Since you did your planting hole properly here are some possibilities

Fig plants for the most part should not be planted in full sun when bought they need to assimilate to the sun by putting in partial shade/sun for a bit .Eventually then into full sun.

One could risk sunburn leaves which then eventually drop .

Also too much water or to little will discolor leaves then also drop off.

Martin

It was out in the open full sun at the nursery, so I figured it would be OK. It did wilt that one day, then I watered it - but is that enough to kill it?

No should not kill it and should sprout near base of plant next season if plant went into transplant shock as can be the case when rootball is disturbed when transplanting.

Fig plants are pretty resilient for the most part , they do not like their roots sitting in water that does not drain away as that can start rotting the roots of plant .

Some areas may have root knot nematodes which can harm roots of plants, i think they like sandy type of soils i have read on fig forums years back. You can google it to get more information on them .

Martin

Don Jamie,

Perhaps the problem is that the Brown Turkey Fig is not able to thrive under your growing conditions, period, no matter what excellent care it gets. Turkey has a hot, dry climate, but not necessarily desert. 80% of the figs consumed in the USA are grown in Turkey....a major agricultural export.

There must be a variety of fig that thrives under your growing conditions. You need to contact Nevada Dept. of Agriculture for advice.

Brown Turkeys grow in ground here in W. Pennsylvania with generous winter protection. They can get 12'+ by summers end here. My neighbor has two that meet description. I, on the other hand grow all my figs in containers. Mine go into my fruit cellar for cold storage during winter.

Anyone who does not grow figs in your exact climate cannot advise you adequately on achieving the road this success.

Perhaps figs that thrive in Israel, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, etc., should be looked into.

You want to grow a fig tree that thrives under good, average care in your climate, not one that needs to be babied!

Just because the figs you bought were growing well at the nursery means nothing. They may have been getting watered three times a day.

Going by your photos, the leaves look to me like they are/were suffering from excessive heat, light, and lack of water.

Moses