Fig tree

[schmelda]

I would like to get my mum a fig tree for her birthday or Mothers Day (so, February or March).  I've done my research, and plan to get a potted 'Brown Turkey'.  I was just wondering if anyone has any recommendations with regards to where to buy it.  Prices seem to vary so much, and I imagine the quality would be the same...  ??? ???

[schmelda]

[green lily]

What part of the country are you? I'd use R.V.Rogers near Pickering [who do internet and mail order] but most reputable fruit tree suppliers will also do figs such as brown turkey.

[schmelda]

I'm in Bedfordshire.  I've never bought a fruit tree before (except a blueberry stick for 99p last November, still waiting to see how that turns out!), so I'm unsure of what constitutes a 'reputable supplier'!

[green lily]

Marshalls have got one in their catalogue at £16.95. That means most of the other seed/plant catalogues such as Unwins will have the same. Roger's is independent and probably cheaper but otherwise you could try a local garden centre that actually sells fruit trees instead of tat.
I don't think I'd recommend Wilko's or Poundland for a fig. Mine was given to my mother by a friend of hers and is now mine. Think it must be White Versaille. I gather one can take cuttings but I haven't tried--- yet. ::)

[grawrc]

Blackmoor is a fruit specialist in Hampshire. I've bought their stuff. It's good. £14.00 for a 40-50cm Brown Turkey + £8 postage but if you can pick it up no charge for delivery.

[budgiebreeder]

I bought  both my fig trees from Wilko's and they have both been very good had loads of  fig off of them.But i cant remember what variety they were (it's the age thing)sorry.

[Melbourne12]

Blackmoor is a fruit specialist in Hampshire. I've bought their stuff. It's good. £14.00 for a 40-50cm Brown Turkey + £8 postage but if you can pick it up no charge for delivery.

Another recommendation for Blackmoor here.  We've had trees and soft fruit bushes from them and they've been excellent.

[delboy]

Reads Nursery. They have mucho experience with figs, and have many different types available. They are in East Anglia but have a good website.

[Spudbash]

I recently bought the fig collection from Reads Nursery. The pot-grown plants are very sturdy and I think they're good value and any one of them would have made a good present. I've gone off Blackmoor since I needed to get a refund on some raspberry canes (Glen Moy, which I see they no longer stock).

http://www.readsnursery.co.uk/categories/Fig-Trees/

[schmelda]

Thank you all for your advice.  I'll have a look at the nurseries that you have suggested and take it from there.  Might see if I can pre-order some raspberry canes while I'm at it!

;D

[non-stick]

I've got a Brown Turkey fig in a pot outside the kitchen window. Doesn't take much looking after and last year we had some lovely figs from it - really sweet and juicy.

Think Mrs Stick got it from the RHS as part of my Christmas Present one year

[tonybloke]

just find somebody with a growing one, take a cutting, easy peasey!!
( do folk actually buy fig trees? I burnt a load of fig prunings last week, perhaps I should have potted them up)

[Sparkly]

I've got a Brown Turkey fig in a pot outside the kitchen window. Doesn't take much looking after and last year we had some lovely figs from it - really sweet and juicy.

Think Mrs Stick got it from the RHS as part of my Christmas Present one year

How big is the pot? We have one in a raised bed at the side of the house. It has figs on it from last year for the first time!! I am a bit paranoid about it sending massive roots under the house?

[artichoke]

My current figs are cuttings from my last garden and very productive.

Blackmoors are excellent, but may I also put in a recommendation for Keepers?

http://www.keepers-nursery.co.uk/searchresults.aspx

Lovely people, local to me, healthy and beautiful plants.

[tonybloke]

I've got a Brown Turkey fig in a pot outside the kitchen window. Doesn't take much looking after and last year we had some lovely figs from it - really sweet and juicy.

Think Mrs Stick got it from the RHS as part of my Christmas Present one year

How big is the pot? We have one in a raised bed at the side of the house. It has figs on it from last year for the first time!! I am a bit paranoid about it sending massive roots under the house?

ours is planted in a drum from an automatic washing machine, in the ground. this restricts the main tap root, leading to earlier fruiting on a young tree.

[non-stick]

I've got a Brown Turkey fig in a pot outside the kitchen window. Doesn't take much looking after and last year we had some lovely figs from it - really sweet and juicy.

Think Mrs Stick got it from the RHS as part of my Christmas Present one year

How big is the pot? We have one in a raised bed at the side of the house. It has figs on it from last year for the first time!! I am a bit paranoid about it sending massive roots under the house?

OOh now you are asking - not as big as a half-barrel. Figs prefer their roots restricted anyway I beliieve

[green lily]

Last Sunday we moved mine into a very large pot. It won't get another although I have to see its on a firm base or its roots will escape again. But we got somewhere between 50 and 80 figs last year. Its a big heavy beast to move now..... but worth the [minimal] trouble. :)