Fig
Can I Grow Brown Turkey?
Brown Turkey is the reliable, adaptable fig for most climates — productive, sweet, and less fussy than many varieties. It's the most commonly planted fig in American gardens.
Growing Requirements
Chill Hours
100
Hardiness Zones
7-8-9-10
Harvest
July to October (two crops)
Results
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Pruning dates, harvests, spray schedules, what worked. The gardeners who get the most from their trees are the ones who kept records.
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About Brown Turkey
Brown Turkey is the reliable, adaptable fig for most climates — productive, sweet, and less fussy than many varieties. It's the most commonly planted fig in American gardens.
Brown Turkey requires 100 chill hours — the number of hours between 32°F and 45°F during winter dormancy. Without enough chill, the tree may fail to flower properly or produce poor fruit.
⚠️ Common Challenges
Flavor is good but not exceptional compared to varieties like Black Mission; prone to splitting in wet weather.
❌ Common Misconception
Will Brown Turkey produce more fruit in colder climates?
Not necessarily. Brown Turkey only needs 100 chill hours. Planting in very cold zones (6 or colder) risks winter damage without improving fruit production. The ideal zones are 7-10 where the tree gets enough chill without excessive cold stress.
If you plant it, write it down.
Variety, rootstock, planting date — and every pruning and harvest after that. Future you will thank you.
Free for up to 30 plants. No card needed.
Other Fig Varieties
Chill hour data from Open-Meteo Historical Weather API. Variety information compiled from university extension services.