Warriston variety of the month
A monthly selection of fruit, veg or flowers that flourish on the Warriston site. Find more in our variety archive
November 2017 — Fig Brown Turkey
Rather than settling for an oven ready version, why not invest in a perennial turkey this Christmas.
Plot holders blessed with a warm sunny corner on their plot — or, even better, a south facing wall — might want to try growing this popular fig variety. Plant late Nov/early Dec. Figs are an excellent source of calcium. Brown Turkey is grown all over the UK because it does well in our climate and is winter hardy once established. To achieve maximum yield it's useful to restrict root growth. You can do this by planting the fig in a large pot (or a plastic trug drilled with drainage holes) sunk into the ground so the rim is level with your soil. Alternatively, dig a large (65cm square) hole, line the sides with paving stones or similar and cover the base of the hole with a layer of rocks before you refill it to make an improvised 'container'. Whichever method you choose you must ensure there's good drainage as figs won't tolerate a soggy bottom. You can buy a brown turkey from a number of well known suppliers including: www.rhs.org.uk/plants/details?plantid=2939 |
Brown Turkey Fig split in half
Photo: By Shadle - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4137335 |