How to Care for a Turkey Fig Tree
With proper care, your brown turkey fig will produce fruit that you can eat fresh or use to make homemade preserves. The brown turkey fig variety produces very sweet medium to large reddish-brown fruit with a trace of purple. Figs are high in calcium and fiber, and contain antioxidants. Take care of your fig tree so your fig tree can take care of you. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Plant your turkey fig in a location where sunlight is prevalent throughout the day. Morning sun is especially important to dry the dew and reduce the risk of disease. Select an area with good drainage. Soil that tends to hold rain water for more than 24 hours will cause insufficient oxygen, and growth will be stunted, eventually the tree will die.
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Prune during the dormant stage to remove limbs that show signs of disease or have died. Thin the branches of mature trees to stimulate new growth and increase the size of figs.
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Spread mulch around the tree to conserve the moisture in the soil and prevent the growth of weeds.
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Provide enough water to keep leaves from wilting in the afternoon. Wilting leaves are a sign the tree needs water.
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Cut back on water in the fall to encourage dormancy. Less water will discourage growth and promote dormancy. Once the tree has become dormant it can withstand temperature as low as 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Place a bed of straw around the base of the tree to insulate the soil.
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Allow the figs to ripen on the tree and pick them as soon as they ripen. Wear gloves and long sleeves to protect your skin from irritants.
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Tips & Warnings
The turkey fig grows well in zones 7 through 10.
Avoid planting in soil where nematodes (microscopic worms) are present by having the soil tested.
Control fig rust by applying neutral copper spray in May and early June. Fig rust is a leaf fungus that appears as yellow-orange spots and causes defoliation.
References
Resources
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