Mulberries - How To Grow, Prune, Propagate Etc For those who are wondering why they should plant mulberries ... a. the mulberry yields fruit within a couple of months of planting; although you should pinch off the first flush of fruit so that the new cutting can channel all its energy into producing roots. b. it takes up little space and can be potted and maintained at about 1-2 feet high and still bear fruit. c. staggered pruning will ensure a constant supply of berries Basic requirements: Soil - tolerates a variety of garden soil ranging from sandy to compost to clayey soil (not a fussy plant) Water - normal to moist Light - dappled to full sun (full sun is ideal) some of the berries picked in march ... total yield for the month was just a little over 1 kilo - most of which has been frozen for future use. hope this will inspire more people to grow mulberries!
1 of 21
10/29/2011 1:21 PM
1. select a few semi ripe cuttings 2. trim off the top, leaving about 8-10 inches for each cutting. - if considerable t off about 1 cm of the bottom of the cutting and check. It should look fresh. If it d
2 of 21 10/29/2011 1:21 PM
3 of 21
10/29/2011 1:21 PM
Before
5. dip ends of cuttings into rooting powder (optional but it improves the
4 of 21
10/29/2011 1:21 PM
chances)
5 of 21
10/29/2011 1:21 PM
6 of 21
10/29/2011 1:21 PM
7. place the pot in a shaded place and water once a day. do not disturb the cuttings or fertilise for at least a few months. Pointer 2 - when to repot after you've planted the cuttings for a few months and they are growing well, you may wish to repot the cuttings. when should this be done? 1. check the bottom of the pots. if you see roots peeking out or there is a mat of roots growing out from bottom, it's time.
7 of 21
10/29/2011 1:21 PM
2. squeeze the pot (if plastic) or knock the sides gently against something. tug the plant out gently.
3. the soil should slide out easily like a solid cake. otherwise, handle carefully so that there is minimal root disturbance.
8 of 21
10/29/2011 1:21 PM
4. fill a larger pot with some soil, position the plant in the centre and add more soil.
9 of 21
10/29/2011 1:21 PM
10 of 21
10/29/2011 1:21 PM
pruning a mulberry plant will help induce fruiting. 1. if a cutting is long and there are no berries on it, prune it
12 of 21
10/29/2011 1:21 PM
2. you should also prune after you have picked all the berries off a branch. red mulberries are still not fully ripe and will be sourish. these can be used for jams and such, but if you want the berries to be fully ripe, they should be purply black.
13 of 21
10/29/2011 1:21 PM
14 of 21
10/29/2011 1:21 PM
15 of 21
10/29/2011 1:21 PM
16 of 21
10/29/2011 1:21 PM
5. ripening berries
17 of 21
10/29/2011 1:21 PM
Pointer 5 - When to fertilize 1. Fertilize established plants lightly once a forthnight with an organic fertilizer. I use an organic processed chicken manure but only when i remember :P which is like once every couple of months. 2. Never fertilize a new cutting for at least 3-4 months after planting or a newly transplanted plant for a few weeks. 3. When in doubt about the quantity of fertlizer to use, use less. That will not harm the plant and you can experiment with a higher dose once you gain more confidence. Giving the plant a huge dose could kill it. Hope these pointers help. :) berries today after that trim 7 weeks ago:
18 of 21
10/29/2011 1:21 PM
1. Eat the berries fresh before the birds or squirrels or any other 2-legged prey do. 2. Freeze the berries for future use.
3. Try any of these recipes or toss them with a fruit or veg salad. Personal favorites are mulberry muffins, mulberry dip and mulberry jam. http://www.greenculturesg.com/forum/index....howtopic=15418:
19 of 21
10/29/2011 1:21 PM
Pointer 7 - Pests and/or diseases 1. mealy bugs - these are the white cottony stuff that cling to the stems of the
20 of 21 10/29/2011 1:21 PM
mulberry plant. they can be removed by wiping with a damp cloth. i have also tried brushing them away under running water. other forumers have tried using summer oil for the same purpose successfully. if the infestation is bad, i'd recommend pruning and discarding the entire branch. 2. scales - these are the small round brown discs that attach themselves to the stems. as the mulberry stems are naturally speckled, it may be difficult to spot the scales until there are a few. these can also be wiped off using a damp cloth. alternatively you can try scraping them off.
21 of 21
10/29/2011 1:21 PM