Some may not agree, but Brown Turkey figs are excellent quality down south.  Why?  Because for many many years, that's all we've ever had until Celeste came along and then many others.  Whenever I find a nursery in my area, I ask to see their figs.  Nine times out of 10 they have nothing but Brown Turkey.  In the past 6 or so years, I've learned that there are different types of Brown Turkey fig trees.  They are:

1.  Southern BT
2.  English BT
3.  Vern's BT
4.  California BT
5.  Texas Everbearing
6.  HM's BT

 So my question is...What is the difference between these 6 figs?

Here is what I know.  Number 1 & 2 are basically the same except for the size and oozing at the eye.  I use to think my English BT was a plan on BT until a forum member told me to take a second look.  And yes, they were correct.  The tree in my orchard is an English BT.  See pic below.  The figs are fatter than the Southern BT. 

Vern's BT.  Now, I do not have this fig.  If anyone does, please post pics of figs and leaves.  I would like to see the difference.

California BT.  We get these during the summer months at Costco and Tradder Joes.  I've tried them many times but they pick them when they are not ripe and the figs taste horrible.  This is one reason why most people do not like figs. They think all taste like this.

Texas EB.  From what I've read, this tree is similar to BT.  Does anyone have this tree for comparision?  Please post some pics if you have time.

Hanc Matties's BT.  I do not have this fig but I think my coworker does.  About 2 months ago, she brought me some figs from her mother's tree.  They were brownish red, had the shape of an Improved Celeste with a nice very sweet red center.  The figs were medium in size.  Her mother got the tree many years ago and is just beautiful.  I saw a picture a few days ago where Leon posted a picture of his HM BT.  It looked very simiular to it.

So, having said all that....Will the real Brown Turkey please stand up! 

I would love some cuttings from a Texas EVB and HM BT some day for my research.  Comments?  Cheers!


 

hey dennis - you should ask jason...i seem to recall he had a soft spot for the BT family

Yeah, I know how many folks feel about brown turkey figs.....but some folks do even though them won't admit it. An elderly gentleman and I had a discussion about brown turkey figs. He said when you grow up eating something as a kid, when you grow old you want those memories back. I'm just seeking guidance and understanding.

Is there such a (real BT) monster out there?!

Dennis

I appreciate someone trying to clear this up . I have a large fig which was recently identified as a brown turkey by some members but when I went to look up brown turkey the size and other features did not match .
It was then narrowed down to CALIFORNIA BROWN TURKEY by Herman2 and its a match.

Thanks for clearing this up ....  John

hello Allen, do you grow all these brown turkeys? being new to figs this year i didn't know there were that many different brown turkeys. i have one but it has not fruited for me yet, so i can't judge it's taste. it seems to not get good ratings by most. reading your post, you seem to give very good rating. why is this? is it because it's a common fig? i would think if it taste good, that's all it would matter. as i said i'm new and just asking questions. good health, luke

Yeap john, you got a CBT.

Allen, Thank you for this information. I love it! Adding it to my notes.

Dennis, thanks so much for this thread.  It cleared up a lot of confusion - including a thread I had recently posted trying to figure out which BT  Monrovia's Brown Turkey actually was.

But there has also been a lot of confusion about the southern and English BT's.  It's great to see that cleared up too.  Super job!! 

@John, see this thread:  http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post?Letdown-...-another-BT-5398318

Yours is more "dead ripe" than the one in that thread.  If I'd have picked about 5 days later, it would've looked like yours.

With that said, I can tell you that your BT probably ripens the breba crop about 3-4 weeks later than the Monrovia BT.  Not sure about the main crop.  The fig pictured in the thread I just linked is a breba fig.

Alan, great cataloging, but you have not answered the most pressing question regarding this fig...why it is called Brown Turkey.
Any ideas? I have a theory but I would like to know if you've found anything in your research.
Frank

The first 3 figs I ever bought here in USA (circa 1988) were a BT, TE and Celeste.

The problem is that Brown Turkey is very commonly mislabeled by nursery and growers who try to ID unknown varieties. 

Dennis,

You can add Walker, Black Jack, Texas Blue Giant, etc. They are all BTs.

Since I have about 2 dozen Celestes, and they are all clearly Celestes, but the fruit varies between them I could easily rename them as Southern Celeste, Eastern Celeste, Jumbo Celeste, Pink Celeste, Blue Celeste, Brown Celeste, Grand Celeste, Celeste Francais, JV Celeste, etc. but it wouldn't really make any of them anything other than a Celeste. Ditto for all the BTs. I do choose to propagate only 3-4 of my Celestes because that have proven to be better performers. Same thing with Mission / Black Mission. I have some that are barely edible (not including the ones that are mislabeled BTs) and one that is fabulous, and a range in between,

Man, you guys take some awesome pictures of your figs!  Good job!

I have a passion for figs.  The UCD trip opened my mindset about them.  I think the literal name of this fig...Brown Turkey, make people frown.  It's not fancy enough for some to want it.  Most folks I've talked to in my area did not know there was more than one type of fig. When I show them pictures and give them some figs, they were surprised.  At least I am educating them.

Jon, makes a very good point.  I believe there are several names of the same common Brown Turkey even though the figs and leaves may differ depending on the zone, climate, weather, and yes fig wasp.  I don't know why it is are called Brown Turkey.  However, I believe over the years people started changing the name (not knowing it was a Brown Turkey because Aunt Betty grew one for years and never knew what it was and gave them a cutting from it) even though their figs were a little bit different in flavor, taste, size, in ground or pot.  Welcome to the life of Figs, huh!

I think the same goes for the different strains of Black Mission and Celeste as Jon stated.  Over the years, I started collecting Celeste, Black Mission and Brown Turkey figs keeping notes on how they perform, the taste, size, weather, watering, and population of figs for a given year.  I will continue my research.  Thanks to all those who commented.  Have a good day! cheers,

Dennis here is my english brown turkey pics taken at different times this season just so you get an idea how the same plant can produce different looking figs with the same awesome taste.















Sorry couldn't resist these last two figs and ate them before I could take pics. I will be picking a few more tonight will post pics tomorrow.

I just had 2 BT from Harris Teeter yesterday. after reading your post, I'm wondering what kind did I eat.. hm... It taste OK, not as good as the unknown fig on my street. But it made me think that I like smaller fig.

Anya

Dennis,  I dug up a picture of three Brown Turkey types (if Bayernfeige Violetta is an English BT).  Clockwise from left top is Monrovia Brown Turkey,  Bayernfeige Violetta, and Robin Brown Turkey.  The Monrovia was a little small at only 2 1/4 inches long (48 grams - 1.7 oz.), and the Robin Brown Turkey was also small at only 7 grams (.25 oz) - the Brown Turkeys in the second picture are mostly 15 grams (.5 oz).   Are the relative sizes in the ballpark for California BT, English BT, and Southern BT? 

This picture shows the Robin Brown Turkey (top) a little better, with Celeste (bottom).  Does this look like your Southern BT? 

Thanks for this thread.

Fignut, Robin Brown Turkey looks like the Southern Brown Turkey. How does it taste? Hey those Celeste figs look awesome!!! I want some of those cuttings!

Man, this is an extremely interesting thread.  My tree labeled as a BT (from a big box's garden center) has not had a fig anywhere as big or as tasty looking as many that ya'll posted pictures of.   Mine are probably the size of bigger than a quarter but smaller than a half dollar and better than insipid tasting.  Gotta find some of those biggies!  I especially like the looks of that one Bass has!

 

Here is my Monrovia Brown turkey not sure why this particular fig was so flat but it was the only one with this shape last season. But quite large 160 Grams this fig weighed.











Some of the figs last year would start to mold at the eye before the fig was even ripe.

I bought about 40 different fig trees from a guy 2 weeks ago.

Wow, Dominick!  How do you find time to care for so many trees?  Would love to see pics of your forest.

Dennis, if you go One Green World's Website you can see what a Vern's Brown Turkey looks like and a little information about it.  This is where I bought my VBT.  I also have a Brunswick fig tree.  The leaves of the VBT and the Brunswick look similar, but to me the fruits are different.  The fruit of my VBT are smaller and redder than my Brunswick.

Vern

Cause I'm Insane! LOL

Well I am convinced that there are many different strains of Brown Turkey figs.  I wouldn't worry Noss; someone will post pictures of the BT you're looking for.    Caneyscud, your tree is probably a Celeste. Nelson, a buddy of mine has a HUGE plant nursery in Mt Holly, NC, about 15 mins from Charlotte.  He is hooked into Monrovia and sells their products.  Every year he gets these huge BT fig trees from California.  They are beautiful but like I told him....I can't see myself paying $80 bucks for a brown turkey.  He said if they don't sell, he throws them away.  Your BT looks strong and healthy.  Dominick, your fig looks like Celeste too!  Thanks Vern, I'll look into them.  Cheers,