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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/
