the sandy soils of coastal areas. Brown turkey fig can reach heights of 20 feet or more, but the tree responds well to pruning, so there’s no need to let it get so large. Instead, prune it back in winter so it stands about 8 feet tall. At this height, you can easily harvest the figs without a ladder. Brown turkey fig can be grown as a single-trunk tree or as a multi-branched shrub. You might notice suckers emerging near the trunk of the tree in the summer. Prune these back to the ground or clip them and propagate them to make new trees.
Brown turkey fig trees are easy to propagate. Simply stick the end of a young sucker into some rooting hormone and then place it in lightweight potting mix, perlite or sand. Keep the potting mixture moist and place the sucker in full sun. Within a few weeks, you’ll notice new leafy growth, as well as new root formation. The cutting can now be planted in a pot and later planted directly in the ground. Brown turkey fig trees have shallow, invasive roots. Avoid planting them near plumbing pipes or a septic system.
Care and Maintenance
Brown turkey fig trees need a rich soil and regular fertilizing. Amend the soil with compost and manure before planting. You probably won’t need to fertilize the tree its first year after planting. Fertilize established trees with 1 cup 10-10-10 fertilizer spread in a 6 foot circle around the base of the tree. If the tree is in a fertilized lawn, it might not need additional fertilizer. Slow growth, pale leaves and inadequate fruit are signs that the tree needs more fertilizer.
These adaptable trees can tolerate some drought, but they’ll grow better with slightly moist conditions. Mulch the trees with wood chips or bark and water them every week or so during dry conditions. Plant brown turkey fig trees near a south-facing wall if you live at the top of zone 6. This protected planting ensures the tree’s survival during cold winter conditions.
Harvesting Your Brown Turkey Fig
Young figs are green and small, but the figs ripen in summer to a purplish brown hue. One brown turkey fig tree provides more figs than your family can probably eat. Fortunately, the birds are only too happy to help. As the figs mature, you’ll need to harvest them daily by clipping them from their stems. Overripe figs drop to the ground where they can stain hard surfaces. The overripe fruit also attracts flies, so stay on top of picking.
Pests and Diseases
Brown turkey fig trees, like most trees in the ficus family, have several insect pests and diseases that might affect them. Fortunately, healthy trees can usually fend for themselves. The most common insect pests you’ll observe are the leaf-sucking variety, including aphids, scale insects and spider mites. You might notice spidery stipling on the leaves or honeydew, a sticky substance secreted by aphids on the trunk and ground. Ants are attracted to honeydew, so you might notice those, as well. A steady stream of water is often enough to dispatch these enemies, but try spraying both the tops and bottoms of the leaves with insecticidal oil if the problem gets out of control.
Rust, leaf spots and blight disfigure the attractive green leaves, but they rarely cause serious harm. Clean up leaf debris immediately to minimize these problems.
For more information on fig trees, visit the following links:
Growing the Brown Turkey Fig Tree from You Tube
Figs from the California Rare Fruit Growers Association
Julie Christensen learned about gardening on her grandfather’s farm and mother’s vegetable garden in southern Idaho. Today, she lives and gardens on the high plains of Colorado. When she’s not digging in the dirt, Julie writes about food, education, parenting and gardening.
How far from a sewer line should I plant a brown turkey fig tree? I’m kinda paranoid of causing myself a problem.
Thank you.
Hello, did you ever get an answer to your question about brown turkley figs and distance from the sewer line? I’m trying to find that same info.
Thanks!
When planting the fig jus make sure to contain it’s root growth by either digging it into a large pot or with street tiles create a pit and plant the fig in that.
According to everything I have read and heard they are aggressive rooters and should be kept away from sewer lines..
Not close to the tanks. The roots will try to get into the tank and up into the drain line and clog it, ours did. So I’m sure that even 10 ft. would be too close to a drain field. The fig would love it; just don’t think I’d want to eat them then.
i have a brown turkey fig tree. can i cut the top down some i am able to reach the figs ?
The article clearly stated that it handles pruning well and no need to let it grow tall. So yes you can cut off the top.
When does the brown Turkey figs ripen? I have large hard green fruits and its July 15th, still not showing signs of ripening. It is in its second year of being planted, and receives 8 hrs of full sunlight daily. The leaves ate dark green and appear healthy. The new growth has numerous young “baby” gigs starting.
Like you, my fig tree has large green fruit and it is July 19th. This has happened the previous 3 years and the fruit never ripens. I live in zone 8A. My tree gets at least 8 hours of sun per day. Used fertilizer stakes this year and have watered it when needed. Lots of green figs but they never ripen.
Hey Joel, near the end of the growing season if you want your figs to ripen,
I have learned an old trick from fig growers that will make them ripen.
All you have to do is get a small cup of olive oil with maybe 1 OZ of oil in it depending on how many fruit you need to ripen; and dip your finger into the olive oil and put a small dab of oil on the end tip of the fruit. This is also called the eye end where a lot of figs open up a tiny hole. If you do this to a hard green fig late in the growing season it will usually get your fruit to ripen within 5 days from my experience. Hope the helps and I hope you see this message so you can try this next month in September.
Hi MJ, hope you are well. My name is Johan and im from South Africa. I am looking for some cuttings of a Brown Turkey fig tree or any black figs. Would you be so kind as to donate some cuttings and in return i will send you any cuttings of any SA plants or seeds you would like. Hope to hear from you, Warm Regards, Johan
Yes you can cut it and use the cutting to grow several new fig trees.
yes you can prune, in fact it will help stimulate the fruit to ripen (a surprise I found out this year!). Just make sure to wear long sleeves as many people react badly to the latex that comes out of the branch (called bleeding).
Do you have to play in the in the pot or can go straight and ground and does the fig tree survive winter in Michigan
Depending on where you live, you CAN put it directly into the ground (zones 7 and warmer), BUT if you want good production later, keep it in a pot the first year. The root system will increase better, assuming you are fertilizing and watering it as needed. Plant it out the second year, and your young well-cared for fig will flourish and provide you lots of good figs.
Do you think 7a?
I am in 7b, it is one of my most successful plants. I put it right in the ground from the pot and it didn’t really grow for the first two years.
My Turkish Brown fig (grown in Melbourne Australia) has just produced a crop of figs that when ripe and starting to fall off the tree, are still dry inside. The tree is about three years old. What might I be doing wrong?
Our your tree came home with a blunt tip is that typical? Also how many seasons until it starts producing fruit you can eat?
Hi I planted my brown turkey fig tree in March of this year. I bought it from a nursery in a gallon pot.
It is April and it has produced about 8 to 10 green leaves. I am worried that it is not growing fast enough. I did fertiziler it as per instructions. It looks healthy but it is a straight stalk about 5 foot tall. Should it have more foliage and if so what should I do?
If you top it, or break the tip off, it will stimulate branching on the main branch, and more growth. I would highly advise to upsized the pot as well, im sure the roots are root bound.
When does the brown Turkey figs ripen? I have large hard green fruits and its July 15th, still not showing signs of ripening. It is in its second year of being planted, and receives 8 hrs of full sunlight daily. The leaves ate dark green and appear healthy. The new growth has numerous young “baby” gigs starting.
do rodents ever try eating the roots?
Due to years of winter die back I have some 30 shoots from the roots. they are all 1/2 to 1 in diameter. There is only one which is perhaps 2″ diameter It is really a bush rather than a tree. I have cut back to 6-7 tall ! How many of these shoots should i cut back to close to ground.
Two years ago I had my first excellent but his most did not ripen . i think due to lack of sun in rainy August! ?
I am in Loudoun County VA.
Fertilizer recommendation?
I’m growing my brown turkey fig indoors as I do not have a lawn. How do I care for it in a container (pruning, fertilizing, re-potting, checking for disease, etc.)?
White tail deer will decimate this plant if not protected
Good question… I’d like to know about this as well.
do they do well in large pots?
Sorry about the typos! In my above question.
My neighbor’s brown turkey fig tree, 3 years old, just began dropping yellow leaves. My first thought was overwatering which could be possible. However, I did notice a small amount of insects on the underside of the leaves on the tree. If we need to spray with an insecticide, what would you recommend? We are experiencing a milder than normal summer here in North Dallas, TX but I worry about spraying anything in really hot weather.
Is there an optimal time of year to transfer from pot to ground??
I have a Brown Turkey fig that is about 5 years old and never repotted. It is probably root bound so I will do it this year. It is about 5’ tall.
When I had it in my sunroom, I had about 3 or 4 figs a year. Year before last I had about 10 figs. It had been sitting on my south facing porch.
I moved and the nursery said to put it in part sun. I only had 3 figs last summer. Maybe the 2 suckers on the base had something to do with that. 🙁
Will report and return to full sun this year.
P.S. fig leaves can be toxic to pets. Made mine cough and choke incessantly.
My Brown Turkey fig tree has large branches extremely close to the ground. Should I cut these branches and try to promulgate them?
I have had my brown turkey fig for 2 year and it is still less than a foot tall. I have gotten 1 fig. Every year all branches die and it starts again in spring. So, I guess currently it is ground level. I live in NE Oklahoma. Any suggestions?
If it’s in a pot you can try bringing it inside your house or in a garage/outdoor closet to protect it from frost during the winter. However, it it’s planted in the ground try to wrap and cover it in the winter to protect it from frost. In the summer make sure to water it well.
I have 2 Brown Turkey Fig Bushes approx 20 years old. 2 yrs. ago had the 20 Ft bushes cut back to 8ft. High. They both have had high fig ripening. This spring the Large bushes are tall and beautiful dark Greene leaves. Yesterday
I noticed the inside branches the leaves are turning yellow and are limp. Are my figs dying!
Please reply ASAP. I am sick over this. HELP !
Hi, I am in Zone 5B (Powell, 43065, OH).
Our soil is bit clay soil. Please advice if I can plant my fig tree (it says Zone 5-10) in ground.
What care needs to be taken if I plant them outside.
Thanks. I am a novice in gardening and would appreciate expert advice.
Check the hardiness rating and make sure it can withstand Zn 5b, most figs are rated for warmer winters. Uf not rated An 5a you will need to insulate it if in ground or bring inside during the winter.
I have 2 20′ Brown Turkey fig trees which are shoots of one that was razed some 25 years ago due to some remodeling. These 2 appeared 8 years ago when I laid sod in the backyard on Memorial Day weekend. They both grew very fast and produced fruit the following year however when the fruit began to ripen it would fall and the inside was dry. I figured it was producing a lot of fruit but the fast growth was using too many nutrients and therefore the fruit did not ripen completely or was weak but next year would be a bonanza. Sure enough there were tons of figs but all ripened like the ones of the previous year and the same for the next 5 years. The seventh and this the eighth year the fruit is no longer dry but mushy. I never wanted to cut them down but have pruned them and fertilized them a little but not too much. They are so tall and grand and give wonderful shade to the backyard and 2 bedrooms during out hot summers here in zone10A but it would be great if the fruit was good. Any hope?
That’s a male tree you can’t eat the fruit if you get a female and put it near the male tree the fruit will get twice as large
How a you tell male from female?
Hi everyone, all chats appear to come from America! I’m in England have two fig trees planted two years ago , have about 18 figs altogether , we picked and eat three this morning, delicious! I water and feed them regularly with a fig tree feed ….. really pleased . Have a North/east facing garden. Definately will try some cuttings.
How many shoots can I cut back at the base of the bush?