How to plant mulberry tree

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Quick Guide

  • There are three kinds of mulberry trees: black, red, and white.
  • Choose a mulberry tree that will grow in your region and fit into your garden.
  • Grow mulberries in full sun in compost-rich, well-drained soil with a soil pH between 5.5 and 7.0.
  • Mulberries are self-pollinating.
  • Space mulberries 35 to 50 feet apart.
  • Plant bare-root trees in early spring as soon as the soil can be worked while the trees are still dormant.
  • Keep the soil where young mulberry trees are growing evenly moist; Fertilize established mulberries once a year in spring with a 10-10-10 organic fertilizer.
  • Mulberries that have been trained to a sturdy framework will require only light pruning each year.
  • White and red mulberries are ready for harvest in late spring, black mulberries ripen in summer.

How to Grow Mulberries

  • Mulberries are not difficult to grow once established.
  • There are 3 kinds of mulberry trees: black, red, and white.
  • Black mulberry fruit is large, 1 to 2 inches long, and juicy; they have an intense sweet-tart flavor. The tartness of black mulberry is reminiscent of grapefruit. Black mulberries are considered the best tasting.
  • Red mulberries taste almost as good as black mulberries; they are about the same size.
  • White mulberries are smaller than black or red mulberries. They are far sweeter, almost honey flavored with no hint of tartness.

Types

  • Choose a mulberry tree that will grow in your region and fit into your garden.
  • Black mulberries grow 30 feet tall and about 35 feet wide; some cultivars grow shorter.
  • Red mulberry trees grow 35 to 50 feet tall and wide. White mulberry trees are the most cold-tolerant and fastest growing 30 to 80 feet tall and wide.
  • White mulberries leaf out in spring, about 2 months before black and red mulberries.

Location

  • Grow mulberries in full sun. Trees will bear fruit in partial shade but the flavor and yield will not match plants grown in full sun.
  • Plant mulberries in compost-rich, well-drained soil with a soil pH between 5.5 and 7.0. Mulberries will adapt to almost any soil, but they will struggle in wet soil.
  • Avoid planting mulberries where falling fruit will hit sideways. The fruit will not stain but fallen fruit is messy and will stick to shoes.

Pollination

  • Mulberries are self-pollinating they do not need cross-pollination.
  • Most mulberries are wind-pollinated.
  • Some mulberries set fruit without pollination.

Planting

  • Plant bare-root trees in early spring as soon as the soil can be worked while the trees are still dormant.
  • Plant container-grown or balled and burlapped trees in spring or early summer before hot, dry weather comes. In mild-winter regions, mulberry trees can be planted in the fall.
  • Prepare a planting site in full sun that is sheltered from a prevailing breeze or wind.
  • Work well-rotted compost or manure into the soil.
  • Dig a hole half again as deep and twice as wide as the tree’s roots. Add a cupful of all-purpose fertilizer to the bottom of the hole.
  • Put a tree stake in place before planting. Drive the stake into the ground to the side of the hole to at least 2 feet deep.
  • Re-fill the hole with half native soil and half aged compost or commercial organic planting mix; firm in the soil so that there are no air pockets among the roots.
  • After planting, water each tree thoroughly and fertilize with a high-phosphorus liquid starter fertilizer.

Care

  • Keep the soil where young mulberry trees are growing evenly moist; do not let the soil dry out.
  • Mulberries are drought tolerant but if the soil becomes too dry fruit will drop before it ripens.
  • Fertilize established mulberries once a year in mid to late spring with a 10-10-10 organic fertilizer.
  • Mulch with aged compost in autumn; winter rain will carry nutrients down into the soil.

Pruning

  • Mulberries that have been trained to a sturdy framework will require only light pruning each year.
  • Mulberries set fruit on growing shoots and on spurs on older wood.
  • Prune away dead, diseased, and broken branches. Also selectively remove new shoots that crowd the center of the tree.
  • Mid-summer prune sub-lateral branches growing off of structural limbs to six leaves; this will help create short, fruiting spurs.

Harvest & Storage

  • White and red mulberries are ready for harvest in late spring.
  • Black mulberries ripen in summer.
  • Spread a tarp or sheet under the tree and shake the branches until ripe berries fall. Ripe white and red mulberries will fall readily; black mulberries may need to be cut from the tree. The juice of red and black mulberries can stain hands and clothing.
  • Unwashed mulberries will keep in the refrigerator for several days if placed in a covered container.
  • Mulberries can be frozen shortly after harvest.

Source: https://harvesttotable.com/how-to-grow-mulberries/

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