NOTE: I originally posted this elsewhere, but it's a great conversation to continue. I would love to add photos of fruits and leaves, if you have any to share, please do! Some know the bias fig collectors exhibit towards Brown Turkey figs, but I don't think there is enough attention being given to true English Brown Turkey varieties, especially for cold climate growers on accounts of it's exceptional hardiness.
Breba crops on LaRadek's English Brown Turkey are reported to still produce even after temperatures of -10 to -15 F, which is astounding. In northern zones (below zone 7) the main crops will seldom ripen, but due to the high quality of the breba fruit it is not a total loss.
Assumed to be English BT Variants
Hanc's English Brown Turkey - As he aged, Hanc Mathies only kept 3 figs in his collection, this being one of them. He acquired it from (now defunct) Miller Nurseries as Brown Turkey. They got it from a wholesaler in the South. herman2 and Bob Harper both suspect it is actually a Southern Brown Turkey. It is extremely hardy, possibly to Zone 4b as per Bob Harper. It is a heavy bearer with an explosion of flavor as per 'Noss'. Reportedly very hard to propagate, even by air layer.
http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/show_single_post?pid=1273716032&postcount=4 and http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/1892526/english-brown-turkey-hm
LaRadek's English Brown Turkey - A form of English BT from Eastern Europe, it has survived -18F with no damage and 70% dieback (but survival) at -23F in the Czech Republic. The mother plant is planted against a foundation. In zone 5b/6a it seems to ripen brebas most years. Fruits have a sweet, fruity fig taste. Closed eye.
http://www.fikovniky.com/index.php?o...ask=view&id=51, http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=7073256 , and http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/laradeks-ebt-in-the-winter-6251600
Süßer Georg (Sweet George) - According herman2, this is an English BT variant. Originates from a nursery near Vienna, Austria. According to the story, the nursery owners grandfather acquired the fig in Styria, Austria in the 1930's. A GardenWeb member from Europe seems to have sent this variety to at least 2 American collectors. Produces large fruits on both breba and main crop that are rain resistant. Brebas may not be as hardy as other EBT varieties.
http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/s%C3-%BC-%C3%9Fer-georg-fig-5146586 and http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/sweet-george-fig-5511150
Bayernfeige Violleta - According to a GardenWeb poster, a Belgian nursery found a good strain on English Brown Turkey and renamed it.
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/fig/msg080342546413.html
Potential Variants
Nexoe / Bornholm - Originating from the island of Bornholm, Denmark, this fig is well adapted to the cool, Baltic Climate. Legend has it was brought to Denmark centuries ago during the Hanseatic League by Italian craftsman. Produces good quality fruits with a melon flavor. Very hardy.
http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/nexoe-fig-variety-from-denmark-4669382 and http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/bornholmnexoe-maincrop-81514-7040782
Frank's Fig Unknown (from MichaelTuscon) - Acquired by Michael Tucson's father in the 1960's, likely from a Sicilian family. herman2 believes it to be an English Brown Turkey variant. Produces lots of high quality brebas, main crop seldom ripens.
http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/show_single_post?pid=1285912707&postcount=7
Valliery
http://www.planetfig.com/cultivars/fcveng8591.html
Emma
http://www.figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/Emma-Fig-5135193
Here is a good thread detailing some of the many varieties going by moniker Brown Turkey: http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox....and-up-5498398
PS: I feel I should note I only have Sweet George and Nexoe, both are small. I'm just sharing my reading and research. Hopefully as my collection grows and plants mature I can provide some more insights and comparisons. If anyone has some of the others they'd like to share, send me a PM
.
Breba crops on LaRadek's English Brown Turkey are reported to still produce even after temperatures of -10 to -15 F, which is astounding. In northern zones (below zone 7) the main crops will seldom ripen, but due to the high quality of the breba fruit it is not a total loss.
Assumed to be English BT Variants
Hanc's English Brown Turkey - As he aged, Hanc Mathies only kept 3 figs in his collection, this being one of them. He acquired it from (now defunct) Miller Nurseries as Brown Turkey. They got it from a wholesaler in the South. herman2 and Bob Harper both suspect it is actually a Southern Brown Turkey. It is extremely hardy, possibly to Zone 4b as per Bob Harper. It is a heavy bearer with an explosion of flavor as per 'Noss'. Reportedly very hard to propagate, even by air layer.
http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/show_single_post?pid=1273716032&postcount=4 and http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/1892526/english-brown-turkey-hm
LaRadek's English Brown Turkey - A form of English BT from Eastern Europe, it has survived -18F with no damage and 70% dieback (but survival) at -23F in the Czech Republic. The mother plant is planted against a foundation. In zone 5b/6a it seems to ripen brebas most years. Fruits have a sweet, fruity fig taste. Closed eye.
http://www.fikovniky.com/index.php?o...ask=view&id=51, http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=7073256 , and http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/laradeks-ebt-in-the-winter-6251600
Süßer Georg (Sweet George) - According herman2, this is an English BT variant. Originates from a nursery near Vienna, Austria. According to the story, the nursery owners grandfather acquired the fig in Styria, Austria in the 1930's. A GardenWeb member from Europe seems to have sent this variety to at least 2 American collectors. Produces large fruits on both breba and main crop that are rain resistant. Brebas may not be as hardy as other EBT varieties.
http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/s%C3-%BC-%C3%9Fer-georg-fig-5146586 and http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/sweet-george-fig-5511150
Bayernfeige Violleta - According to a GardenWeb poster, a Belgian nursery found a good strain on English Brown Turkey and renamed it.
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/fig/msg080342546413.html
Potential Variants
Nexoe / Bornholm - Originating from the island of Bornholm, Denmark, this fig is well adapted to the cool, Baltic Climate. Legend has it was brought to Denmark centuries ago during the Hanseatic League by Italian craftsman. Produces good quality fruits with a melon flavor. Very hardy.
http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/nexoe-fig-variety-from-denmark-4669382 and http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/bornholmnexoe-maincrop-81514-7040782
Frank's Fig Unknown (from MichaelTuscon) - Acquired by Michael Tucson's father in the 1960's, likely from a Sicilian family. herman2 believes it to be an English Brown Turkey variant. Produces lots of high quality brebas, main crop seldom ripens.
http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/show_single_post?pid=1285912707&postcount=7
Valliery
http://www.planetfig.com/cultivars/fcveng8591.html
Emma
http://www.figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/Emma-Fig-5135193
Here is a good thread detailing some of the many varieties going by moniker Brown Turkey: http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox....and-up-5498398
PS: I feel I should note I only have Sweet George and Nexoe, both are small. I'm just sharing my reading and research. Hopefully as my collection grows and plants mature I can provide some more insights and comparisons. If anyone has some of the others they'd like to share, send me a PM

Comment