Wednesday 12 September 2012

A new arrival

A few days ago I took delivery of a new fruit tree. It is a Fig - "Brown Turkey". It was one of those "Free - just pay postage" offers, this time from Thompson and Morgan. Unsurprisingly the plant is very small (about 30cm tall) but it arrived in good condition (and very well packaged) and looks very healthy.




I know precious little about growing Fig trees, except that you have to keep their roots tightly constricted otherwise the tree will grow big and straggly and won't produce any fruit. Would anyone like to offer me any advice?

For the time being, I have moved the plant into a bigger pot, but I shall be looking round for something larger and more attractive to serve as the Fig's permanent home.




Since I haven't much to write on the subject of figs, I thought I would just show you a couple of photos of figs - taken (appropriately) during our holiday last year in Turkey:







11 comments:

  1. I have developed a LOVE of figs. Our latest indulgence is a fig cut in half, put a blob of goat cheese into the middle, just moosh it and top with bacon. Broil. OMG it is so good it should be illegal. I have a Negronne and Peters Honey. People on Vancouver island plant them out and they get covered with figs. I think the danger is that if you get a REALLY cold cold snap they can be damaged. But a lot of people cut them back hard every year anyway. Mine are too young to bear fruit yet. Good luck. Can't wqit to see how it does.

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  2. If you were going to put it in the ground then you would need 5 paving slabs.

    Basically dig a big whole about as deep as a paving slab (2ft) and as wide as a paving slab(2ft) and then put a slab on the bottom of the pit and stand the other 4 slabs up on their edges inside the permieter of the hole. You then have an area that will restrain the roots but allow them to continue to grow but at a much lesser rate that if they were free. This method allows the fig tree to get nutrients etc from the surrounding area.

    Good luck with it anyway!

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  3. Well that is more than I know and I have two. I even have a brown turkey. They really aren't hardy here. They die back to the roots and don't have time to set fruit on their new growth before it gets too cold. They keep producing pretty green fruit, but it is fall and not time for them to ripen. I'm supposed to insulate them over the winter but last year I didn't (first winter). This year I'll have to do it if I want anything from them.

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  4. For many years Holmfirth had a fig tree growing out from the stone bridge in the middle of town,close by the Toll House (was bookshop). Rumour has it that the seed became embedded in the bridge during one of the floods. A marvellous example of survival in the most inhospitable conditions. Stone work and only a little soil, one presumes to start it's growth, then putting up with the equally unpredictable British weather. I've just bought a fig plant and I look forward to seeing if I can nurture to fruitfulness. I hope my plants look as good as yours when they arrive. I found your site while looking for a quick and easy red cabbage pickle recipe. Love the site. Diane

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  5. I don't know anything about growing figs but I quite fancy giving it a go myself. I'll watch with interest to see if you manage to harvest any fruit.

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  6. Wow, I didn't know that about restricting the roots either. I have three and they grow like weeds and do produce fruit but I never seem to get them as the birds eat them before they are ripe. My neighbor gets some figs on her trees. Maybe we can plant them in the ground here because the soil is all clay and probably does restrict the roots anyway but next time I may try restricting the roots and see how it does. Thanks.

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  7. Fancy...a fig!
    I was only just looking at my figs yesterday and took a few photos. There was already one in this garden when we moved in but I also brought one from our last house...so I now have two!
    There are very few leaves so far and what there are...they are only just opening but I see figs already. I'll possibly do a post soon :D

    Good luck with yours...have a great week!

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  8. I noticed today that next doors fig (whose branches come under the fence and into my garden) has started to set this seasons fruit - oh so exciting! I don't do anything in the way of care - I suspect next door doesn't either as shes pretty immobile so I reckon just let in grow and see what happens.

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  9. Good Luck with the Fig tree.
    We got one courtesy from the bird must have brought some seeds to our place.

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  10. All I know is that figs are incredibly determined to survive and should never be cast out if you think they are dead!

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  11. I actually have a Brown Turkey that I brought from up north to Texas when I moved. It was only 2 years old and small, but I boxed it up and they moved it in about 1 week. The leaves had started to sprout, as it was spring when I moved,and they grew white since they were out of the sun. I planted it and got about a dozen great figs from it within 4 months. I am currently looking for a Kadota as well. I know that they love water! I have heard about them loving confined spots as well, and that some even brick in their roots such that they water stays close. However, I have heard of problems with foundations where people have planted them to close to their homes. Not much help, other than these little tidbits!

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