2

I was recently gifted a brown turkey fig tree in a container (see pictures) which started off seemingly very healthy. It immediately grew leaves and started fruiting in late January of this year, however, it has recently started to have browning and death of the leaves with the fruit looking scarred/cracked. My question seems similar to this one, however it did not get answered. Some of the leaves are perfectly fine, some look as below.

It currently receives full Florida sun and is watered with about 4 gallons (+/- 2 gallons) in the period of a week (1 gallon every other day, or there about). The signs seem to be overwatering, however the soil was dry for the top 1/2 inch and only started being moist over an inch below the surface. Additionally, I have not trimmed/pruned the tree since it was given to me.

enter image description here enter image description here enter image description here enter image description here

1 Answers1

3

"Brown Turkey" is a really tough plant. I bought my parents one over thirty years ago. They grew it outside in the chilly English Midlands for years. I then had it growing in a container where I live in Essex. It's now planted on my allotment. Having said they're tough, they really don't like being water logged. Are you able to lift the rootball out of the container to check it's not soggy? To quote from the RHS website here:

Initially, plant in a pot that’s 30cm (1ft) wide. Use free-draining, peat-free, soil-based compost, and make sure the surface is at least 2.5cm (1in) below the rim, to allow space for watering. Position the pot in a warm, sunny spot, ideally against a south-facing wall. Figs in containers will need repotting every few years.

My dad was an anti-aircraft gunner on Malta during WW2. When I was a boy, he used to reminisce about picking succulent figs growing wild on the island. Think Malta - hot, dry and rocky - ideal conditions for growing figs.

Peter4075
  • 4,386
  • 11
  • 16