looking for a fig tree suitable for northeast uk

[4390evans]

Does anyone know if a fig tree would grow OK in the north east of England? If so what kind? I really want one for the garden but don't want too waste room if one will not fruit.

Thanks guys

[Kristen]

My 2p on this is that the rock hardy ones, such as Brown Turkey, don't taste very good, so I am growing tender varieties, in containers, and I bring them in for the Winter.

If that's an option for you then the two I would recommend are:

Rouge de Bordeaux
White Marseilles

[4390evans]

for the likes of Rouge de Bordeaux White Marseilles would I just put them in a passage over winter or does it have to be somewhere heated, and what size container

[Kristen]

They won't mind lack of light in winter, and anything frost free is fine. Best not to have heat otherwise they will probably think it is Spring and try to break into leaf!

[Kristen]

P.S. If they are coming in "the house" you'd need to consider how big they will get. Figs are not the smallest of container grown plants! Garage might be better?

[4390evans]

Fab thanks for your help

[Elfeda]

There is a small fig tree on my site, it is in uncovered space this winter ( cold frame cover is torn mostly) I just put some hay around it but top is not covered, would that be okay? since the site was not cultivated last year I assume it is 2 years old. Should I cover with fleece now?

[Kristen]

If it is a Brown Turkey fig it should be fine outside. No way of telling of course, but if it was just bought in a garden centre / the like then my guess is that it most likely is Brown Turkey - don't think I've ever seen a specialist variety, except from a specialist fruit tree grower.

[Alison]

There is a small fig tree on my site, it is in uncovered space this winter ( cold frame cover is torn mostly) I just put some hay around it but top is not covered, would that be okay? since the site was not cultivated last year I assume it is 2 years old. Should I cover with fleece now?

Mine has never had any cover and I'm considerably north of you. It is in a pot by the front door and comes back strongly every year but as said elsewhere it will depend on variety.

[Jay-ell]

I have a little fig tree which I got last summer purely for the fact that it was under £2. It did develop some figs but they would never have ripened so I've removed them. It's currently wrapped up in fleece in a mini greenhouse in my garage (along with my pepper plants).


Now all I need is four planting slabs and somewhere sunny enough to plant it.

[BUFFS]

I got a "brown Turkey" fig some years ago and it is sitting in a cut down dustbin and has sat through winters of -13 to -16 deg for weeks with no cover or fleece and still fruits quite happily, and don't forget to snap off the growing tips in feb to promote fruiting, so have a go and good luck..

[d000hg]

I live in Durham (next to Newcastle) and our next door neighbour has a pretty epic fig tree growing outside. It is at most 8 years old (that's when the houses were built) and is a large, sturdy tree over 10 feet high. It crops most prolifically each summer - hundreds of the things - and tries to produce a 2nd crop most years which sadly don't quite have time to ripen before the weather turns.

Our gardens are directly south-facing though, total sun-traps.