Black mulberry, or mulberry tree. The medicinal properties of black mulberry

People have been growing mulberries for a long time. Even in antiquity in southern countries the leaves of this plant, eaten by the silkworm, were used to make durable and beautiful thread... Mulberries are also appreciated for their decorative qualities. And, of course, many people like sweet fruits that are eaten raw, used to make juices, compotes, preserves and jams.

Features of growing mulberry

Mulberry is quite unpretentious to soil conditions, but it does not develop well on dry, saline, swampy soils. If the land on the site is acidic, then the intended planting site for mulberries must be cultivated by adding slaked lime, dolomite flour or chalk. Mulberry is planted in a sunny place protected from the wind.

Mulberry is unpretentious, but will give a greater yield in a sunny place

Mulberry planting

Mulberries are planted in April (before the start of sap flow) or in the fall. The planting scheme is as follows: on the site, 5 m away from the existing trees, there should be at least 4 m between the newly planted mulberry trees.For a seedling, they dig a hole 80 x 80 x 60 cm, put 2 buckets of rotted manure or compost there, mix with the soil ... The planted tree is watered, the trunk circle is mulched.

Video: planting a mulberry seedling and caring for it

Mulberry care

Mulberry care has its own characteristics:

• To obtain a larger yield, mulberries need to be fed by introducing rotted manure or compost into the trunk circle.
• To protect them from frost and in regions with cold winters, mulberry seedlings can be covered with agrotex, straw, coniferous branches.
• When growing thermophilic plants, including mulberries, in regions with sharp temperature changes, it is necessary to remember about the danger of damage to trunks and branches by spring return frosts. Therefore, in the spring, after removing the covering material, it is advisable to leave it next to the tree for the fastest re-shelter in case of a threat of frost.
• Damaged and diseased branches are cut out in the fall at an air temperature of at least -10 o C.
• Watering trees is carried out in the first half of summer, so as not to cause rapid pre-winter growth of shoots, which is fraught with freezing of the tree.
• To add decorative effect and facilitate harvesting, it is advisable to form mulberry trees with a height of 2–4 m. In this case, you need to leave a stem 0.5–1 m, up to this height everything side shoots trim.

Recently, the interest of connoisseurs of decorative living compositions has been aroused by the standard weeping mulberry. To form a weeping shape, the branches are cut into the lower and lateral buds. Strong pruning with this crown shape will not spoil appearance wood, but will reduce yields.

Standard weeping mulberry will decorate the site

Mulberry species

Of the wide variety of species and hybrids of mulberry (according to some sources, there are about 200) in Russia and Ukraine, white mulberry and black mulberry have become widespread.

Black mulberry got its name from the dark color of tree trunks and branches. The plant has purple-black fruits with a more aromatic sweet taste compared to white mulberry. Black culture is more thermophilic than white culture.

The mulberry tree lives for about 200 years.

Black mulberry has a trunk and branches of a dark color

Video: black mulberry

Black mulberry varieties:

Shelley mulberry No. 150 has large leaves and fruits

White mulberry

White mulberry is called so for light color trunks and branches of trees. Fruits of this species can have different colors: white, pink, cream, black. The species is more frost-resistant compared to other types of mulberry, which makes it possible to grow it not only in southern, but also northern regions Russia and Ukraine. In the south, in more familiar conditions, the tree reaches a height of 10-15 m, in the north - 5 m. Fruits of a sweet taste.

Photo gallery: features of white mulberry

White mulberry has a light trunk White mulberry fruits can be of different colors. White mulberry gets its name from the color of the branches, not the fruit.

White mulberry varieties:

• Black Baroness. The variety of the selection of the agricultural firm "Rostok" from the Belgorod region, frost-resistant (withstands cold up to -30 ° C). It has black fruits of sweet taste with a weak aroma, up to 3.5 cm long, up to 1.5 cm in diameter. Fruits in June - July, high yield - up to 100 kg per tree. When freezing, quickly restores shoots.

  

  Mulberry Black Baroness easily survives frosts

• White honey. Popular frost-resistant variety, resists disease well. Plant with a dense, wide-pyramidal crown. Sweet juicy fruits of honey taste, no aroma, white... Fruit length - up to 3 cm, diameter - 1 cm. Harvesting begins in late June and continues until early August. Fresh berries practically cannot stand transportation. In the case of freezing of young branches after pruning, the plant grows quickly and restores productivity.

  

  Fresh mulberries White honey practically cannot stand transportation

• The dark woman. Another variety of the Rostok agricultural company. The name is associated with the almost black fruit. Differs in frost resistance (tolerates cold up to -30 ° C). When young branches freeze, it grows quickly and restores productivity. The tree has a wide-pyramidal crown. The fruits are sweet, without aroma, with a slight sourness, up to 3.5 cm long, 1.2 cm in diameter. High-yielding variety. Good transportability (compared to other mulberry varieties). Fresh berries can be stored for 12-18 hours.
• Ostryakovskaya. Another variety of white mulberry with black fruits. A vigorous tree up to 5.5 m in height successfully tolerates frosts down to -25 o C. Large fleshy juicy fruits have a sweet and sour taste. Due to the uneven ripening of the fruits, starting from mid-June, one can find light, reddish and black berries on one branch. The disadvantages of the variety include the instability to disease, pest infestation.
• Ukrainian 6. Variety of white mulberry with black fruit. Bred at the Ukrainian Research Institute of Silk Weaving. Differs in frost resistance (down to -28 ° C). Begins to bear fruit in the 4th or 5th year. Sweet, acid-free, large fruits ripen from the beginning of June, reach a size of 4 cm or more, with a diameter of up to 0.8 cm. The yield is average. The plant is vigorous, with a dense spherical crown. Fresh seedlings can be stored for over 12 hours. Fruit transportability is good. The tree is decorative, used in landscaping. In case of freezing of young branches after pruning, the plant quickly regains its attractive appearance, as well as yield.
• White tenderness. The variety is early ripening (the fruits ripen from the beginning of June), the maturation lasts about 2 months. It has good winter hardiness, disease resistance. The plant is vigorous, the crown is compact. In the first years of life, the leaves are large, with an increase in yield, they become smaller. The fruits are juicy, large, white. The taste is sweet, however, in rainy weather it deteriorates, the berries lose their sweetness.

  

  Mulberry White tenderness is characterized by good winter hardiness, disease resistance

• Pink Smolensk. New frost-resistant medium early variety (begins to bear fruit from the beginning of July). The plant is unpretentious, the fruits appear in the 1st year after planting the seedling. Sweet seedlings of pink or red color 2-3 cm long. The plant has an attractive leaf shape and multi-colored fruits, which can be used in the preparation of decorative compositions in the garden.

  

  Mulberry Pink Smolenskaya has multi-colored fruits

Mulberry varieties for cultivation in different regions

One of the main differentiators different regions are climatic conditions ( Cold winter, the likelihood of return spring frosts, the number of sunny days per year, etc.). When planting a mulberry seedling, these factors must be taken into account.

For central Russia

The middle zone of Russia is characterized by cold winters, unpleasant for thermophilic plants. The probability of return frosts in spring is high. In this regard, in this area, the mulberry is formed in the form of a bush up to 5 m high. This is done to reduce the risk of frost damage to the entire aerial part of the plant.

In the southern part of the middle zone, the drought resistance of the variety must also be taken into account.

For these places, the following varieties are applicable:

• White honey
• Black Baroness
• Nadia,
• Dark-haired woman,
• Ostryakovskaya,
• Black Prince,
• Vladimirskaya,
• Ukrainian 6,
• White tenderness
• Pink Smolensk.

For North-West Russia

Northwest Russia is a difficult region for mulberry cultivation. For most varieties of plants, more accustomed to the climatic conditions of the southern regions, cold winters are destructive. Failure is also negatively affected. solar lighting... In this regard, it is necessary to choose early ripening varieties, the plants should be formed in the form of a bush up to 5 m high. Mulberry itself in such conditions will tend to grow in the form of a bush. You just need to cut out dried, broken branches, and also avoid thickening.

Mulberries should only be planted in a dry, lighted place. The groundwater level should be no higher than 1.5 m. For the winter, plants must be covered (with straw, coniferous branches, wrapped with agrotex). Annual plants candig up and store in a cellar until spring to protect young seedlings from severe winter frosts.

You can experiment with varieties:

• White honey
• Black Prince.

For Ukraine

For cultivation in Ukraine, first of all, varieties of Ukrainian selection are suitable:

• Shelley No. 150,
• Galicia,
• Nadia,
• Ukrainian 6.

According to climatic conditions, the possibility of obtaining fruits of high taste, other varieties are also suitable:

• White honey
• Black Baroness
• Black Prince,
• Black Pearl,
• Dark-haired woman,
• Hope,
• White tenderness
• Ostryakovskaya
• Pink Smolensk.

Non-traditional fruit crops with beneficial properties are gaining more and more popularity in Russia. One such plant is the black weeping mulberry, also known as the mulberry. The culture is especially widespread in the Moscow region and other regions of central Russia.

Description of culture

Black mulberry belongs to deciduous trees, reaching a height of 15 m. The plant gains the main growth in the first years of life, subsequently its strength gradually slows down. The crown of the tree is wide and spreading, the bark is brownish in color, and the stems are refined. The leaves are very large, they grow up to 20 cm in length and up to 15 cm in width. They have a lobed shape. The front side of the leaf blade is rough to the touch, the lower part is softened, felt.

The culture blooms in April-May, and already in June, fruits are formed on the tree. The inflorescences are composed of small green-white flowers. The plant begins to bear fruit most often at 3-5 years of age. The harvest is plentiful, is a glossy bright black berries about 3 cm in length. The fruit tastes sweet and sour, very juicy.

Black mulberry

Mulberry white and black: differences

White mulberry berries have a slight sourness in taste. They are not as sweet as black mulberries, but at the same time they are less nutritious. White fruits are recognized as a dietary product. The color is not only white, but also yellowish, pink.

There is also a difference in the chemical composition of the fruit. White fruits are high in carbohydrates, while black mulberry more organic acids.

Important! Black mulberry fruits are sweeter. Outwardly, they resemble a blackberry. The sour taste is very weak.

Black mulberry: growing and care in the Middle Lane

To grow mulberries, for example, in the Moscow region, you need to take into account some nuances.

Landing

For planting black mulberries, mid-spring is best suited, when sap flow has not yet begun. Widely practiced and autumn plantings carried out before the rainy season begins. In the latter case, you can even get a higher yield, provided that the plant overwinters well.

The area for cultivation of the crop in question should be well exposed to sunlight, but at the same time it needs protection from strong winds. Ground water must lie at a depth of at least 1.5 m. Mulberry can be cultivated on different types soils, however, such types of soils are not suitable for it:

• sandstones;
• swampy desiccated soils;
• salty.

Note! V clay soil drainage is definitely needed, which can be made from pebbles or brick debris.

The planting hole is prepared 2 weeks before disembarkation. Its dimensions must correspond to the dimensions of the root system of the seedling. The approximate length, width and depth of the hole is 50 cm. In soil with a low content of nutrients, the hole is made a little larger, taking into account the application of fertilizers. To do this, use rotted manure in a volume of 5 kg, mixed with 100 g of superphosphate. The resulting nutrient mixture is evenly distributed over the surface of the bottom of the hole and covered with earth so that the roots do not come into contact with the feeding during planting.

The seedling is placed inside the planting hole and the roots are straightened so that they do not overlap with each other and do not rest against the edges of the hole. If the plant is too thin, a wooden peg should be driven into the hole with the sharp end down and the seedling should be tied to it with a piece of twine. The hole is covered with soil, constantly ramming it so that there are no empty cavities filled with air. Upon completion of planting, a shallow groove is immediately dug around the seedling, into which 2-3 buckets of warm settled water are poured. You should try to keep this groove for subsequent irrigation. Without wasting time, the near-stem sector is mulched to retain moisture. For this purpose, peat or sawdust is usually used, however, if they are absent, ordinary, but dry soil from the same area will do.

Planting a mulberry seedling

Watering and feeding

Irrigation is very important for the young silk tree. On dry soil, the seedling does not take root. The main watering period is in early to mid-summer. In the spring, it is carried out only during dry periods, and since August inclusive, the plants are not watered at all.

In the first month after planting, the plantings are fed with nitroammophos, and for each plant there is 1 tbsp. a spoonful of fertilizer dissolved in water. In the summer, feeding is repeated according to the same scheme, however, potassium salt and superphosphate are already used. At the beginning of August, the plant is stopped to feed, so as not to provoke a secondary growth of shoots, which will not have time to mature and will most likely die in winter.

Superphosphate

Pruning

The formation of the crown of black mulberry is usually carried out during the dormant period - in early spring, when the sap has not yet begun to move. Rejuvenating pruning begins in the last decade of April and ends in May, when the buds begin to bloom. Sanitary pruning is carried out in the fall, when the air temperature has not yet dropped below -10 ° C.

In the spring on young plant all shoots are removed on the trunk from a height of about 1.5 m. Thanks to this, in an adult tree, the branches will not bend to the surface of the earth. The remaining central conductor is maintained and its height is increased to 5-6 m. You can also form a tree no higher than one and a half meters, which will be easier to care for. On such a plant, 8-10 skeletal shoots are left.

Sanitary pruning involves the removal of dried, sick, killed by frost, with significant mechanical damage to the stems. You also need to get rid of the shoots growing upward and inward and thereby thickening the crown.

Note! Subsequently, when the plant is normally formed, it is only necessary to maintain the existing shape for it, getting rid of unnecessary stems.

Winter care

Black mulberry is characterized by high level drought resistance and heat resistance, while the plant practically does not show resistance to unfavorable factors of the winter period. In view of this, the tree must be sufficiently well prepared for the cold weather.

It is necessary to stop adding nutrients in advance. Top dressing is carried out only if the plant shows pronounced signs of fertilizer deficiency. For the same purpose, in August, they refuse further irrigation, and in the fall, they carry out sanitary pruning.

Important! In regions with very cold climates, seedlings are planted with the root collar buried in the soil. This also helps to keep the plantings safe in winter.

A certain protection from the cold for the plant is provided by the ability to form cork tissue in the space between young and mature stems. This makes it possible to get rid of tissues unsuitable for survival at strong negative temperatures, however, in years with snowless winters, plants freeze out. To prevent this, before the beginning of winter, the trunk sector should be mulched and thoroughly covered with spruce branches and other suitable materials.

Reproduction

Like all fruit crops, black mulberry propagates by the seed method and vegetatively. In the first case, the seeds need to undergo stratification. The procedure can be carried out both naturally (when the seeds are sown before winter) or artificially. In this case, they are placed in the refrigerator for 2 months in winter. Weekly, the seeds are pulled out for several hours, as well as regularly conduct a visual inspection and remove diseased or rotten specimens. Immediately before sowing, the seeds are soaked for a couple of hours in a growth stimulant solution. Then they are embedded in the soil to a not too deep depth, and then mulched for their early germination. Seedling care is standard.

The above method is relatively simple. Its main disadvantages are as follows:

• stretching during artificial stratification;
• impossibility of reproduction by this method of varietal specimens.

To increase the amount cultivated plants black mulberry is used for vegetative propagation. Its peculiarity is that the plant practically does not reproduce by either green or lignified cuttings - the main varieties vegetative propagation fruit crops. Therefore, on the culture in question, propagation by root growth is used. In this case, the seedling is separated from mother plant and moved to a permanent place of cultivation, caring for it like a normal seedling. This method it also does not always allow for the transfer of varietal characteristics to the offspring. In addition, there is a risk of growing specimens exclusively with male inflorescences (after all, mulberry belongs to the category of monoecious plants).

Mulberry seedling

To ensure the receipt and cultivation of normal varietal plants, either budding or grafting under the bark of the cuttings must be carried out. Budding is carried out in the summer with the help of dormant buds, and in the spring - with germinating ones. Grafting is done on a growing tree by cuttings with 2 buds under the bark of the tree. On the rootstock, you need to make a cut at an angle of about 35 °, moreover, a straight cut above the bud on the handle, and a beveled one under the bud.

When cultivated in northern regions with a harsh climate (in the Urals, in Siberia, in the north-west of Russia), it is recommended to first grow wild black mulberry. It is more resistant to negative temperatures than varietal hybrids... Over time, when the plant gets stronger, it can be used as a rootstock for grafting varietal plants.

Important! Unlike other fruit crops, in mulberries, the scion is set with the cut side to the bark, and not to the wood.

Popular varieties

The assortment of black mulberries numbers several dozen copies, but only a few of them gained the greatest popularity in Russia:

• Black Baroness... A tall variety with increased productivity and resistance to negative temperatures. The fruits are large and sweet, ripen in the first half of summer.
• Shelley No. 150... Highly productive variety of Ukrainian selection. Differs in very large berries (up to 6 cm in length). Taste and commercial qualities and properties are at a high level.
• Black Pearl. The tree reaches a height of 3.5 m. The fruits are about 4 cm long, tasty and sweet. Fruiting begins in June and lasts for 1.5-2 months.
• Nadia... Medium-sized variety with large fruits... The berries are very sweet, black-purple in color, large. The plant bears fruit in the second half of summer. The peculiarities of the variety include resistance to diseases and drought.

When selecting suitable grade and cultivation technology, you can get a full-fledged high-quality crop of black mulberry. This culture can be considered one of the most promising in Russia for the next few years, until breeders develop something else unusual.

In the south, black mulberry with long ago grown in gardens for a bountiful harvest of sweet berries that are especially popular with children. Gardeners appreciate this culture for its unpretentiousness to the soil and high drought resistance. In recent decades, mulberries are increasingly being grown not only in the south, but also in middle lane Russia.

Which mulberry has black berries

Many gardeners mistakenly call black mulberry absolutely any mulberry that produces dark-colored fruits. In reality, at least half of the black-fruited varieties (including the well-known Smuglyanka, Black Baroness, and Black Prince varieties) belong to a completely different botanical species - white mulberry, which has fruits of very different colors, from pure white to black-violet.

Mulberry is divided into black and white depending on the color of the bark, and not on the shade of the berries.

Table: comparative characteristics of black and white mulberry

Real black mulberry has large broad-heart-shaped leaves

Mulberry is one of the oldest cultivated plants, originally domesticated for feeding silkworm caterpillars, from the cocoons of which natural silk is obtained. In the regions of industrial sericulture, mulberry trees of fodder varieties prevail, rather than fruit trees. They are more hardy, so they are often used in forest shelter belts and urban landscaping.

Mulberry leaves - food for silkworm caterpillars

Mulberry blooms in the south in April-May, in the middle lane - in May-June. Pollinated by wind and insects. In nature, mulberry is a dioecious plant in which male and female flowers are located on different trees... Among cultivated fruit varieties, monoecious ones prevail, having both types of inflorescences on the same tree. When sowing seeds, a splitting of signs occurs, and among the seedlings there are many male plants. Therefore, valuable fruit varieties of mulberries are propagated only vegetatively.

Blooming mulberry is pollinated by wind and insects

Mulberries ripen in the south in May-July, in the middle lane - in July-August. The fruiting period is very extended. Ripe fruits easily fall to the ground. Under normal pollination, mulberry trees bear fruit annually and very abundantly. If the flowering was good, during this period there were no frosts (which can damage not only the flowers, but also the leaves), and there are no berries or very few berries - this means that the problem is the lack of pollination. It is necessary to plant a different type of tree nearby or to inoculate suitable cuttings in the crown.

Sweet mulberries do not ripen at the same time

Dark-colored mulberries stain hands and clothes badly, stains are difficult to wash off.

Ripe berries become soft, juicy, sweet, they wrinkle easily and do not tolerate storage and transportation at all. Therefore, the harvest is processed on the day of harvest. Mulberries can be eaten fresh, dried, boiled jam, made wine.

V good conditions mulberry bears fruit annually and very abundantly

In the south, the mulberry grows up to 15 m in height, and in favorable conditions lives for a couple of hundred years, and sometimes longer. In the north, the young growth freezes almost every year, and the plant often takes on a bushy form. Mulberry tolerates urban conditions well and is not afraid of automobile exhaust gases.

Large mulberry trees are rarely found in Moscow, and in the form of a bush it is grown up to the Leningrad region.

Large mulberry trees are rarely found even in Moscow.

Mulberry varieties with black fruits

The word "black" in the name of the variety means only the color of the berries, but not the botanical species of mulberry.

Of the black-fruited varieties, the most frost-resistant are those that belong to the botanical type of white mulberry. This is the Black Baroness, the Dark Lady, the Black Prince. They can withstand frosts down to -30 ° C. Large-fruited varieties of mulberry Black Pearl and Istanbul Black Pearl found in private nurseries in Ukraine and southern Russia have low winter hardiness and can grow only in southern regions with warm winters.

Admiral's

This is the only botanical variety of black mulberry, on this moment officially entered into the State Register of Breeding Achievements Admitted for Use on the Territory of the Russian Federation. The variety was bred at the Moscow Agricultural Academy named after K.A. Timiryazev. The tree is large, tall, with a wide spreading crown. Fruits are sweet, weighing 1.5–1.7 g, ripen late. The variety is winter-hardy, drought-resistant and heat-resistant.

Dark girl

Black mulberry variety, bred in the Belgorod region. Medium-sized tree with a pyramidal crown. Berries up to 3.5 cm long, early ripening, sweet with slightly noticeable sourness. The variety is monoecious, productive and unpretentious. Winter hardiness - up to -30 ° С.

Black Baroness

Black mulberry variety, bred in the Belgorod region. The crown is spherical, of moderate density. Fruits 3.5-4 cm long, very sweet. Ripening period - from medium to medium late. Monoecious, unpretentious variety with high productivity. Winter hardiness - up to -30 ° С.

Black Prince

Another black mulberry variety. The berries are very large, up to 4–5 cm long, and sweet. Ripening period is average. Winter hardiness - up to -30 ° С, high drought resistance.

Black Pearl

Large-fruited medium early variety for the southern regions. The tree is medium-sized. Fruiting lasts up to 2 months. Fruits are large, up to 4 cm long, weighing up to 6-9 g. Average winter hardiness.

Istanbul black

The fruits are very large, up to 5 cm long, ripen late. The tree is tall, with a spherical crown. A very productive variety for the southern regions. Average winter hardiness.

Photo gallery: mulberry varieties with black fruits

The best mulberry seedlings are obtained from rooted cuttings.

In the south, mulberries are planted in spring or autumn, in the middle lane and to the north - only in spring. For large trees in the south, the distance when planting is 7–8 m; for bush formation in more northern regions, it is enough to leave 3 m between plants.

There are two opposite points of view regarding the preparation of planting holes:

• dig a hole up to 1 m deep and wide, fertilize abundantly with humus at the rate of 2-3 buckets for each plant in order to provide the seedling with food for the next couple of years. This is how rapid and rapid growth of the aboveground part of the seedling is achieved in the first years after planting;
• dig a small hole so that the roots fit in a straightened form. Do not put fertilizers at all. This method provokes a more active and deeper growth of the root system. At the same time, the aboveground part grows very slowly, but the plant turns out to be stronger and more resilient, thanks to its deep powerful roots, it withstands frost and drought better.

Planting mulberries in poor soil encourages deeper root development

Mature mulberry trees are very resistant to dry air and soil. Young trees need watering 1–2 years after planting, and only in the absence of rain. Dampness in late summer and autumn interferes with the ripening of the shoots and worsens the wintering of plants.

Pruning and wintering

Mulberry tolerates pruning well. In the south, it is usually grown in the form of a tree, and all pruning comes down to removing excess thickening branches and limiting the height. The first years after planting, the plant can not be cut off at all.

In regions with frosty winters, a multi-barreled bush-like formation is advisable:

1. In a young seedling, immediately after planting, the top is cut off in order to cause abundant branching in the lower part of the trunk.
2. In the first years of a tree's life, it makes sense to pinch the tops of actively growing shoots in mid-August for their better ripening.
3. In the future, a multi-stem bush is formed with branches of different ages extending almost from the soil level. The places of origin of the main skeletal branches should be under snow in winter so that they do not freeze out in severe frosts.
4. Every spring, all frozen tops of the branches are cut out, cutting them to a healthy part. Large sections are covered with garden pitch.

With a bush-like formation, all the main forks hibernate under the snow and are less damaged by frost

In spring, especially in the middle lane and to the north, mulberries awaken much later than most other trees. Therefore, it is necessary to wait until June to determine the winter damage. Frozen specimens recover well in most cases.

Very young trees 1–2 years after planting can be wrapped in agrofibre for the winter, and the soil under them can be insulated with spruce branches. Wrapping mature mulberry trees does not make sense.

Mulberries are usually not affected by diseases and pests. The berry harvest can be significantly damaged by birds (starlings, blackbirds, sparrows), for protection from which trees with ripening fruits can be covered with a protective net.

Video: growing mulberry

* Black mulberry - mulberry tree is a long-lasting tree that has been cultivated since ancient times. It got to Europe, probably from Iran, grows in the wild in Asia Minor. Wild forms growing in warm regions of Europe and North America are often found in Spain and Italy, mainly on the outskirts of meadows and forests. However, there mulberry was used mainly as an ornamental tree in parks and home gardens. An additional advantage trees are delicious sweet and sour berries. Our mulberry is widespread in Central Asia, Crimea, the Caucasus, Ukraine, although it adapts well to low temperatures and is successfully growing in more northern regions, up to the Leningrad region. In northern latitudes, varieties of white mulberry are often grown, which is so called because of the color of the bark, and after ripening, the fruits can have a purple-black color - the same as that of black mulberries. For this reason, the two trees are often confused. The black mulberry fruit, however, tastes better and is therefore preferred in cultivation.

Characteristic

Black mulberry is a tree with a dense, spherical, spreading crown, reaching up to 15 m in height. The tree is covered with large, dissected, variably shaped leaves of a dark green color. The leaf blades are smooth and shiny, in contrast to the white mulberry, the leaves of which are very hairy. Mulberry blooms from May to June, Male and female flowers are located on different trees, although, quite often, there are specimens with both male and female flowers. Male flowers fall off after flowering, and fleshy fruits are formed from female flowers. They ripen gradually from mid-July to August. Dark red, almost black berries have a spherical shape, about 3 cm. Ripe quickly fall off. Their juice gives an intense color to the hands and mouth.

Growing requirements

Black mulberry, as well as white, is not particularly demanding on growing conditions. She is quite tolerant of various soils, but loves warm, well-drained sandy or loamy soils more. She does not tolerate waterlogging and heavy soil. The mulberry tree has a deep and well-branched root system, so it can extract water and nutrients from deeper layers of the soil. This thermophilic tree grows well in a sunny, wind-protected place. Black mulberry is less resistant to low temperatures, as white and in colder regions, especially young, woody stems can freeze out. It tolerates air pollution well, so they are recommended to be planted as an ornamental tree in green areas of cities. The mulberry tree is easy to grow, it grows quickly, within 10 years it can reach 8 m in height and up to 5 m in width. Mulberries do not require pruning, although they can be pruned in decorative purposes, for example for creating tall hedges. This procedure must be performed during the winter, when the plant is completely dormant, because the mulberry produces a milk sap that oozes out of the abundantly damaged tissues. Heavy pruning should, however, be avoided. If necessary, remove dry and overlapping branches of the crown. This plant is rarely infested with pests and diseases, does not require chemical protection and is suitable for organic farming.

Mulberry propagation

Mulberry trees can be propagated by woody cuttings. In early spring or autumn, stems are harvested with a length of 30 cm, so that they include 2-year-old wood. All lateral shoots are removed, at least 3 healthy buds are retained and then buried 10 cm in the ground. A stalk can be planted right where you want the tree to grow, but in colder climates it is best to root it in a warm room. Young trees can also be obtained by sowing seeds. Seeds germinate better after 2-3 months of stratification, that is, after overwintering. Plants grown in pots should not be planted permanently until the threat of spring frost has passed. It is advisable to plant the seedling in an open, sunny place, it is good that the hole is filled organic fertilizer. Special attention must be given so as not to damage the fragile roots.

Properties and application

Black mulberries can be consumed directly after harvesting or processing, they are not suitable for long-term storage. The fruits are juicy and slightly sour, have a refreshing taste and are ideal for desserts or preserves, marmalade, juices and liqueurs. In addition to taste, they contain many important nutrients and vitamins, in particular vitamins A, C, B vitamins, flavonoids, coumarins and tannins. The mulberry tree is also one of the cardioprotective anthocyanins and contains natural dyes so that the juice can be used to color foods. In addition, these compounds have strong antioxidant properties.
Almost all parts of the plant have long been used in Chinese medicine. Fruits increase the body's immunity, cleanse the body and have diuretic properties. Fruit juice is useful in the treatment of the heart and blood vessels, in addition, it has hematopoietic and hemostatic properties, it is recommended for anemia. Leaf preparations, especially white mulberry leaves, are effective in lowering blood sugar levels. The leaf extracts are antibacterial, astringent and diaphoretic. The bark has antitussive, expectorant and diuretic properties, and infusions are used to treat asthma, coughs and bronchitis.

Among the usual horticultural crops in many areas, you can find black mulberry - useful plant with delicious and juicy fruits... It is this type of plant that is deservedly popular among gardeners, since the tree has high decorative qualities, and the berries are distinguished by their sweetness and unique chemical composition.

Varieties and their description

As for the classification of the Mulberry genus, to which the mulberry belongs, at the moment there are more than two hundred types of culture, but about 17 varieties are more popular in terms of cultivation in private gardens, including the black mulberry. And this plant has several dozen varieties that are grown all over the world. Iran is considered the birthplace of black mulberry, where the fruits of the tree were actively used for food.

The berries are notable for their high taste characteristics, which, as practice shows, are several times superior to those of the white mulberry fruit. Since the south is considered the homeland of mulberry, the plant belongs to heat-loving crops, however, there are many frost-resistant varieties among the rich selection of varieties.

As for the transportability of the crop, not all fruits of the plant have a very good keeping quality, in light of which they cannot withstand transportation over long distances.

Among the most popular varieties of black berries, such crops should be distinguished.

• "Black Prince". The plant is self-fertile and resistant to frost, in addition, the berries of this variety stand out against the background of other representatives with a satisfactory keeping quality, which makes it possible to transport useful black mulberries for subsequent sale in other regions. The culture is quite unpretentious in terms of care, drought-resistant, ripe berries have a honey aftertaste.
• "Ukrainian-6". The harvested crop of this variety of black mulberry can also be transported. This plant is appreciated by gardeners not only for the taste of berries, but also for the decorative features of the culture.
• Mulberry "Istanbul". This variety belongs to large-fruited species, in addition, the tree itself in adulthood is capable of reaching a height of 5-7 meters. The culture acquires the ability to bear fruit only 3-4 years after planting, mulberry tolerates temperature drops well, therefore the variety is often cultivated in the Moscow region.
• The Black Baroness. The culture is distinguished by early fruiting and large berries, the size of the fruits can reach 4 centimeters, the berries are very similar in appearance to blackberries. The plant is undemanding in terms of maintenance and tolerates drought well.

"Black Prince"

"Black Baroness"

• "Hartut"... A popular variety of black mulberry used for suburban garden plantings. Ripe berries can grow up to 5 centimeters long. The crop is often used for processing into juices.
• Shelley # 150. The culture was bred by a Ukrainian breeder, the berry of such a plant is very large and tasty. In addition, the plants of this variety are distinguished by a fairly high yield. In some cases, a leaf from Shelley No. 150 mulberry can grow up to half a meter.
• "Fruit-4"... The plant bears fruit with berries, the size of which is about 4-5 centimeters, the tree itself, as a rule, grows to a five-meter mark. Mulberry tolerates negative air temperatures, it is very often used for industrial cultivation even in the regions of Siberia.
• "Galicia-1"... Culture is the result of the work of Ukrainian breeders. The popularity of the variety is due to the very large berries that the tree bears, usually their size is about 7-8 centimeters. In addition, there is an amazing berry freshness in the taste of the fruit.
• "Ostryakovskaya"... Fruits in large berries, the variety belongs to winter-hardy crops, the yield is stable, the fruits have minimal sourness in taste. The plant reaches 6 meters in height.

"Shelley No. 150"

"Galicia-1"

Difference from white

Despite the fact that the white and black mulberry belong to the same family, the cultures have a number of fundamental differences.

• First of all, this concerns external differences, which relate to the color of the bark and shoots of the tree. In the black species, the color of the trunk and branches will be much richer and darker.
• The foliage of the black variety is larger and tougher.
• Adult crops can grow to a height of fifteen meters.
• It is noteworthy that black mulberry tends to develop rapidly in the first years after rooting, however, over time, growth stops.
• The dark mulberry blooms with inconspicuous inflorescences, which are barely noticeable in the dense green mass.
• Ripening of black berries is quite extended in time, so the harvest lasts from June to August.
• Black berries are used not only in Food Industry, but also as a natural dye. Vinegar and sugar are obtained from the fruit.
• Mulberry can be used to prepare non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks, unlike white berries, the fruits endow the drink with a very beautiful color.

Useful properties and harm

The main advantage of mulberry is its chemical composition, in particular, the presence of a large amount of potassium is considered outstanding, which is important with a deficiency of this trace element. As for the availability of vitamins, the black mulberry contains:

Among the available microelements, one can note manganese, iron and zinc, as well as a group of macronutrients, where calcium, sodium and phosphorus are released, which is important when there is a deficiency of important substances in the body. At the expense of the rich chemical composition berries are considered to be medicinal, so their use is indicated for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Unripe fruits, which are astringent, can help relieve heartburn, while ripe mulberries act as a natural antioxidant and mild diuretic. Berries that are overripe are used in folk medicine as a laxative.

Black mulberry is indicated for use in the recovery period after undergoing surgical interventions or great physical exertion. Due to the presence of B vitamins in the complex, the berry is shown to normalize work nervous system, which has a beneficial effect on the quality of sleep and the ability to withstand stressful situations. Micro- and macroelements normalize the work of hematopoiesis, and also increase hemoglobin levels.

Due to its low-calorie composition, mulberries are recommended for inclusion in the dietary menu - one hundred grams of fresh product contains no more than 52 kcal.

It has been found that regular consumption of mulberries helps to reduce swelling and normalize the functioning of the heart muscle and kidneys. The bark of black mulberry is used in folk medicine as an anthelmintic agent, and a decoction from the root of the culture is indicated in the treatment of wet coughs.

With the juice of fresh fruits of the plant, they treat gastritis and ulcers of the oral cavity, for example, stomatitis. In addition, complex formulations based on mulberry bark are used for compresses in the treatment of skin ailments, as well as burns and abscesses. However, the benefits of berries can in some cases have a completely opposite effect on the human body. This applies to the moments when low-quality fruits that were grown in an unfavorable ecological environment are used for food.

It is also worth refraining from the joint use of mulberry juice with other berry drinks, since such a composition can cause fermentation processes in the gastrointestinal tract. Unfortunately, in some cases, the fruits can cause allergic reactions, so familiarity with the berries should be gradual. There are a number of restrictions regarding the use of mulberries in hot weather for people who suffer from hypertension, since the fruits can cause an increase in blood pressure. Due to the presence of sugars, of which there are about 20% of ripe mulberries, this berry is contraindicated for diabetics.

Landing

Since most mulberry varieties are dioecious plants, rooting berry tree in the garden should be done in pairs, so that trees with female and male flowers... But among the available varieties of black mulberry, there are also self-fertile species that are perfectly pollinated in a natural way.

The plant quickly adapts to the place of planting, in addition, several varieties of berries can be grown on one tree at once. In nature, there are trees whose height reaches 30-35 meters, but in conditions of private planting, such crops are unlikely to be appropriate, therefore crown formation is mandatory. The tree usually lives for about two to three hundred years, and begins to bear fruit 3-5 years after rooting.

Planting mulberries in order to obtain a stable and tasty yield should be carried out in an appropriate soil. For such a culture, loose loam or sandy loam soil is preferable. In the sandy soil, the mulberry will form additional roots for more reliable anchoring, the culture develops well in saline soil. Experienced gardeners recommend planting young seedlings in early spring or in the fall. At the beginning of the year, it is better to root the trees in April, if the plant is planted in the fall, then it is better to plan work at the end of September or October.

Before planting a mulberry tree, it is necessary to competently prepare holes for rooting, it is more correct to carry out these works in advance so that the earth can stand. The optimal hole depth will be 70-80 centimeters, however, in terms of size, you should rely on the size of the root system of the seedling. The bottom of the hole must be fertilized with a complex mineral composition, which will increase the likelihood of quick adaptation of the plant in the garden. Mulberry planting technology does not differ from similar work with other horticultural crops - the seedling is located in the middle of the pit, straightens root system, after which the plant is covered with earth.

However, a young culture needs additional strengthening, therefore, a peg must be placed in the hole for subsequent garter. For cultivating mulberries in your own garden, planting material can be grown by hand or purchased in a specialized nursery. Reproduction of a mulberry tree is possible in two ways - by cuttings or by the seed method. The latter option is rather extended in time, since the primary task of the gardener is the passage of the planting material of mandatory stratification. After that, sowing of hardened seeds is carried out in a greenhouse with the arrival of spring. Rooting in open ground possible only after a few years.

Cuttings take root only in 15-20% of cases, to obtain material, fifteen-centimeter shoots are selected, after which all foliage is removed from them, and the branches themselves are kept for about 10 hours in water. The next step is deepening planting material in a special soil mixture, with a constant maintenance of 95% air humidity and temperature in the range of +23 +30 C.