I'm planning to plant a fig tree for my parents in the southeast of England. I live overseas where it's much easier to grow figs, but I'm aware that the shorter growing season in the UK presents some challenges. I have a Brown Turkey fig tree and it's in a larger pot. Is there a reliable method to help the figs produced this year, particularly the ones that survive winter, to ripen by the end of the season? Would using a greenhouse all season be necessary for this?
5 Answers
I don’t have a fig tree yet, but I plan to get a Brown Turkey this spring. After picking fresh figs in France last year, I can't wait! I saw a tip on Gardeners World where a woman in London suggested tying little clear plastic sandwich bags around each fig once they're formed. This way, it’s like creating mini-greenhouses for each fig! Sounds clever, right?
Growing figs in the UK is totally possible! My brother has a huge Brown Turkey against a south-facing wall in the Midlands and he gets loads of fruit every year. It should be even easier in the southeast, where you're located! Just make sure it gets enough sunlight, and you'll be happy with the harvest!
Figs tend to fruit best when their roots are constrained, so you're already halfway there with the pot! They love full sun, so if you can get it against a south-facing wall, that'd be ideal. Just remember to focus on the spring figs rather than the winter ones to help them get more energy. My parents had a Brown Turkey by the south Kent coast that did great for years!
My experience with a potted Brown Turkey has been pretty disappointing—only one fig over 11 years! So, don’t get your hopes too high. But, if by "current year figs" you mean the main crop starting in June, I'd say it’s unlikely they'll ripen fully in the UK. However, if you're talking about the breba crop, Brown Turkey does pretty well with that in a warm, sunny spot.
I think breba figs are the tiny ones that survive winter, right? Should I focus on keeping those during winter?
I've had a Brown Turkey in a pot on a north-facing fence in the southeast, and I was giving away figs for two years—there were just so many! You should be able to get some fruit by the end of summer, but don't expect much later in the year.
Exactly! The winter figs can really drain the plant. It’s better to remove those and let the spring figs do their thing.