Attached is a picture taken by the owner of LaRadek's English Brown Turkey.

The picture was taken during one of it's winters in Kjyovice, Czechoslovakia, zone 5b/6a.

The most amazing thing is that the owner does not pinch the plant. Nor does he remove any of the late green fruit. Yet the plant is able to produce and ripen a breba crop most years. One of the  lowest winter temperature recorded in Kjyovice, has been minus 18 degrees Fahrenheit. My understanding is that the minus 18 degrees Fahrenheit did not damage the plant.

In the winter of 2011/2012, it is reported that the temperature got down to a low of minus 23 degrees Fahrenheit. LaRadek's EBT lost 70 percent of it's top. But still managed to produce a crop of figs in 2012.

This makes one wonder just how low a winter temperature LaRadek's EBT could take, if it was pinched, and the late green fruit was removed before frost set in.

Although, one should not allow a fig to carry fruit it's first year, I wanted to see what they tasted like. Our cold hardy fig, winter test sample plant, produced figs it's very first year, while still in a one gallon pot.They were surprisingly good for a plant that was no more then 6 months old.

Some believe that this just might be the true English Brown Turkey.

We're hoping that this EBT, will prove to be another fig for growers in zone 5a, who want to grow figs with out winterizing. But, only time will tell. In the mean time we will post our yearly progress with it.

Bob - Connecticut Zone 5b/6a

 

Great work Rob.  You mentioned it was able to get a breba crop.  What temperature was that at?

Thanks for the picture and information Bob. It will be interesting to see how LaRadek compares to MVS Black in the future

 Peter

Great info Bob for us in the cool North.
Thanks for tracking this down.

Bob...

Just curious.  I read about this fig variety, but never saw anyone retailing this strain.  Can it be purchased from a commercial source.  What is the origin of this variety, and is it notable for its cold hardiness, and taste?

Thanks for the information.

Frank

COOL KEEP UPDATES COMING !

Ed - Not sure. But, my impression is it ripens it's breba most years. The owner has had his tree for the last 17 years.

Peter - We have only been able to identify about 4 figs that might have the potential to be grown in a zone 5, with out winterizing, once the tree has reached maturity. Marseilles Black VS, LaRadek's EBT, Hanc's EBT, and Florea. But, we have just started testing in ground trees with out protection the last two years.

Kerry - Thanks for the support.

Frank - The only commercial source I know of is Adriano's in Canada. That is if you call back yard business's like Adriano's and ours, commercial. Most of the above 4 can be started by obtaining cutting form F4F members.

If one Googles LaRadek's English Brown Turkey, you will see a European fig home page called, "Figovniky".There are members there who are willing to trade. Of the four we only have Marseilles Black VS ,ready as one gallon plants.

It will not be until 2015, that we will have enough one gallon plants of the other three. It takes a long time to build up stock.

Bob - Connecticut Zone 5b/6a

Any updates from folks that have grown this variety in cold conditions?

Would love if this were more widely available. I'd love to give it a shot here. Any other northeast growers currently growing it? Tim

I'd be very interested as well in the Zone 5 area in Kansas City.  The picture sure looks like my home in winter, just need the fig tree to go in the snow. 

i had this variety, but it failed to root at my neglect. In my opinion it is one of the most hardiest figs out there with Florea, HC, and MBVS, but I have heard it ripens very late, so it isn't the best for short season climates.

I contacted Adriano last year and he said that he still can't sell this variety:his tree is still too small.I'd love to try it here too along with Florea.

Mine rooted easily and I will be listing some on eBay soon, but would like to hear some more first-hand experiences with it in case people ask for more info.

I was previously asked by some folks (can't remember who) to let them know when I had this variety available.  I now have one listed on eBay.  I may have another but can't commit to that yet as I need to check how the one I transplanted earlier has done.

Update: I received cuttings of "Laradek's BT" from Rafed in April.  I believe that when the cuttings arrived they just had Laradek written on them.  I could not find anything about this variety and came across this thread and then labeled my potted cuttings as LaRadek's EBT.  In recent communications with Rafed he said I had made a terrible mistake in doing so, that mine were Laradek's BT, not EBT.  I started another thread about this confusion, see http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=7073256 but I also wanted to point out my mistake here.  I only sold one tree and will contact the buyer, although I don't really know if there is a difference between the BT and EBT or not.  I don't every intentionally misrepresent things but did make a mistake here.  Hopefully, it was not a serious one.