Is Brown Turkey bad?

Author

Comment

thearabicstudent

Registered:1366758767
Posts: 118

Posted 1378043953	Reply with quote #1

How did this fig get to be so popular and spread everywhere if it's as bad as everyone makes it seem? It reminds me of a chain restaurant that started out as a mom and pop operation that everyone loved but once the restaurant made it big and started opening locations all over the nation people started hating on it and saying that it's crap. There's a reason Red Lobster and Olive Garden are successful and there's a reason the Brown Turkey is as well. Just because something is prolific doesn't mean it's bad. In fact, it usually means the opposite or else it wouldn't have spread in the first place. __________________ http://www.thearabicstudent.com Maryland, Zone 7a (half a mile from 6b)

ascpete

Registered:1336096379
Posts: 1,942

Posted 1378044955	Reply with quote #2

thearabicstudent, There are several different cultivars that have been called and are being sold as "Brown Turkey". There has been lots of previous discussions on the subject. The only one that has the bad rep. has been the California or "Improved" Brown Turkey, it is a large fig with an open eye that seems to need warm dry weather to ripen properly. If grown in a warm dry climate it seems to be a very good fig. I had a few ripen last year and they were good with a distinct fig flavor. Most of the other figs called brown turkey are either a different "brown Turkey" cultivar (Southern or English which are very good) or some thing completely different. I personally have observed Magnolia, LSU Purple and Mission being sold as "Brown Turkey".

Dieseler

Registered:1215735852
Posts: 8,252

Posted 1378045477	Reply with quote #3

Olive garden in my personal opinion is horrible -ate there once thats all it took - what was i thinking ? There is place i went to with wifes suggestion that give patrons a tour thru kitchen and do it the old fashion way ie: not 30 minute gravy. Common brown turkey every newcomer should practice with it and most have had it in past.

javajunkie

Registered:1362970391
Posts: 1,523

Posted 1378049876	Reply with quote #4

I don't think Brown Turkey is being labeled as "horrible". I think as Pete pointed out, they are not all the same. I also think that if you are offered a hamburger while you're starving it will be the best burger you ever ate....until you are given one from Red Robin. Same goes for the figs, tastier varieties became available and made the Brown Turkey less appealing. Personally, I will be using mine for root stock next year. I am with Martin, Olive Garden is one of the last places I would go to again! __________________ Tami SE Texas

winston61

Registered:1302366886
Posts: 47

Posted 1378053192	Reply with quote #5

Unreasonable prejudice toward a Common variety(define common as hardy, reliable, productive and easy to grow) is unexplainable. Without the brown turkey there would far fewer figs here in Texas. If the BT is a failure, why the hell is it EVERYWHERE? If you have the room plant a brown turkey. Find out for your self why it is so long enduring and widespread. Plus, I refuse to eat anything that is not tasty.

javajunkie

Registered:1362970391
Posts: 1,523

Posted 1378053499	Reply with quote #6

Wow! That was a pretty strong reaction to a calm discussion. I don't see the word failure anywhere. Personally I don't care for them but it's an individual thing. Mine will be root stock. __________________ Tami SE Texas

rcantor

Registered:1309799312
Posts: 5,727

Posted 1378054567	Reply with quote #7

Brown turkey roots easily and is cheap. If you have the climate for it it can be a good fig as you'll read numerous times here. Of course you'll never know which BT you're getting until you try it. :) Jon got a plant labeled brown turkey and when it fruited it turned out to be an unknown so he renamed it Maryland Berry. __________________ Zone 6, MO Wish list: Galicia Negra, De La Reina - Pons, Genovese Nero - Rafed's, Sbayi, Souadi, Acciano, Any Rimada, Sodus Sicilian, any Bass, Pons or Axier fig, any great tasting fig.

javajunkie

Registered:1362970391
Posts: 1,523

Posted 1378054771	Reply with quote #8

I probably got the CA Brown Turkey and one Kadota turned out to be the same thing. Gotta love the big box stores. My climate is excellent for the variety and it still doesn't taste as good as my others. Root stock is the best option, I will give some of my rarer cuttings a head start. __________________ Tami SE Texas

rcantor

Registered:1309799312
Posts: 5,727

Posted 1378055212	Reply with quote #9

Compare to McDonald's. Is it good? Depends on your definition. It certainly is commonly available. __________________ Zone 6, MO Wish list: Galicia Negra, De La Reina - Pons, Genovese Nero - Rafed's, Sbayi, Souadi, Acciano, Any Rimada, Sodus Sicilian, any Bass, Pons or Axier fig, any great tasting fig.

GRamaley

Registered:1357742252
Posts: 791

Posted 1378059040	Reply with quote #10

I thought I was buying a BT, but I have compared it to others in my area and I am pretty sure I ended up with a Celeste which was sold by the same store. If it is a BT they are sweet and delicious. I wouldn't worry too much about what "everyone says" find someone with a tree and try the fruit and if you like it ask for a cutting... __________________ Gloria --------------- 7a, maybe 8

elin

Registered:1360863025
Posts: 1,272

Posted 1378060071	Reply with quote #11

I wouldnt be into fig growing unless i had bought my brown turkey an gotten into this forum after .. all in all i think they are worth growing __________________ Eli ,Israel ,Zone 10? Too humid and hot, yada yada yada https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1298814119 Growing: Sbayi, Hmadi, Black Portugal, Black Brazil,Excell, Flanders, Hmari , RDB, Niagra Black,Natalina, CDDN,Maya, Preto Torres, Preto Arge

cis4elk

Registered:1347840383
Posts: 1,719

Posted 1378060524	Reply with quote #12

The ones I grew were California BT. They couldn't hold on the tree long enough to develope flavor before fruit flys and such would crawl up into it's giant gap and cause it to sour. At best for me, they tasted like water with the essence of fig added. Not worth my time, space, or water. Plus they had FMV enough to not be used for rootstock so they were passed on for others to play with. On the otherside of the subject, I did buy a couple this year from WF which looked really good and were perfectly ripened. I just had to give them another try. They were grown in California. They were quite big with tender skin, flesh was bright red and juicy but not viscous at all, they were very pleasant and refreshing. Almost a mild strawberry/fig flavor combo. I find myself wanting more like that, but there were only a few in their whole batch with that certain look and heft which compelled me to give them another try. I would be happy to have a tree that made figs like those to add to the variety, but it didn't turn out that way for me. __________________ Calvin Littleton,CO z5/6 Wants List: For everyone to clean-up after themselves and co-exist peacefully. Let's think more about the future of our planet and less about ourselves. :)

BLB

Registered:1214341548
Posts: 2,936

Posted 1378061073	Reply with quote #13

It's ease of growing and rooting etc makes it a great fig for non gardeners to learn with. I've grown a couple different strains and have enjoyed them. No not a knock out dazzler for taste but it is super dependable and tasty enough to enjoy. There are a couple strains though that are really terrible for taste, but grow great so they make money for the nurseries and they tarnish the reputation of BT. There is a particular local BT tree which obviously is one of these strains. I tasted figs from it and actually spit them out so you do have to be careful. Grow them out and decide if they're worth keeping. Better yet source from an experienced grower.

javajunkie

Registered:1362970391
Posts: 1,523

Posted 1378061133	Reply with quote #14

I'm really tempted to give Texas Everbearing a try, some say it's BT and others disagree. Would love to have ripe figs from May on though. __________________ Tami SE Texas

BLB

Registered:1214341548
Posts: 2,936

Posted 1378063256	Reply with quote #15

You should be able to accomplish that with many other varieties

javajunkie

Registered:1362970391
Posts: 1,523

Posted 1378073028	Reply with quote #16

Help me out Barry, which ones? __________________ Tami SE Texas

BLB

Registered:1214341548
Posts: 2,936

Posted 1378078037	Reply with quote #17

Grow early ripening figs like RDB and many that are grown in zone 6 and 7, MSVS is another example, Florea just popped in my head. Then grow late producing figs like Black Madeira, any of the Col de Dames, Sal's Corleone and many more. There are tons to choose from you must know this from reading this forum.

javajunkie

Registered:1362970391
Posts: 1,523

Posted 1378084077	Reply with quote #18

I don't know what would work best even after reading so much info on here. Reading that something is early or late doesn't really compute with me yet, I'm still a novice. I wasn't being facetious in asking I really want your opinion. I do have most of the bases covered in your suggestions though. I'll have to wait and see if they can keep me in figs next year or perhaps the year after. Florea is not on my list because of the open eye and my location. Thank you for taking the time to answer me. __________________ Tami SE Texas

BLB

Registered:1214341548
Posts: 2,936

Posted 1378089906	Reply with quote #19

Tami, I know you were asking a legitimate question, but with so many varieties to choose from it's really not an easy question to answer, at least not for me. There are no guarantees, you really just have to try a few and see how they perform for you at your location. As you read, note if they are early or late and how they are rated for taste and try to get a few based on those criteria. I see your weather wouldn't be good for open eye varieties so add that to your list of things to look for. If you get a few that aren't performing well for you, then give them away or toss them out and try others. I think an extended season is one very good reason to have a sizeable collection of trees, so just keep at it til you accomplish that. It will take a few years or longer, not easy to get the right varieties in a quick hurry. Good luck

snaglpus

Registered:1244258188
Posts: 4,072

Posted 1378090121	Reply with quote #20

For the record, and this is my honest opinion....Brown Turkey fig tree has been around for ages. And yes there are so many varieties or sport of Brown Turkey fig trees out there. Jason, aka SatelitteHead gave us his view of the Brown Turkey fig too. I also wrote here looking for the real brown turkey. Today, I have several different figs that were sold as Brown Turkey. Some are Brown Turkeys and some are another black fig. To me, local nursery Brown Turkeys are some of your best kept secrets. To me, Brown Turkeys are not bad. It's just not that flavorful as other figs. BUT some Brown Turkey sports are excellent! For starters, I like some Brown Turkey figs. The true southeastern brown turkey figs are excellent. And, and, and, so is the Brown Turkey fig that has been caprified. Jon and I sat down at UCD last year and ate seveeral that were flat out amazing and rich! Again, they were caprified. I wish some Brown Turkey fig haters had the chance to taste these figs. It just might change their mind. Trips to UCD changed my entire view and perspective of figs. And the California Brown Turkey is excellent if caprified and picked when ripe. Trader Joes and other organic grocers get Black Mission and Brown Turkey figs from California. These figs MAY or MAY NOT taste good.....but people buy these figs. It is true that nurseries around the US are selling unknown figs as brown turkey fig. Why? Because it is a very common name that THEY think will help the sell of the tree. And the internet is making the name also explode as a good fig. Local mom and pop nurseries get cuttings from local folks and the local folks may have a tree that they grew from a cutting they brought over with them. The local folks never had a name for the fig so the nursery slaps a name on the cutting because they know it grows well everywhere. I have 2 trees that were listed as Brown Turkeys but their leaf pattern showed otherwise. Texas Everbearing is another fig that nurseries think is the same as Brow Turkey. They are not. I have them both side by side growing and I don't understand why people think they are. The figs are completely different. But, again, Brown Turkey figs have been around for ages. I have several friends who loves "Moma's" figs from here tree. When they bring me some to identify, guess what kind of fig it is? You guessed it, Southeastern Brown Turkey. But, I don't think Brown Turkey figs are that bad. They just have a bad rap. Some say the Improved Brown Turkey is the same as the California Brown Turkey. Last year a friend sent me his HUGE Improved Brown Turkey. Well, this year, that dude fruited and guess what? The figs were good. They were sweet and yes I do believe this tree is the same as the California Brown Turkey. BUT, it is not the same as Black Spanish or Black Jack. __________________ Dennis Charlotte, North Carolina/Zone 8a

rcantor

Registered:1309799312
Posts: 5,727

Posted 1378092512	Reply with quote #21

Black Jack ( = Black Spanish) is not the same as Brown Turkey but they are lumped together because in general they both have mild flavored figs. BT haters usually hate BJ/BS and lovers love both. __________________ Zone 6, MO Wish list: Galicia Negra, De La Reina - Pons, Genovese Nero - Rafed's, Sbayi, Souadi, Acciano, Any Rimada, Sodus Sicilian, any Bass, Pons or Axier fig, any great tasting fig.

figqueen13

Registered:1371093856
Posts: 81

Posted 1378093518	Reply with quote #22

There is guy in eastern Richmond who is selling figs off his "Wild Turkey" tree. He said it's a Brown Turkey, but the fruit is bigger and better tasting, than others. Go Figure! __________________ Elizabeth, Richmond, Virginia zone7a .

thearabicstudent

Registered:1366758767
Posts: 118

Posted 1378129994	Reply with quote #23

I guess people don't always know what variety they have so Brown Turkey becomes the name that gets used for anything unknown. __________________ http://www.thearabicstudent.com Maryland, Zone 7a (half a mile from 6b)

Rewton

Registered:1291943117
Posts: 1,946

Posted 1378152813	Reply with quote #24

From reading this thread it seems like with all the different strains of BT, and all of unknowns (and probably knowns) misrepresented by nurseries as BT, that the name Brown Turkey is almost meaningless. I've always stayed away from Brown Turkey, in part because of the reputation of not being a top fig for flavor, but also because there are so many strains that choosing one would be overwhelming. __________________ Steve MD zone 7a

hblta

Registered:1277578212
Posts: 711

Posted 1378157263	Reply with quote #25

I have 2 BTs, one Grimo BT and one English BT from EL. both are good tasting figs. __________________ ************* Grant Kitchener Ontario Canada Z5b

snaglpus

Registered:1244258188
Posts: 4,072

Posted 1378177986	Reply with quote #26

After talking to James Robin, and the fig experts at UCD, I've learned to love all figs. Fig trees, SOME, get much better over time. All of my Brown Turkey figs are good ones. It's also important to note that you have to know WHEN to pick a ripe fig. A day or 2 before optimum ripeness will give you a bland tasting fig. One of my Greek friends has a huge 20+ foot tall Brown Turkey fig tree. She picks and sells figs every year but she picks them a day or 2 before they are fully ripe. To her, they are ripe. When she lets me pick them, I climb a ladder and picks the best ones. She says those I pick are sweeter and richer than hers. She said she picks them based on the color. I showed her the cracks and wrinkles in those I picked and now she knows what to look for. But she also said she has to pick the figs before the birds get them. __________________ Dennis Charlotte, North Carolina/Zone 8a

Luke

Registered:1338621371
Posts: 204

Posted 1378192120	Reply with quote #27

My BT is a great grower but splits, has a massive eye and taste of watery mush.!!! __________________ Luke 8b, England. Wish list: Olympian, Malta black, Nero 600m/400m(Vallecald),Tacoma Violet,

drew51

Registered:1431808677
Posts: 284

Posted 1474932076 · Edited	Reply with quote #28

Quote: Originally Posted by javajunkie Wow! That was a pretty strong reaction to a calm discussion. I don't see the word failure anywhere. Personally I don't care for them but it's an individual thing. Mine will be root stock. I agree opinions vary, like I would never describe a Red Robin hamburger as good! Not even close IMHO. I love the bark on Ca brown turkey, to me that is worth it by itself, just such a beautiful plant. Everybody has different tastes. __________________ Drew Zone 5b/6a Sterling Heights MI

Previous Topic | Next Topic

Modal title

Insert Code

Please paste your code into the box below: