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Planting a Brown Turkey

15 years ago

Hello all!

I just returned from a greenhouse that I made quite a jaunt to so that I could pick up 2 Brown Turkey fig saplings. Before I plan them I was hoping someone could point me in the right direction of the best way to plant them. I looked on the net for info and some of it is contradictory. I live in southern PA about 40 miles north of MD if that makes a difference. The soil in my yard is very loamy aside from having a lot of shale in the yard.

Also what is the best fertilizer for these trees? They are maybe 1ft tall and look as if they have been topped at some point. I was hoping that they had not been but my selection was slim.

Well anyway thank you all in advance!

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Comments (7)

bonsaist
15 years ago
You'll need to plant it against a wall. a southern facing wall is ideal. I'm probably futher north than where you are, and I have different figs in ground here in Bethlehem, pa.

Bass
theskylord
Original Author
15 years ago
Thank you bonsaist! I appreciate the info. Sorry I'm late getting back to you on this. I don't have a space such as you described to plant the trees so I hope what I did will be alright.

I dug a 3 ft hole in diamater aprox. Placed the tree in. Put in fresh soil. Watered with a root enhancer. Placed landscape fabric over the area and tucked under the soil on the edges. Put cocoa shells over the fabric. I've watered 2 times in the past 2 days now trying to get them established. They are in my "orchard" area to the east of my apple and cherry saplings.

I really hope that they survive the winter. If not I will be incredibly upset.

Thank you again,

Keith
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bonsaist
15 years ago
Keith,
I hope they'll survive, even if they survive they may not produce figs for you if they were badly damaged in winter.
Have you thought of growing figs in containers? you'll need to bring them to a cold storage in winter.

Bass
phalnellie
15 years ago
Do you recommend container growing for zone 6? I have one in the ground but it's not against a southern wall since it would be right against the house. Tried to winterize it this past winter so it didn't completely die as when I first got it...but it's still small...and so far, I haven't seen a sign of figs - It has managed to live through 2 winters despite the fact that the first year, I didn't know how to winterize it very well.
bonsaist
15 years ago
If you don't have a good spot to plant it in the ground where it will be protected, then yes the container would be a better option.
If the tree is in ground exposed to the elements it will not do well for you. The figs I have planted against a wall facing south or even east, are doing great and I'm picking loads of figs every summer.

Bass
nude_gardener
15 years ago
bonsaist , do you protect your figs for the winter time?
otherwise they would freeze to death?

i don't think there are figs in zone 6 that can survive and produce figs? am i wrong?

**** i would like to have such fig tree.
wabikeguy
15 years ago
I'd also be interested in your advice, bonsaist. I recently planted a brown turkey in zone 6b. I'm in an area of eastern Washington where we get strong winds from the south for much of the year. I used a southerly portion of an east wall for wind protection and maximum sunlight hours.

How do you protect your fig trees in winter? Or do they just die back and regrow from the gound each year? Any tips or suggestions you'd care to pass on?

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