There has been some recent comments on the forums about the differences between Celeste and the Southern (or Southeastern) Brown Turkey. About how easy it is to confuse the two figs. I had been thinking about this topic for a little while already, so I thought that I would give the subject its own post.

I am NOT talking about the California Brown Turkey fig, with its hollow center and mild taste (for most of us). This is the southern cousin. Which by all reports is sweet and rich. A medium sized brown fig with red pulp and no hollow center.

What I would like to see are pictures of the Southern BT compared to the standard Celeste, and a discussion on how these two differ and can be identified. Hopefully this can help better educate us all on the differences.

Does anyone have pictures of the fruit and leaves of a proven Southern Brown Turkey?


Thanks,
CliffH

Cliff,I bought this Brown Turkey labeled fig from lowes here
in la. years ago .I always wondered if it was the Southern type?

Looks like it to me

The Southern Brown Turkey (SBT) is the most misunderstood, and incorrectly maligned, fig of them all.  It is very underrated, generally by those that probably never had one to eat.  I don't know how any reports/opinions on this fig that come from anywhere North of Tennessee, much less NY, Colo, etc. can be reliable.  They do not what they are talking about unless they have spent time down here, through good seasons, and bad ones.

I find it interesting that Dr O'Rourke picked the Celeste to improve, did he think the SBT didn't need improvement?

It is not my favorite fig but it is a fig well worthy of respect for what it is.

Perhaps the improvement was aimed at the fig dropping problem with Celeste. Does the BT have similar issues?