White mulberry: planting, care and description of the best varieties (photo). Video: growing mulberry

In the south, black mulberry with long ago grown in orchards 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 gives dark-colored fruits. In fact, at least half of the black-fruited varieties (including the well-known varieties Smuglyanka, Black Baroness, Black Prince) 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

Sign	Black mulberry
Fruit color	Violet black.	White, lilac-pink, purple-black.
Tree bark coloring	Dark brownish brown.	Light brownish gray.
Leaf shape and size	Broad-hearted, very large.	Medium in size, ovate-pointed or dissected-lobed, often different shapes on the same tree.
Winter hardiness	Low (up to -15 ... -20 ° С).	Relatively high (up to -30 ° C).
Origin	Iran	China

The 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, therefore they are often used in forest shelter belts and in 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 the seeds are sown, the traits are split, and there are many male plants among the seedlings. 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 was no frost (which can damage not only the flowers, but also the leaves), and there are no 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 into 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.

IN 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 One, 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 a bush-like formation more northern regions it is enough to leave 3 m between the 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 to fit the straightened roots. 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 promotes the development of a deeper root system

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:

In a young seedling, immediately after planting, the top is cut off to cause abundant branching in the lower part of the trunk.
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.
In the future, a multi-stem bush is formed with branches of different ages extending almost from the soil level. The places of departure of the main skeletal branches should be under the snow in winter so that they do not freeze in very coldy.
Every spring, all frozen tops of the branches are cut out, cutting them to a healthy part. Large cuts are covered with garden pitch.

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

In the 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 with 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 insect 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

Or a mulberry tree, was known even during the reign of Tsar Ivan IV. Then, for the first time in Russia, the tsarist manufactory began to produce beautiful natural silk for the tsar's court. Mulberry leaves served as food for the silkworm, from the cocoons of which silk was obtained. Mulberry was also very fond of Peter I, by a special decree he forbade the felling of mulberry trees. In many countries, to this day, mulberry trees are used to make real silk, but in Russia such production is practically not developed.

Mulberry belongs to the mulberry family, which is represented by a number of tall trees and shrubs. Its berries are actually the fruit of mini-nuts with accrete pericarp. White and black mulberries have earned their fame in our country, but they also grow in the wild. fodder mulberry, aka satin, and in America grows inedible mulberry red with valuable wood. Breeders have bred about 400 varieties mulberry tree.

The same one that silkworm caterpillars ate in China.

Her leaves are delicate, the silk turned out highest quality... The fruits are usually white, yellowish or pinkish, juicy, sugary-sweet, however (!) There are also dark ones. White mulberry quite hardy, widespread. The tree has a thick gray bark.

She came to us from the South, from Iran, and capricious silkworms are not suitable for food - her leaves are too coarse. But for people, its purple-black fruits are of undoubted gastronomic interest. Sweet, with sourness, outwardly resemble with an oblong shape of berries. Flavoring nuances are richer than that of white mulberry.

The tree is thermophilic, although there are frost-resistant varieties... The bark of black mulberry is reddish-brown.

Mulberry cultivation

A mulberry tree can reach 35 m in height, but in a garden it is necessary to shape the crown so that the tree is no higher than 2-3 m. The mulberry lives for an extremely long time, 200-300 years. For 5 years after planting, you can wait for the harvest, and even earlier from grafted trees. A 10-year-old tree produces up to 100 kg of fruit.

Mulberry plants can be self-pollinating (monoecious - when there are male and female flowers in the same inflorescence on the same tree) or have female and male plant(dioecious). Depending on this, one tree is planted or necessarily a couple (male and female).

Mulberry is often used due to its excellent fruiting and good vitality within the city. She looks great in group plantings and in the form. Now choose more decorative forms mulberries: for example, weeping, whose branches gently slope to the ground itself.

Low mulberry trees with a spherical crown have also gained popularity. In group plantings, a pyramidal or narrow-pyramidal crown is most often used. The height of such trees can reach 6 m.

Mulberry propagation

1. Seeds

The seed method is used by breeders to adapt mulberries to the harsh northern regions or to grow rootstock for grafting. To do this, take seeds and them for 2 months.

If sown without stratification, then soak them before planting for 3 days. Sowing is done in early spring.

2. Vegetatively

Mulberries can be propagated undergrowth, layering(for weeping form), green cuttings, vaccination.

Black mulberry 850 rbl WATCH
vsesorta.ru

White mulberry 900 rbl WATCH
vsesorta.ru

Black mulberry 299 rbl WATCH
Agrofirm Search

White mulberry 299 rbl WATCH
Agrofirm Search

Mulberry care

Watering

In order for the tree to withstand frost well, in the first half of summer (until July), mulberries must be watered and nourished with mineral and organic ones. And starting in July, you need to stop fertilizing and watering the plant. This will help the mulberry, being in a dormant period, tolerate temperature drops and frost well.

Pruning

The tree is formed with a stem of 0.5-1.5 m, the crown height will be 2-4 m, and its shape is broom-shaped or spherical.

Young growths of the last year often freeze over, because they still have a weak bark and it loses moisture very quickly, in contrast to old shoots covered with cork bark. In this case, they need to be cut, this operation will not affect the harvest.

Harvesting and using mulberries

Mulberries, depending on the climate and variety, ripen from late May to August. Ripening is very uneven, on one branch there may be already fully ripe berries that are just starting to grow.

Ripe berries they crumble quite easily, therefore, at the beginning of ripening lay a cloth or film under your mulberry in advance to make it easier to harvest.

Traditional medicine of many Asian countries has been using mulberries for a long time as a cure for many diseases:

the bark of a mulberry tree when brewed is the strongest anthelmintic;
infusion of berries helps with coughing;
berry juice helps to cope with stomatitis, tonsillitis and many mucosal inflammations;
infusion of leaves is a godsend for hypertensive patients.

An excellent jam is made from mulberries.

But even the use of berries in food raw or as part of desserts in no way diminishes the merits of this wonderful delicacy.

Shelley number 150

This variety and two more below belong to Leonid Ilyich Prokazin from the Poltava region. Shelley berries are very large, up to 5.5 cm, with high palatability, a very high-yielding variety. It is considered one of the best and most famous mulberry varieties.

Black mulberry Shelley 150. Photo from the site kovalsad.in.ua

One leaf of Shelley mulberry 150 reaches a length of half a meter with a petiole!

Mulberry Luganochka. Photo from the site veda-dom.ru

Do mulberries grow in your garden?

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 mulberry 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 due to decorative features 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 temperatures air, 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.

This primarily concerns external differences that 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 presence of vitamins, the black mulberry contains:

Among the available trace elements, manganese, iron and zinc can be noted, 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 Astringent properties can help relieve heartburn, while ripe mulberries act as a natural antioxidant and mild diuretic. Berries that are overripe in folk medicine used 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 indicated for the normalization of the nervous system, which favorably affects the quality of sleep and the ability to resist 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 begin to form additional roots for more reliable anchoring, the culture develops well in saline soil. Experienced gardeners it is recommended to plant young seedlings in early spring or autumn. 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 the 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 the matter 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. The technology of planting mulberry 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, so 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 quite 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 is 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.

Black mulberry belongs to trees from the Mulberry family, its foliage is simple oval in shape with jagged edges, and the berries are very fleshy, dark in color. The plant is quite common, and you can see it in different territories, from the Kuril Islands to European countries. Persia is considered his homeland, from where this tree with sweet and useful fruits was distributed to the countries of Asia, America, Europe.

By the way, in Europe, two types of mulberry are most often cultivated: black and white. The latter is grown to feed silkworms.

Black mulberry tree: description of leaves, berries and wood

The black mulberry has coarser leaves than its "congener". The fruits of this tree are indispensable in cooking. Wood is also used, which has high elasticity and strength. It is used in different types carpentry, as well as for the production of musical instruments.

For some external characteristics black mulberry differs significantly from its "white" counterparts in its description:

the color of the bark and young shoots is much darker;
the foliage is larger and tougher.

The mulberry tree is large enough and can grow up to 15 m in height, but with proper pruning, it is possible to maintain a neat shape or even give it the appearance of a coppice shrub.

In the early years, the development of the plant is active, but gradually slows down.

The color is very small and hardly noticeable among the dense foliage of the tree, pollination occurs with the help of the wind. The berries of black mulberry, depending on the variety, can be quite large. They are dark, complex in shape, reminiscent of the structure of raspberries or blackberries. The berry is sweet, fleshy and juicy, with very small seeds. Ripening is uneven, so you can harvest from June to August.

Even despite the fact that warm Persia is considered the birthplace of the plant, black mulberry also grows in the Moscow region, where the climate is rather harsh. The tree tolerates frost and gives good yields. The plant is able to easily endure prolonged drought, is not too demanding on soils and can develop rapidly even in saline soils. Often, the planting of these trees can be found in the rather harsh regional zones of Russia, where winter frosts can reach -30 degrees. Such resistance was acquired by new varieties that were bred by breeders. Therefore, many varieties, including those described below, black mulberry planted in the Moscow region, do not require a specific approach when growing and caring for.

Description of varieties of black mulberry and their features

Breeders have bred many varieties of black mulberry. Below are the main characteristics of some varieties common in medium-sized regions, giving high yields, with a description of their features.

Fruit-4 - this variety has a small crown size, but at the same time a high yield. The berries are large - up to 4 cm in length, black in color, sweet in taste, but have light refreshing notes. The fruits are quite resilient, so they are resistant to transportation over long distances.

Black mulberry with the name of the Black Baroness variety was obtained as a result of the work of domestic breeders. The berries are distinguished by their large size and sweet taste; when ripe, they become almost black in color. The peak of fruit harvesting is in July, and up to 100 kg of the crop can be harvested from one tree. The Black Baroness tolerates severe frosts, takes root on any soil.

Shelley is known by many gardeners as one of the most productive mulberry varieties with good decorative effect. Bears fruits up to 5.5 cm in length, and the peak yield occurs at the end of July. The berry is characterized by a dense consistency and retains its fresh appearance for a long time after harvest.

The Black Prince mulberry tree produces large glossy dark berries, reaching 5 cm in length. It has many advantages, which lie both in the ease of caring for it, and in high yield rates. Able to withstand prolonged drought, not subject to low temperatures, rarely succumb to diseases. The fruit is firm enough to withstand transportation.

Hargut begins to bear fruit in the third year, the berries are very large, reach 5.5 cm in length, fleshy and black. By its gustatory characteristics, the fruit juice resembles the "Cahors" wine. This black mulberry, based on the description of this variety, is ideal for winemaking. The plant is quite resistant to diseases and unfavorable conditions growth.

Many varieties of black mulberry are grown specifically for harvesting good harvests berries, but there are also those that are used as ornamental plants... These include weeping mulberry, pyramidal, spherical, golden, Tatar, etc.

Look at the black mulberry of decorative varieties in the photo: with correct formation crowns can be obtained very interesting and unusual trees:

Photo gallery

The choice of a variety largely depends on what exactly you want to get from the mulberry on your site: aesthetic beauty or a good harvest.

Mulberry care principles

If you decide to plant black mulberry on a plot, the cultivation of which does not require significant investments or knowledge in gardening, then remember the basic simple principles of caring for it:

Even despite the fact that many varieties of this plant are not very demanding for watering and can withstand prolonged droughts, watering is still necessary, especially in the first half of summer. Timely soil moisture from April to July with the addition of mineral and organic dressings will help the tree gain strength, give a good succulent harvest and endure severe frosts.

An adult mulberry tree of some varieties can be very tall and bulky, so in order for the plant to not only give a rich harvest, but also look aesthetically beautiful on your site, it is necessary to carry out sanitary and decorative pruning in early spring. If you want to get a tree no higher than 2 m, then the formation takes place with a stem of 0.5-1.5 m.

This is the main thing that should be followed when planting black mulberries, and care when growing trees. Most often, shoots or green cuttings from an adult tree are taken for planting on the site. This method gives a very high survival rate, while maintaining all the characteristics of the mother variety.

Black mulberry - mulberry, a close relative of white mulberry.

The trees differ not only in the color and taste of berries (black ones are more aromatic and sweeter), but also in the fact that the silkworm prefers more soft leaves white mulberry.

Black mulberry: description

Mulberry trees are grown to breed silkworm caterpillars, which wrap their pupae in silk threads. From these threads, natural silk is obtained - a fabric, the secret of the production of which was known for a long time only in China.

deciduous tree native to Afghanistan and Iran, growing up to fifteen meters. The tree grows rapidly at a young age, but growth slows down over time. The mulberry has a lush, spreading crown, darkish bark and thin shoots. The foliage is large, up to 20 cm long and 15 cm wide. The shape of the leaves resembles a lobe, the upper surface of the leaf plate is rough to the touch, the lower surface is soft and felt. 3-5 years is the age when the mulberry first begins to bear fruit after planting. It is literally covered with inky black, glossy berries up to 3 cm long, the berries are juicy, sweet and sour in taste. Usually mulberries begin to actively bear fruit in the fifth year after planting. Black mulberry is thermophilic, tolerates dry periods well.

Did you know? Under Ivan the Terrible, a silk-weaving manufactory was created in Russia, producing the most delicate silks for royal family and the yard. Peter the Great banned the cutting of mulberries in Russia due to the extraordinary value of the tree for weaving. And in Central Asia, musical instruments were made from valuable wood.

Features of planting black mulberry

The best timing for planting mulberries- April, until the movement of juices began, the beginning of autumn, the period before the rainy season. Autumn planting even preferable: a seedling that has survived the winter will grow into a healthy tree with good yields.

Choosing a landing site

Black mulberry for successful cultivation planted in an area open to the sun, but closed from the winds. Bedding groundwater should be at least one and a half meters lower from the ground surface. Dry, swampy soil is not suitable for mulberries; mulberries do not like sandstones and salty soils.

Planting scheme for black mulberry

The silk tree seedling pit is prepared two weeks before planting. The depth and width of the pit is calculated according to the size of the root system, on average it is 50 x 50 x 50 cm. The pit on poor soils is deepened, taking into account fertilization. About 5 kg of rotted manure with the addition of 100 g of superphosphate is placed on the bottom and covered with a layer of soil. The roots of the seedling should not come into contact with the fertilizer when planting. On poorly drained clay soils drainage must be placed in the pit (fragments of bricks, large pebbles).

When planting, the seedling is placed at the bottom, distributing the roots, as it falls asleep, the ground is slightly tamped so that there is no air left. If the seedling is too thin and makes you fearful, drive a peg into the hole to support it. Water and mulch well after planting trunk circle, you need to pour out at least two buckets of water. Sawdust or peat can be used as mulch.

Black mulberry: cultivation features

Mulberry mulberry both in planting and in care does not require a special approach: everything is as usual fruit tree- watering, fertilizing, soil cleansing, pruning and other procedures familiar to every gardener.

Soil care for black mulberry

Black mulberry needs careful soil care. The tree trunk circle must be weeded and cleaned of weeds that deprive the mulberry of moisture and nutrition. The soil around the tree must be regularly loosened, saturating it with air and moisture. In spring, mulberry watering is necessary only in the absence of precipitation; in summer, watering is carried out in June and July. In August, it is stopped: the plant enters a dormant phase.

Features of tree pruning

Black mulberry pruning is carried out during the dormant period, best of all in the spring, before the juices begin to move, in April. Before the buds bloom, spend rejuvenating and shaping pruning. Sanitary pruning - all damaged branches, competing shoots growing inside the crown, are carried out late autumn after the foliage has fallen, but the air temperature should not be lower than -10 degrees.

Top dressing of a mulberry tree

Black mulberry needs additional feeding only on poor soils with a lack of nutrition. In this case, the tree is fertilized from spring to July. At the beginning of spring, mulberry needs nitrogen for growth, then phosphorus and potash compositions for lush bloom and fruiting.

How to care for mulberries in winter

It is important to know how to care for mulberries in black in winter, because this species tolerates cold worse than others. Black mulberry is more accustomed to warm climates, so the plant must be prepared for winter. First of all, mulberries do not need to be heavily fertilized, only in case of external signs of lack of nutrition, stop watering in August, and carry out sanitary pruning in the fall.

When planting in regions with a cold climate, the root collar of the seedling is deepened into the ground in order to protect the plant in winter period. You should not worry about being unable to cope with the cold: black mulberry in the description of biological features has one interesting property. Mulberry tree has the ability to build up cork tissue between a mature stem and a young one; in case of frost, the tree sheds tissues unsuitable for survival, but if the winter is without snow, the tree will die. To prevent this from happening, for the winter the trunk circle is mulched and tightly covered, for example, with spruce branches.

Interesting! If it were not for the observation of the Chinese princess Xi Liing Shi, the world would not have known what silk is. While drinking tea in the shade of a mulberry, Xi Liying noticed a caterpillar's cocoon falling into a cup, the cocoon's threads from the water unraveled and shimmered beautifully in the sun. The resourceful Chinese used observation to their advantage, monopolizing silk production for many years.

Features of the reproduction of black mulberry

Reproduction of black mulberry is possible by seed and vegetative method.

At seed reproduction the seeds undergo the procedure of stratification either natural, that is, sowing before winter, or before sowing in the spring for about two months in the refrigerator, with a transfer to the heat once a week for three to four hours. Before sowing, it is necessary to soak the seeds for a couple of hours in a growth stimulator. The seed coverage should not be deep; after sowing, the soil is covered with mulch. The seedlings are looked after in the usual way.

Cutting black mulberry practically does not give results, oddly enough, but this particular species does not want to root and reproduce in this way.

Consider how the mulberry still multiplies. Reproduction by root shoots: the seedling is separated from the donor bush and transplanted to separate place... Care as for a young tree.

Attention! At seed method reproduction and root shoots may not preserve the varietal characteristics of the mother tree, in addition, there is a possibility of getting a tree with only male flowers (mulberry is a monoecious plant), therefore the most fruitful way of propagation is grafting.

To get varietal seedlings, use methods of budding and grafting with a handle under the bark. In the summer, budding is carried out by a dormant bud, and in the spring, by a germinating bud. Grafting is carried out on a growing tree with cuttings with two buds under the bark. The cut on the rootstock is made at an angle of 35 degrees, while the cut on the handle above the bud is straight, the lower cut is oblique.

Important! The grafted stem on mulberry is cut into the bark and not into the wood, unlike other plants!

In the future, vaccination is carried out according to the general rules.

Black mulberry: useful properties

Black mulberry has many beneficial properties. Plant-based preparations recommend and official and traditional medicine. The funds are effective in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and are especially recommended for patients who have undergone heart valve surgery. Regular consumption of food reduces shortness of breath, normalizes the heartbeat, strengthens the heart muscle.