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Encanto Farms Nursery > Topics > Let's talk (English Brown) Turkey
 
 


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Ampersand

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Posted Reply with quote  #1 
We all know the bias some (many? all?) exhibit towards Brown Turkey figs, but I don't think there is enough attention being given to true English Brown Turkey varieties, especially for cold climate growers on accounts of it's exceptional hardiness.

Breba crops on some varieties are reported to still produce even after temperatures of -10 to -15 F, which is astounding. I suppose the only downside is that most English BT varieties seem to be rather late ripening, especially if the breba crop is allowed to fruit in it's entirety. Without taking measures to prolong the growing season, they may not reliably ripen north of Zone 6 or 7. I recall reading herman2 tore out his Sweet George as it seldom ripened.

Assumed to be English BT Varieties
Hanc's English Brown Turkey (might be Southern Brown Turkey?) - I believe this is the the English Brown Turkey sold by Edible Landscaping.
LaRadek's English Brown Turkey
Susser Georg (Sweet George)
Bayernfeige Violleta

Potential
Nexoe / Bornholm
Frank's Fig Unknown (from MichaelTuscon)


Here is a good thread detailing some of the many varieties going by moniker Brown Turkey, Alan has compiled lots of info: http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/will-the-real-brown-turkey-please-stand-up-5498398
Rewton

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Posted Reply with quote  #2 
The Brown Turkey nomenclature makes my head spin! So many different figs seem to go under that name and then there's the differences in flavor one can have due to pollination.  Anyway, thanks for putting this information together.
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Ampersand

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Posted Reply with quote  #3 
Yes, Steve, it's annoying how many varieties just get the BT label thrown on it. But it seems that English Brown Turkey is worth separating out from the rest, at least for my interests.
indestructible87

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Posted Reply with quote  #4 
Thanks for putting all of this together in one post. Are you saying all of those can produce brebas after -10 to -15?
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dkirtexas

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Posted Reply with quote  #5 
My favorite Brown Fig.

A good producer here in Northeast Texas (zone7b??).  I am one that does not believe that the BT and the Texas Everbearing is the same fig.  What nurserys around sell as a Texas Everbearing has a leaf close to a Magnolia/Brunswick.

I have the Southern BT, the English BT, and the Texas Everbearing all three have totally different leaves and fig.  The Southern BT gets a lot of bad publicity as a "bad" fig, not worth growing, most of those complaints seem to come from more northern zones, here they do well and are a good canning fig.
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Danny K "EL CAZADOR DE HIGO"
Waskom Tx Zone 7B/8

Wish list: anything anyone wants me to have. LSU RED.  Any LSU fig.
Ampersand

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Posted Reply with quote  #6 
Quote:
Originally Posted by indestructible87
Thanks for putting all of this together in one post. Are you saying all of those can produce brebas after -10 to -15?


No clue. Bob Harper reported his LaRadek's EBT did, there isn't much I could find on breba hardiness of the rest. I assume good if they are all EBT though.
figpig_66

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Posted Reply with quote  #7 
BT GETS A BAD NAME IN THE FORUMS OR OTHERS COMMUNITIES BECAUSE IT IS SOOO COMMON EASY TO GROW AND PRODUCES TONS OF SWEET FIGS. SHOULD BE A GOOD THING. I LOVE THEM. ONLY FIG THAT IS BETTER THAT I HAD IS LSU GOLD.
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RICHIE BONI
HICKORY LOUISIANA ZONE 8B WARM HUMID
WINRERS ARE VERY MILD LOW 20'S BUT WARMS RIGHT UP DURING THE DAY. SUMMER IS EXTREMELY HOT & HUMID 100 degrees 100% humidity fig tree grow like crazy but some split from rain & humidity
Wish list. Col de dame blanc
Col de rimada
Lsu numbered figs
rcantor

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Posted Reply with quote  #8 
It gets a bad name because most of us don't have the climate that they need to ripen well.
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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.
Ampersand

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Posted Reply with quote  #9 
Quote:
Originally Posted by rcantor
It gets a bad name because most of us don't have the climate that they need to ripen well.


Very valid point. Perhaps microclimates are needed to get plants growing earlier and ripening later.
Frankallen

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Posted Reply with quote  #10 
Last Year,  I ordered a "Brown Turkey" Tree from "Petals of the Past" Jemison, Alabama.... as suggested by one of the members here "Snaglpus" on  our forum ...This BT has  gorgeous Red flesh and Dark, I think it's  a winner. From what I understand most BT has Amber colored Flesh... Just wanted to let everyone know that all BT are not as bad as some people think. This is just a delicious BT Fig......Oh yea, I am not connected to this Nursery whatsoever. :)


http://petalsfromthepast.com/catalog/fruit-plants/figs/fig-brown-turkey.html
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figpig_66

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Posted Reply with quote  #11 
Petals from the past sell awsom fig plants. I ordered four different varieties that are doing grate

O'rourkie lsu black champagne and papa john

Richie
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RICHIE BONI
HICKORY LOUISIANA ZONE 8B WARM HUMID
WINRERS ARE VERY MILD LOW 20'S BUT WARMS RIGHT UP DURING THE DAY. SUMMER IS EXTREMELY HOT & HUMID 100 degrees 100% humidity fig tree grow like crazy but some split from rain & humidity
Wish list. Col de dame blanc
Col de rimada
Lsu numbered figs
COGardener

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Posted Reply with quote  #12 
I have a Sweet George, it is one of the the two original figs that were gifted to me by a generous f4f member. Untill I just read this thread, I had no idea that it is considered an English Brown Turkey. I was able to harvest just one fig from this trees last year, my first and so far only home grown ripe fig. And it was amazing, tasting that one fig truely brought it all together for me. A clear understanding of these passion  that everyone on this forum exhibits toward figs.  

Thank you for the education.
Ampersand

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Posted Reply with quote  #13 
That's great Scott! I have a small Sweet George that I hope does well next year. I would caution that not everyone agrees it's an English Brown Turkey variant, and I'm not anywhere near qualified enough to make a call on that. Just sharing what I've read.
nycfig

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Posted Reply with quote  #14 
Love my 3 year old EBT from Bill's Figs in NJ.  Breba was so-so.  Transplanted into a bigger pot and hope it will be better this year.  Main crop was excellent!  Grows like a weed in NYC.

Sorry about the crappy pics.  Working on taking better ones.  :)


EBT1.jpg  EBT2.jpg  EBT3.jpg  EBT4.jpg 

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aphahn

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Posted Reply with quote  #15 
I hope this is on topic.
Speaking of Sweet George, has anyone had the chance to compare it to Frank's Carini? http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/show_single_post?pid=1285110762&postcount=1
The pictures of the fruit look similar, but the leaves seem different.

I'm not trying to start any rumors, and don't have any direct experience with comparing these figs. Just asking.
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Andy - Zone 6a Lat 39.9º N, Alt 5390' Westminster CO ⚘ Scion List
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Posted Reply with quote  #16 
I'll keep that in mind Kelby.  Thank you

Andy, since we both now have both the Sweet George and Frank's unknown Carini, maybe next year we will be able to compare leaves and fruit. 

Great topic, keep the info rolling. 
Ampersand

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Posted Reply with quote  #17 
Here's an older thread from GW discussing Hanc's English Brown Turkey, if anyone is interested.

It's worth mentioning that Hanc Mathies had a collection of over 65 varieties on Long Island. Many of these he collecting in Greece and Italy. He only kept 3 as he got older, this being one of them. The other 2 were Atreano and Green Ischia.

I have Atreano rooting, just need to get the other two. Just when I think I have everything on my wish list, some new ones pop up!



That's interesting on the UNK Carini and Sweet George, please remember to share results guys!
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