A standard garden on the site consists of the usual fruit and berry trees: apple trees, pears, cherries, plums... Planting mulberries will help to brighten and please the children. This is a unique plant that can leave a lot of memories of childhood: climbing a tree in search of something tasty, mom screaming because of dark spots on clothes...
Mulberry fruits are very sweet and tasty, and its leaves are used to feed the «famous» silkworms. Let us answer those who are wondering how to grow mulberries from seeds and cuttings; planting and caring for this tree is not difficult. The main thing is to follow all the rules.
Mulberries have very small seeds. 1000 pieces weigh only a few grams. We will talk about some of the nuances in planting and care.
A row of white or black mulberries looks great as a colorful border behind a fence. The mulberry tree is an excellent living shield from the neighbors' gaze.
Determining an approximate date
The optimal time for planting mulberries is mid-spring (April) or early autumn (September-October), before the rainy season. Most often, mulberries are planted in the fall; until spring, our climate perfectly tests the plant for resistance to changeable weather conditions. If it survives the winter, it will have another 200 years to live, provided that the owner of the yard does not get tired of the overgrown mulberry.
For lovers of everything extraordinary and also for owners of small plots, planting weeping mulberries is suitable. Also held in autumn. The choice of the exact date of planting is made by the owner of the yard - as time permits.
Mulberry planting rules
Before you start planting a mulberry tree, it is important to prepare pits for young growth. It is best to dig holes in advance and give them a chance to stand. The depth of the planting pits is from 70 cm, as long as the root fits freely in a straightened state. Fertilizer in the form of rotted manure or compost is placed at the bottom. The flavoring composition is sprinkled on top with a small ball of soil or soil mixed with minerals (optional). Fertilized soil increases the chance of tree survival.
Further planting of mulberry seedlings comes down to standard procedures: carefully insert the young plants into the hole, dig in and water. It would not hurt to tie up a young plant if its column is too thin. To secure the garter, drive a stake into the excavated pit in advance using a sledgehammer (a board 5 cm thick is perfect).
The technology for planting mulberry seedlings is simple. This just begs the question: where to get the young animals? The answer is simple. There are two options here: grow it yourself or buy it on the market.
There are two ways to produce mulberry seedlings at home: grow a tree from seeds or try to germinate cuttings. And now, in order.
Planting mulberry seeds
This is a rather lengthy process, but effective. Seeds require stratification for several months at a temperature of 0...+5°C. “Seeds” that have overwintered in the refrigerator perform well. Sowing is done in a greenhouse in mid-April. There is no need to plant the seeds deeply. Mulch to prevent the top layer of soil from drying out. During the season, seedlings must be weeded to get rid of weeds. Planting mulberries this way will give results in the fall; the sprouts will reach 40 cm in height. It is better to plant seedlings for permanent residence after 1-2 years.
We would like to note that the dormancy state of the seeds of this tree is shallow. Therefore, even if you do not perform cold stratification, they can germinate well without it. How to do it? Soak the seeds for two days before sowing in water at a temperature of 35 degrees. Remember to change the water periodically during this time. This soaking process will ensure complete germination even without cold stratification.
If you comply with all the conditions, you will receive large seedlings by autumn. They will begin to bear fruit in 5–6 years. To ensure good fruit quality, it is better to plant the seedlings and replant them with a bud from a tree. Budding can be carried out in the summer with a dormant bud or in the spring, when the bud has already sprouted.
Planting mulberry cuttings
A less effective method of obtaining planting material (average survival rate 10-20% depending on the conditions created). Leaves are cut in half from shoots about 15 cm long, after which the «branches» are lowered into water for 10-12 hours. Next, planting mulberries involves moving the cuttings into a special soil (a mixture of earth, peat and sand in a 2:1:1 ratio). To obtain full-fledged seedlings, it is important to maintain the temperature within +22...+30°C, and acceptable humidity - from 95%.
The original shape of the mulberry (spherical, weeping) is achieved exclusively by grafting this variety onto the trunk of another plant. It is not possible to obtain a ready-made seedling from seeds or cuttings.
The main mistakes of amateur gardeners
Planting and growing mulberries is a great option for novice gardeners. The tree does not require special care and can grow almost like a weed. But there are times when the owner of a mulberry ceases to enjoy his miracle tree: it bears fruit poorly, fades, or even does not bear berries at all. This is due to the mistakes of a novice gardener.
Let's look at the main mistakes in planting mulberries and try to avoid them:
Morus (mulberry) - is a sun-loving plant. Don't skimp on space and give it a place with good lighting.
If mulberries are planted on waterlogged or saline soil, the plant is unlikely to germinate quickly and bear fruit. Dry sandy soil is suitable only if mineral fertilizers are constantly applied.
The plant has two sexes. Of course, the male one does not bear fruit. You will be able to find out how “female” your tree is only after 4-5 years, when the first berries appear (or not). Therefore, when growing your own seedling, you need to be prepared for disappointment in the future. To get fruit from the very beginning, it is better to purchase a young plant that has already produced its first vitamin-rich offspring.
And remember: planting mulberries guarantees a supply of berries for an entire generation. After all, a mulberry tree can live up to 300 years, depending on the variety.
We wish your plant to take root and turn out to be female!
