Large varieties of mulberry. Black mulberry: cultivation, reproduction, useful properties

Mulberry is a tall (10-30 m) deciduous tree of the Mulberry family. Mulberry cultivation is practiced in many countries of the world. In the East, it is bred for the leaves that the silkworm feeds on (its pupae serve as raw materials for the production of silk). In our country, these trees are grown to produce fruits - juicy drupes of black, white or pinkish color with a thin skin and a sweet dessert taste. Despite the diversity of species and varieties of mulberry, no more than two dozen are grown in culture, a description of which will be presented in this article.

Varieties

The classification of mulberry is quite extensive and ambiguous. The Mulberry genus includes about 200 plant species, only 17 of which are considered universally recognized and are cultivated in different parts of the world. The remaining species are represented by fruit, fodder and ornamental hybrids that do not have a clear classification.

From the whole variety of forms and types, three main ones are distinguished, depending on the color of the fruit: black, white and red mulberries, which, in turn, are divided into varieties.

Mulberry black and white are considered the most common. They are planted everywhere: in India, Afghanistan, Portugal, Spain, including in the south and in the regions middle lane Russia. White mulberry came to us from eastern China, where it has been grown for more than 3 thousand years as food for the silkworm. From China, the plant migrated to Central Asia, and then to Transcaucasia. Mulberry came to Europe around the 12th century, and to Russia in the 17th century, but not in all territories the climate was suitable for its cultivation, so the culture moved to the regions of the Caucasus and the Volga region.

White mulberry, in comparison with other species, is low (13-18 m). Its crown is compact, spherical, but sometimes spreading. The trunk and main branches have a light grayish-brown color, due to which this variety was called “white”, since its fruits are not only light, but also pink, yellow, and even black. White mulberries are considered the sweetest - they contain from 12 to 23% of sugars. These trees have a very decorative appearance - multi-colored seedlings in combination with foliage of various shapes make it possible to use plants in garden and park construction.

The red mulberry comes from eastern America. The trees are low (10-15 m) with large (up to 14 cm) heart-shaped foliage and a dense voluminous crown. The bark of the trunk and large branches is brown, rough. The fruit is a purple drupe 2-3 cm long, resembling a slightly unripe blackberry in appearance. It is quite sweet (up to 11% sugar), and, in comparison with white and black berries, it can be stored longer. In terms of frost resistance, red mulberry is superior to white, but it is not so common in gardens.

Black mulberry is native to Central Asia (Iran and Afghanistan). The trees of this variety are tall, with a spreading crown and large ovate or heart-shaped dark green leaves. The bark of the trunk is dark, brown in color. The berry is black or dark blue, large size (2-5 cm), very juicy, sweet and sour taste. Trees are undemanding to the soil, they tolerate heat and drought well, but they are thermophilic, so there will be a big return on them in the southern regions.

Almost all types of mulberry are dioecious plants (male and female flowers are located on different trees), therefore, for pollination, it is necessary to plant two trees side by side, however, there is also a self-fertile mulberry, the pollination of which occurs mainly with the help of wind. The culture grows very quickly and is easily grafted - several varieties can grow on one tree at the same time, with different colors of seedlings. Mulberry trees are long-lived - their life expectancy can be from 150 to 500 years.

Video “Features of growing mulberries”

From the video you will learn how to grow mulberry.

White varieties

As you know, white mulberries can have different colors of fruit, but in order to make it easier for a simple layman to figure out which variety of berries have exactly a light color, a list of the most basic white-fruited varieties is offered:

1. White honey. A very popular hybrid of domestic selection in amateur gardening, obtained by free pollination of the best samples of white mulberry. A medium-sized tree, the crown is dense, pyramidal. Seed fruit - elongated white drupes 3 cm long with a sweet honey taste. Fruiting is regular, the yield is high. The trees are frost-resistant (withstand up to -30 ° C), after frost they quickly recover. The berries are very tender, so they are transported and stored poorly.
   
2. White tenderness. Frost-resistant variety with high productivity. Fruiting begins in early June and lasts for 2 months. Seedlings of pure white color, long, sweet in taste, but in rainy weather the taste worsens (becomes neutral).
3. Mulberry pink Smolensk. New early (beginning of July) variety for home gardening. The plant is unpretentious, frost-resistant, begins to bear fruit in the first year of planting. Seed fruit - small (2-3 cm), pinkish or red, very sweet. Due to the special shape of the leaves and multi-colored seedlings, the culture is often used as a decorative element of the garden.
4. Fruit-1. Early ripe (June) variety with white fruit, which in rainy weather have the characteristic of turning pink. The berries are large (3 cm), sweet taste with slight sourness. Yield per high level, the fruiting period is long. The berries are juicy, but quite dense, can be transported.
5. Ukrainian-107. Mid-season (July) hybrid with light pink, large (2.5-3 cm) seedlings. The taste is dessert, sweet, the fruits are transportable. The resistance of trees to frost and disease is high. Fruiting is plentiful, begins from 3 years. The yield from an adult tree is 15-17 kg.
6. Merezhevo. A hybrid obtained by grafting white mulberry. Mid-season (first decade of July), fruiting lasts 1 month. Infructescences are pinkish-creamy, large in size, cloyingly sweet in taste, easily fall off the tree, and are not stored for a long time.
   

black varieties

And here everything is ambiguous - many varieties with dark (black berries) belong to white mulberry, but in order to avoid confusion, this section will present varieties whose seedlings have characteristic description black color:

Large varieties

Varieties are considered large-fruited, giving seedlings of at least 4-5 cm. These include:

Decorative varieties

Of all the many varieties and varieties of mulberry most constitute decorative types, which have long been successfully grown by gardeners for use in landscape design. White mulberry served as the basis for breeding most ornamental varieties - it is its varieties that are distinguished by a variety of leaf shapes and colors, and an original crown.

Ornamental mulberry can be used in a single planting, or to create hedges. It tolerates pruning, haircuts, and is resistant to weather conditions.

These trees have many unusual and spectacular forms that are widely used to decorate landscape space:

For decorating rooms, a remontant variety is used - it is a dwarf, very compact mulberry that can be grown in a pot or container. You can also decorate the garden universal varieties, which have a high decorative effect, and at the same time give very tasty berries. These include: Smolensk pink, which has already been mentioned, or Red felt - a beautiful tree with reddish top and bottom white leaves and delicious purple seedlings. This solution is most suitable for a small private garden, as it allows not only to enjoy the amazing taste of berries, but also to divide or decorate the landscape space.

Video “Features of the mulberry tree”

From the video you will learn what a mulberry tree is.

Black mulberry belongs to the trees of 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, ranging from Kuril Islands and ending with European countries. Persia is considered its homeland, from where this tree with sweet and healthy fruits was distributed to the countries of Asia, America, and Europe.

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

Black mulberry tree: description of leaves, berries and wood

Black mulberry has coarser leaves than its "relative". 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.

According to 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;
• foliage is larger and tougher.

The mulberry tree is quite large and can grow up to 15 m in height, but with correct pruning manages 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 barely noticeable among the dense foliage of the tree, pollination occurs with the help of wind. The berries of black mulberries, 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, has 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 quite severe. 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 quickly even in saline soils. Often plantings of these trees can be found in quite severe 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 mulberries planted in the Moscow region, do not require a specific approach to cultivation and care.

Description of black mulberry varieties and their features

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

Plodovaya-4 - this variety is different small size crowns, but at the same time high productivity. 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 elastic, so they are resistant to transportation over long distances.

Black mulberry with the name of the variety Black Baroness 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. The peak of fruit collection occurs in July, and up to 100 kg of crop can be harvested from one tree. The black baroness endures severe frosts, takes root on any soil.

Shelly is known by many gardeners as one of the most productive and at the same time with good decorative mulberry variety. It bears fruits up to 5.5 cm in length, and the peak of productivity occurs at the end of July. The berry is characterized by a dense texture and retains a fresh appearance for a long time after harvest.

The mulberry tree of the Black Prince variety produces large glossy dark berries, reaching 5 cm in length. It has many advantages, which are both ease of care for it and high yields. Able to withstand prolonged drought, not subject to low temperatures, rarely susceptible to disease. The fruits are quite elastic and can 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. With its taste characteristics, fruit juice resembles Cahors wine. Such black mulberry, based on the description of this variety, is ideal for winemaking. The plant is quite resistant to diseases and adverse growing conditions.

Many varieties of black mulberry are grown specifically for harvesting good berry crops, 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 the correct formation of the crown, you can get very interesting and unusual trees:

Photo gallery

The choice of variety largely depends on what exactly you want to get from mulberries in your area: 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 though many varieties of this plant are not very demanding on watering and can withstand long droughts, watering is still necessary, especially in the first half of summer. Timely moistening of the soil from April to July with the addition of mineral and organic dressings will help the tree gain strength, give a good juicy 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 trunk of 0.5-1.5 m.

This is the main thing that should be followed when planting black mulberry, and caring for 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 indicators of the parent variety.

Mulberry is a heat-loving plant, therefore it is relatively rare in the gardens of Russian gardeners. But its berries are not only wonderfully tasty, but also very useful. Also, the culture is valued for the abundance of fruiting and the duration of the productive period. A tree cannot be called capricious and demanding in care - even a not very experienced gardener can perform the necessary agrotechnical procedures.

What does mulberry look like

Mulberry, also known as the mulberry tree, is a small genus of deciduous trees belonging to the Mulberry family. According to various sources, in nature there are from 10 to 16 of its representatives. Most of them can be found in Central Asia and on the Mediterranean coast.

Mulberry in nature reaches a considerable height and forms a wide crown

An adult tree reaches 10-30 meters in height. The young seedling grows rapidly, then the growth rate slows down. Mulberry leaves are of different sizes, can be either simple or cut in the form of "blades", smooth or with jagged edges.

Mulberry is a long-lived tree. The average life span is 200–250 years. But even 300–500 years is not the limit for a plant. Specimens are known that are more than one thousand years old.

In countries with a suitable climate, mulberry is widely used in landscape design.

The fruit of the mulberry is formed from a growing bract. Its average length is 2–4 cm. It consists of many fused rounded drupes. They are not tightly connected to each other. The skin is colored in shades from white to crimson-pink, red-violet and blue-black.

In most varieties, the fruits are tasteless, but in edible mulberries they have a pleasant sweet taste with a slight sourness and a pronounced specific aroma.

Mulberry fruits are similar to raspberries or blackberries, but its drupes are weaker linked to each other.

Fresh berries do not last long. Even in the refrigerator, they will lie for a maximum of 2-3 days. Fruits also do not tolerate transportation, even for a short distance. Berries need to be processed quickly.

The crop yield is high: on average, 100–200 kg of fruits are removed from an adult tree. Mulberry reaches such indicators by 10–12 years. And the first berries can be tasted 5-6 years after planting the tree in the ground. In addition to fresh consumption, mulberries are frozen, used as a filling for baking, cooked compotes, jams, preserves.

Mulberry jam is very tasty, especially if the fruits are not cloyingly sweet, but sour.

The benefits and harms of fruits

Mulberries are extremely beneficial for health. They contain high concentrations of vitamins B, C, PP, as well as carotenoids, malic and citric acid, unsaturated fatty acids, essential oils, iron. Mulberry is widely used in traditional medicine. Her berries are effective remedy with anemia and low hemoglobin levels in the blood. Also, their use is recommended for problems with the gastrointestinal tract, gallbladder and cookies. Practice shows that mulberries have a positive effect on the work of the heart in hypertension, tachycardia, shortness of breath.

You should not abuse mulberry. With excessive consumption, it can cause a sharp jump in blood pressure (especially in the heat), contributes to an increase in blood sugar levels. It is also possible to upset the stomach and intestines. The rich color of the skin and juice makes mulberry a strong allergen. The first time you need to use it very carefully, especially if you know about the hypersensitivity of your own body. It is undesirable to eat mulberries on an empty stomach and drink something cold.

Male and female plants

Depending on the species, mulberry can be either monoecious or dioecious. It depends on whether the gardener needs one or more trees. In the second case, “male” and “female” plants are needed for fruiting. "Female" flowers are small, greenish, collected in spike-shaped inflorescence. "Men's" are larger, almost white, similar to pendant earrings.

"Male" specimens are widely used in landscape design, they grow faster, they have more leaves.

Before the first flowering, it is impossible to determine whether this is a “female” mulberry plant or “male”, therefore it is recommended to purchase seedlings no younger than 3 years old

Varieties and varieties popular with gardeners

In most "natural" types of mulberries, the fruits are almost tasteless. In gardens, most often grown are those whose berries have a pronounced taste - from sour to sugary-sweet. Breeders have bred many varieties of decorative mulberries.

white mulberry

The most common in Russia, it is characterized by high frost resistance (-30ºС and more). On its basis, domestic breeders have bred many new varieties and hybrids. The leaves are about 15 cm long, smooth, heart-shaped. IN optimal conditions the height of the tree reaches 18–20 m, if they are far from ideal, the white mulberry turns into a shrub.

The crown is dense, in the form of an almost regular ball. The tree is very hardy, surviving and bearing fruit even in cities. Blossoms in the last decade of May, the crop ripens at the end of August. The bark is grayish-whitish. It is because of her that the white mulberry got its name. Fruits can be painted not only white, but also yellowish, pink, reddish and even almost black. Of all the mulberry species, the white one is the sweetest.

The following varieties are most popular with gardeners:

• White honey. Hybrid of Russian selection. A tree up to 10 m high. The crown is dense, shaped like a pyramid. The length of the drupe is about 3 cm. The berries are white, very juicy and sweet, with a pronounced honey aroma. Productivity is consistently high - up to 200 kg from an adult tree. Frost tolerates easily, quickly recovers from damage;
• White tenderness. Valued for frost resistance down to -40ºС and abundant fruiting. The berries are snow-white, elongated, 3-4 cm long. If the summer is successful in terms of weather, the fruits ripen very sweet, but in damp and rainy weather the taste practically disappears. The first berries ripen in mid-June, fruiting lasts 6-8 weeks;
• Pink Smolenskaya. One of the new selections. Fruiting begins in early June. Harvest even 2-3-year-old trees. leaves unusual decorative form. The tree itself also looks elegant due to the fact that white, pinkish, pale scarlet berries hang on it at the same time. They are small (2-3 cm long), but this does not affect the yield. Frost resistance - up to -35ºС;
• Fruit-1. A variety from the category of early, the harvest ripens in June. Fruiting stretches for 4-6 weeks. The drupes are white, but if spring and early summer are rainy, the skin takes on a pastel pink hue. The average length of the fruit is 2.5–3 cm. The yield is up to 150 kg from an adult tree. The fruits are sweet, juicy, but the pulp is quite dense. Of all the varieties of mulberry, this one best tolerates transportation and is stored for the longest time;
• Ukrainian-107. The berries are large, 3–3.5 cm long. pale pink. The taste is sugary-sweet, the pulp is juicy, dense. The tree is frost-resistant, rarely suffers from diseases and pests. A significant drawback is low yield (15–25 kg);
• Merezhevo. Another new Russian hybrid. Harvest ripens in early July, fruiting stretches for about a month. Drupes are cream or pinkish, 3.5–4 cm long. The berries are very sweet. Overripe fruits quickly crumble;
• Black Baroness. Harvest ripens in the second decade of July. Valued for unpretentiousness and frost resistance. The berries are large, 4 cm long or more, the skin is blue-black. The taste is sweet, dessert. The aroma is light, almost imperceptible. Fruits are stored no more than 12 hours;
• Darkie. Self-fertile hybrid, does not need pollinating varieties. The tree is tall, 15 m or more. The crown is wide, spreading. Berries 3–4 cm long, sweet and sour in taste. The skin is almost black. Productivity at the level of 150-200 kg, annual fruiting. The shelf life of fresh berries is 12–18 hours;
• Ukrainian-6. It is mainly used for feeding the silkworm or in landscaping, although the taste of the berries is sweet, dessert, the fruits are large (4–4.5 cm). The skin is colored black and purple. Frost resistance - up to -35ºС.

Photo gallery: varieties of white mulberry

White honey mulberry is a fairly large plant, it will need a lot of space on the site Mulberry White tenderness has ripe fruits painted in a rare snow-white color, not found in nature. Mulberry Pink Smolenskaya - one of the latest achievements of Russian breeders Mulberry Plodovaya-1 ripens in June Mulberry Ukrainian-107 gives very tasty berries, but there are few of them on the tree Mulberry Merezhevo is practically not stored Mulberry Black Baroness is characterized by undemanding care and frost resistance Mulberry Smuglyanka is a self-fertile hybrid, she does not need a “male” pollinator plant Mulberry Ukrainian-6 is mainly used as feed for the silkworm

Black mulberry

In nature, it is found mainly in Afghanistan, Iran, less common in Italy. The average height of the tree is about 15 m, the crown is wide, sprawling, the shoots are slightly bowed. The bark is rough, dark brown. The leaves are large, up to 20 cm long. The underside is pubescent with a thick soft pile. The average length of the fruit is 3-5 cm, the skin is inky purple or almost black.

The plant is undemanding to the quality of the soil, is drought-resistant, tolerates prolonged heat well. But the black mulberry is experiencing frosts with difficulty. Therefore, in Russia it can be grown only in the south, in a warm subtropical climate (Crimea, the Caucasus, the Black Sea). From the countries of the former USSR, culture took root in Ukraine, in Moldova. But even in such conditions, it is recommended to play it safe and build a winter shelter for the plant.

Most often in gardens there are the following varieties of black mulberry:

• Fruit-4. The tree is low, 3–5 m, the crown is compact, spherical. The drupes are elongated, 4–4.5 cm long. The pulp is juicy, the taste is pleasant, refreshing. The yield is very high - 250 kg per tree or more, fruiting is annual. Frost resistance at the level of -25ºС. This variety is most popular among those who grow mulberries on an industrial scale. Due to the dense pulp, the berries tolerate transportation well;
• Istanbul. One of the most large-fruited varieties, the length of the drupe is 5–5.5 cm. The skin is dark purple, the flesh is juicy, sweet. Frost resistance - about -25ºС. Productivity is consistently high, fruiting is annual. The variety belongs to the late, the harvest ripens in the first decade of August. The fruits are removed 4 years after planting the seedling in the ground;
• Shelly-150. One of the most popular varieties not only in Russia, but also in the world. Belongs to the category of early. The fruits are harvested in the last decade of June. The average length of the stone fruit is 5-6 cm. The skin is black, glossy shiny. The taste is sweet, but not cloying;
• Galicia-1. The hybrid is distributed mainly in Ukraine. The drupes are very large, 6.5–8 cm long. The skin is purple-red, the taste is sweet, with a slight refreshing sourness. The yield is not too high - 35–50 kg;
• Black Prince. The variety is valued for unpretentious care and resistance to adverse factors. environment(heat, drought, frost). The average length of a drupe is 4–5 cm. The skin is black, the flesh is sweet, with a slight honey flavor. It tolerates transportation well, it is stored for 2-3 days;
• Hartut. The variety is widely used in home winemaking. These berries have a very thick juice with a high (18–20%) sugar content. Even without processing, it tastes strongly like dessert fortified wine. The variety is self-fertile, bears fruit regularly and abundantly. It brings the first fruits 3 years after planting;
• Hope. The average height of the tree is 8–10 m. The berries are very dark purple, appearing black from a distance. The drupes are large, about 5 cm long, the pulp is sweet and sour. Ripe fruits hold well on the tree. Harvested in early July. An adult tree annually produces more than 100 kg of fruit.

Photo gallery: varieties of black mulberry

Berries of a mulberry Istanbul - presentable and tasty Mulberry Shelly-150 - one of the most popular varieties in the world Mulberry Galicia-1 is distinguished by the size of the fruit Mulberry Black Prince - one of the new varieties, devoid of significant shortcomings Mulberry Hartut is held in high esteem by amateur winemakers Mulberry Nadezhda has a good yield and frost resistance

This species is native to North America. The average height of a tree is 10–12 m, the crown is shaped like a tent. Leaves about 10 cm long, rough to the touch.

Young leaves are cut in the form of "blades", then the shape is gradually smoothed out.

The fruits are sweet and sour, dark scarlet. The taste of red mulberry is extremely similar to blackberries. The plant is characterized by undemanding and endurance, is dioecious. Valued for high frost resistance.

Red mulberry is almost never found in Russia and the countries of the former USSR

Mulberry decorative

Widely used in landscape design. It looks best in single plantings, often hedges are formed from it. The tree tolerates pruning well, the crown can be given almost any desired shape.

Popular varieties:

• Weeping. The average tree height is 3–4 m. The branches are thin, drooping. The leaves are small;
• large-leaved. The leaves are heart-shaped, salad-colored, on long petioles. The average length is 22–25 cm. The variety is thermophilic, quite rare;
• Spherical. The crown, even without forming pruning, turns into an almost regular ball. Tree height - 2–3 m;
• Pyramidal. The crown resembles a tall and narrow pyramid. The leaves are small;
• Tatar. Rather not a tree, but a shrub or shrub. It does not differ in growth rate, reaches a height of 2–2.5 m. The leaves are small. Winter hardiness is very high;
• Golden. Young shoots are really golden in color, as they grow older, it changes to brownish. The average height of the tree is 2–3 m. The newly opened leaves also have a pale golden hue;
• Red felt. Natural "mutation" of red mulberry. Front side young leaf casts red, the wrong side is whitish. The fruits are edible, purple-scarlet in color, but few;
• narrow-leaved. Most often grown as a bush. The leaves are small, rough to the touch, strongly elongated and deeply dissected.

Photo gallery: decorative varieties and hybrids of mulberry

Weeping mulberry looks spectacular, but big harvest you can't expect from such a tree Large-leaved mulberry is thermophilic, therefore it is practically not found in Russia Mulberry spherical forms a neat crown with little or no participation of the gardener The pyramidal mulberry has small, often arranged leaves. Tatar mulberry - decorative, but at the same time frost-resistant variety Golden mulberry looks very impressive The fruits of the red felt mulberry are edible. Mulberry angustifolia stands out unusual shape leaves

Landing procedure and preparation for it

Mulberry is deservedly considered unpretentious plant, which successfully adapts to not the best conditions. But obtaining the maximum possible yields can be ensured only if you "listen" to the requirements of the tree and, if possible, satisfy them.

Location selection

Like most other plants, mulberry loves warmth and sunlight. An open, well-heated area is ideal for her. At some distance from the plant, it is desirable to have a barrier that does not shade it, but protects it from gusts of cold north and northwest winds.

The best soil option is light fertile sandy loam or loam. And by planting mulberries in a sandy substrate, you can kill two birds with one stone, strengthening the soil due to the developed root system of the tree. The plant has a negative attitude towards heavy soil, but this problem can be dealt with by building a mound about 0.5 m high or by creating a drainage layer 10–15 cm thick at the bottom of the planting pit. Mulberry can grow even in a swampy and highly saline substrate, but on abundant productivity in this case should not be calculated. It is also undesirable for groundwater to be located closer than 1–1.5 m from the soil surface. This can lead to the development of root rot.

When choosing a place for mulberry, it is worth considering that this is a long-lived tree, and besides, it is quite large. If a single planting is planned, it must be placed at a distance of at least 5 m from other plants. When forming a hedge, seedlings are placed 1 m apart.

Mulberry is a dimensional plant, this must be taken into account when choosing a place for it on a garden plot.

Landing dates

In most of the territory of Russia (regions with a temperate climate), mulberries are best planted on permanent place in the spring, when the tree has not yet woken up from hibernation (leaf buds have not opened). Over the summer, the seedling will form a developed root system and adapt to new habitat conditions. This will allow him to survive the winter with minimal damage to himself.

Autumn planting (from early September to mid-October) is suitable for areas with a tropical and subtropical climate. Winters in the Crimea, the Caucasus, Kuban, Krasnodar Territory, Ukraine are mild and almost always come in accordance with the calendar. When planning a landing, it is worth considering that a tree needs at least 6 weeks to adapt. Practice shows that a seedling that has successfully endured the first winter will live long and bear fruit abundantly.

Pit preparation

A planting hole about 70 cm deep and about the same diameter is filled with a mixture of fertile turf with humus or rotted compost by a third. You can also add sifted wood ash (0.7–1 l), 20–30 g of potash and phosphorus fertilizers, or about 50 g of a complex agent (Nitrophoska, Azofoska). This mixture is sprinkled with a thin layer of ordinary earth so that the roots do not suffer. The pit is prepared about 2 weeks before planting, if the procedure is planned for autumn, and if for spring, then at the end of the previous season. At the bottom, a drainage layer is desirable (expanded clay, clay shards, brick chips).

At the bottom of the planting hole for mulberries, it is desirable to create a layer of drainage so that moisture does not stagnate at the roots.

Landing

The disembarkation procedure itself has no special features. The only caveat is that you do not need to shorten the roots before planting. If necessary, a support is placed in the pit in advance. The roots of the seedling must be carefully straightened without damaging them, they are quite fragile. The most important thing in the process is not to deepen the root neck. The soil is carefully trampled down, the tree is watered, spending 10-15 liters of water. When she soaks trunk circle mulch with peat or humus, freshly cut grass.

There is nothing complicated in planting mulberry, even a novice gardener can handle the procedure.

Video: how to transplant mulberries

The nuances of caring for culture

Care comes down to maintaining the near-trunk circle in proper condition, periodic watering and top dressing several times per season. The most difficult thing for an inexperienced gardener is the procedure for pruning a tree.

Watering

This crop does not need frequent and abundant watering. The tree is recommended to be watered only if the weather is very hot and there is no rain. An adult mulberry needs 15–20 liters of water every 7–10 days.

Experienced gardeners do not recommend watering the tree in the second half of summer, thus preparing it for the upcoming winter period of rest and sudden temperature changes. This is especially true for mulberries growing in the Moscow region and other regions with a temperate climate.

Only young mulberries are watered, and for an adult tree, if there is no abnormally strong heat outside, natural precipitation is quite enough

Special attention should be given to watering young trees under the age of 5 years. Then the mulberry forms a developed root system and can provide itself with moisture on its own, pulling it from the depths of the soil.

With a lack of moisture on young plants, the fruits become smaller, and annual shoots can freeze out in winter without having time to ripen.

Fertilization

If landing pit was prepared in compliance with all the recommendations, the available nutrients of mulberry will last for 2-3 years. But even after that, you should not get carried away with fertilizers, especially nitrogen-containing ones. Their excess negatively affects the immunity of the plant. Two dressings per season are enough.

1. Immediately before the leaf buds bloom, 45–50 g of any complex fertilizer(Nitrophoska, Diammofoska, Azofoska). It is scattered on the surface of the soil in a dry form or a solution is prepared by diluting the indicated amount in 10 liters of water. Once every 2-3 years, you can additionally distribute 15-25 liters of humus or rotted compost in the near-stem circle.
2. 2-3 weeks before the fruit ripens, the mulberry is watered with a diluted infusion of fresh manure, bird droppings or nettle leaves, dandelion (proportion 1:15 for litter and 1:8 for everything else).
   

   If the condition of the tree is not too good, it grows slowly; in early September, the soil in the trunk circle is sprinkled with sifted wood ash(0.5 l).

Nettle infusion - natural fertilizer for mulberries

pruning

Since mulberry in nature reaches significant dimensions, pruning for it is a mandatory procedure. The plant tolerates it easily, recovering quickly, even if the gardener “overdid it” a little.

Pruning has a positive effect on the yield of the plant, the size of the fruit increases markedly.

In regions with a temperate climate (Moscow region, Volga region, North-West), it is better to form mulberry not as a tree, but as a shrub or shrub no more than 3 m high. To do this, most of the shoots are cut off from a plant that has reached a height of 1.5 m, leaving 8 -10 most powerful and developed. This will be the main "skeleton" of the structure. Then, every year, 2–3 of the oldest branches are cut to the point of growth, replacing them with younger ones. Each of the skeletal shoots should have 3-4 branches of the second order and 10-15 branches of the third order.

It will take 3-4 years for the configuration to take on a finished look.

Only sharply sharpened and disinfected tools are used for pruning mulberries

Where the climate for mulberry is close to optimal (Ukraine, Moldova, southern Russia), a tree that has reached a height of 1 m is shortened, cutting off the central shoot 25–30 cm above the last side shoot. Lateral shoots (with the exception of the three or four most powerful ones) are cut to the point of growth. The rest are shortened to 4-5 growth buds. Then, over the next 2–3 years, several more tiers are formed in the same way. Each of them should have 4-5 branches of the second and 12-15 - of the third order. The total height of the tree is recommended to be limited to 4–5 m.

It is also easy to form a spherical crown. To do this, the lower and upper shoots are shortened more than the middle tier - by about a quarter and a third, respectively.

After the tree begins to bear fruit, the main attention should be paid to sanitary pruning. It is carried out twice a year - in the spring until the "awakening" of growth buds and in the fall, after the end of leaf fall. The air temperature in both cases should be above 0ºС. It is imperative to get rid of broken, dried, frozen, affected by diseases and pests of shoots. Also, deformed, weak and poorly located branches are cut to the point of growth: thickening the crown, growing downward, sharply out of the given configuration.

Mulberry needs rejuvenating pruning every 10-15 years. All shoots are shortened by about a third, 2–3 skeletal branches are completely removed, replacing them with younger ones.

The fact that it is time to carry out the procedure is evidenced by a decrease in yield, shrinkage of fruits, and curvature of shoots.

Harvesting

The fruiting period of the mulberry is extended, often the berries ripen within 1.5–2 months. Due to such uneven ripening, both completely green and blue-black fruits can be observed on one branch.

The berries of the mulberry are small, there are a lot of them on the tree. Since they still do not differ in keeping quality, some gardeners save time on harvesting by spreading a film, a piece of cloth, newspapers under the mulberry. Then the tree should be vigorously shaken several times.

Mulberry has a very high yield, but at the same time its berries are practically not stored.

Preparing for winter

Most varieties of mulberry, popular with gardeners, tolerate frosts down to -30ºС without much damage to themselves. But only if the winter is snowy. Otherwise, the roots of the tree may suffer, even if the temperature drops to only -7-10ºС. Therefore, it is desirable to build a shelter for the winter not only in regions with a temperate climate, but also in the subtropics.

1. The trunk circle is cleaned of plant debris and loosened shallowly.
2. A layer of mulch from peat or humus is renewed, bringing its thickness to 12–15 cm. A hill 25–30 cm high is poured near the trunk.
3. As soon as enough snow falls, it is raked up to the trunk, constructing a snowdrift.
4. Young trees can be closed entirely, wrapped in burlap or other air-permeable covering material.
5. In those varieties of mulberry, which are characterized by the presence of thin drooping shoots, the branches are bent to the ground, throwing straw, spruce branches.

The mulch will help protect the mulberry roots from freezing if there isn't enough snow.

Do not be surprised if the mulberry, growing in the Moscow region and other regions with a temperate climate, sheds not only leaves, but also shoots in the fall. Due to the fact that daylight hours in these areas are shorter than required by the crop, it has two growing seasons. In autumn, the mulberry independently forms a layer of cork-like tissue between the mature and immature part of the shoot, thus getting rid of wood that will definitely not endure the cold.

Reproduction methods

Mulberry reproduces quite easily both vegetatively and generatively. The latter is used less frequently, since it is more laborious, takes more time and does not guarantee the preservation of the varietal characteristics of the "parent".

seed germination

Seeds are extracted from mature berries, the color of which has acquired a typical color for the variety. They are thoroughly cleaned of pulp, dried and stored until spring in a dark, cool place, poured into linen or paper bags. The optimal time for sowing seeds is the end of April or the first decade of May.

Mulberry seeds must be thoroughly de-fleshed and dried to avoid development of rot during storage.

1. They are sown directly in the garden, deepening a maximum of 1–1.5 cm. In order to increase germination, you can soak them for several hours in Heteroauxin, Zircon, Kornevin.
2. Before germination, the bed is watered with a solution of any biostimulator (potassium humate, succinic acid, aloe juice, Epin) every 2-3 days. After - they switch to daily moderate watering with heated water.
3. A canopy of white covering material is built over the seedlings to protect them from direct sunlight.
4. When 4–5 true leaves are formed, the plantings are thinned out, leaving at least 10–12 cm between them.
5. After 2 years, the grown seedlings can be transplanted to the chosen place. Harvest from such a mulberry will have to wait at least 7-8 years.

Video: seed mulberry

cuttings

This is the easiest way to reproduce, the success rate is 80-90%, even if you do not use special root stimulants. Mulberry stalk - upper or middle part green shoot about 20 cm long, cut obliquely. Harvest cuttings throughout the growing season. If the climate allows, they are planted in the ground in the fall. Otherwise, the cuttings are dug in a box with wet sand or peat until spring and kept at a temperature of 3-5ºС.

The handle must have at least 2-3 growth buds. Semi-lignified branches can also be used, but the rooting process in this case is delayed for a long time.

Cuttings are the easiest and fast way get new mulberry

The cuttings are planted in a greenhouse or in a garden bed, positioned at an angle of about 45º, deepening by 3–4 cm. The lower leaves are removed completely, the remaining ones are cut in half. planted in open ground cuttings are covered with glass caps, trimmed plastic bottles. Be sure to maintain very high humidity, but make sure that rot does not appear.

If technically possible, it is desirable to create a "suspension" of small droplets of water in the greenhouse, resembling fog.

Graft

This method is used to propagate the most valuable and decorative mulberry varieties. The most commonly used rootstock is white mulberry. This is due to its unpretentious care and frost resistance.

The easiest way to graft is copulation. The top of the rootstock tree and the base of the scion seedling are cut at an angle, the cuts are aligned and tightly wrapped around the structure with electrical tape, adhesive tape or a special grafting tape. If the procedure is successful (new leaves begin to form on the scion), the strapping can be removed. A prerequisite is that the scion and stock should be approximately the same thickness.

When copulating, the scion and rootstock should approximately match in diameter.

Budding requires the gardener to have some experience. Here, not a whole branch is used as a scion, but one growth bud, cut together with a “shield” from the tissues surrounding it, no more than 2–3 mm thick. This "shield" is inserted into an X- or T-shaped incision on the bark of the rootstock. The whole structure is securely fixed. If the growth bud hatches after 2–3 months, the stock is cut 10–15 cm above the grafting site, removing all side shoots.

When budding, try to touch the growth bud as little as possible

Diseases, pests and their control

Mulberry has a good immunity; this culture rarely suffers from diseases and pests. But she is not insured, so you need to be able to recognize suspicious symptoms and know what to do in each case.

Diseases typical for the culture:

• powdery mildew. Leaves, shoots, fruits are covered with a grayish-white "fuzzy" coating. Gradually, it darkens and thickens, the affected tissues die off. The thickening of the crown and intense heat contribute to the spread of the disease. For prevention, mulberry and soil in the near-stem circle are powdered with crushed chalk, sifted with wood ash. Fundazol or Fitoverm-M will help to cope with the problem. It is advisable to shed the near-stem circle with a pale pink solution of potassium permanganate;
• cylindrosporiosis. The leaves are covered with multiple clearly defined dark scarlet or crimson spots. Then the affected areas turn yellow, the leaves dry and fall off. Upon detection characteristic symptoms the tree and soil in the near-stem circle are sprayed with a 1% solution of Silit. After 12–15 days, the treatment is repeated;
• bacteriosis. The first symptom is dark blurry spots. irregular shape on leaves and shoots. Gradually, they turn into depressed "ulcers". Damaged leaves roll up into a tube and fall off, gum is released on the shoots. The only way to deal with the disease is to early stages its development, cutting off all the minimally affected parts of the plant and treating it with Fitolavin, Gamair;
• leaf curl. The surface of the sheet wrinkles, "nodules" appear on it. The leaf plate shrinks, deforms. It is impossible to cure this viral disease with modern means. Particular attention should be paid to prevention, primarily the fight against carriers of the pathogen (aphids, thrips, spider mites);
• tinder mushroom. The spores of the fungus enter the tissue through mechanical damage in the bark. Growths appear on the shoots, destroying the wood. They need to be cut with a sharp sterile knife, rinse the wound with 5% blue vitriol and cover with garden pitch or a mixture of fluff lime, cow dung and powdered clay. You can also cover the cut with several layers of oil paint.

Photo gallery: symptoms of common mulberry diseases

The most common pests:

• ifantria americana (white american butterfly). The larvae of this butterfly are able to completely eat the leaves in a matter of days, leaving only veins. For prevention, unblown leaf buds and the soil in the trunk circle are sprayed with Nitrafen or Karbofos. To scare away adults from the plant, use Chlorophos, Phosphamide, Antio, Saiphos. One treatment every 3-4 weeks is enough;
• mealybug. A whitish coating appears on leaves, shoots, buds, fruits, resembling scattered flour. Affected parts of the plant turn yellow, dry and fall off. For prevention, mulberries are sprayed with an infusion of onions, garlic, and any sharp-smelling herbs about once a week. To cope with the pest, use Mospilan, Tanrek, Confidor-Maxi. Usually 2-3 treatments are enough with an interval of 8-12 days;
• spider mite. Young leaves, tops of shoots, buds are braided thin threads web-like. Affected parts of the plant become discolored, deformed and dry. For prevention, mulberries are sprayed weekly with an infusion of onion or garlic gruel, a decoction of cyclamen tubers. They fight the pest using acaricides (Aktellik, Apollo, Neoron, Omait). It will take 3-4 treatments with an interval of 5-12 days. The hotter it is outside, the more often the plant is sprayed.

Photo gallery: what pests dangerous to crops look like

The main harm to mulberry is caused by the caterpillars of American ifantria. To fight mealybug mainly use general purpose insecticides To fight spider mite special preparations are used - acaricides

Until recently, growing mulberries in temperate climates was not possible. But breeders corrected this situation by breeding several frost-resistant varieties. Now nothing prevents the spread of this delicious and useful berry in Russia. The rapid growth of its popularity is facilitated steadily high yield, unpretentiousness in leaving, decorative effect of a tree.

Mulberry has been cultivated since ancient times. More than 150 of its species are known, many fruit, fodder and ornamental varieties have been bred.

Mulberry varieties

Of the one and a half hundred species, hardly a tenth of their total number has become widespread. We grow white, black and red mulberries. In nature, satin (fodder) mulberry is found. In America, a variety is common that is of interest for the high quality of wood (the berries of the plant are inedible).

Varieties of white mulberry

White mulberry can have not only white, but also pink, yellow and even black fruits. The fact is that this variety got its name due to the light (grayish) color of the bark. The black mulberry has a dark bark. Despite its southern origin, the white mulberry successfully adapts to the conditions of the northern regions.

In China, this particular variety of mulberry was grown for breeding silkworms (black mulberry has tougher leaves). Popular varieties:

• Diana
• Masha
• Snow White
• white tenderness
• white honey
• Darkie
• Luganochka
• Black Baroness

Mulberry Black Baroness: variety description

One of the most popular varieties of white mulberry is the Black Baroness. As the name implies, the berries of this variety are black in color. The fruits are large (3.5 cm by 1.5 cm). The aroma of the berries is weak, the taste is sweet. The yield of the variety is high and stable. The ripening season is June-July. Plants withstand winter temperatures down to -30 °C.

Description of the mulberry variety White honey

Another popular variety of white mulberry is White Honey. The plant is winter-hardy, self-pollinating, high-yielding. The taste of juicy berries is very sweet. Their ripening season is June-July.

Varieties of black mulberry

Iran is considered the birthplace of black mulberry. The berries of this variety have a sweet and sour taste (white fruits have less flavor nuances). The color of the bark of black mulberry is red-brown. Black mulberry is more capricious in terms of lowering the temperature - the plants freeze slightly with a serious "minus". Popular varieties:

• Royal
• Fruit-4
• Staromoskovskaya
• Black Pearl
• Black Prince
• Shelly-150
• Hope

Mulberry Nadezhda: variety description

The tree of this variety reaches a height of 10 m. The fruits are very dark and large (5 cm in length). The ripening season is July. Berries hold well on branches. The fruits have a sweet and sour taste. The yield of the variety is high and stable. Plants tolerate frost well.

Large varieties of mulberry

Small-fruited mulberry varieties often delight with the sweet taste of berries, but they have a serious disadvantage - it is quite difficult to harvest. Large-fruited varieties attract gardeners with the size and taste of berries, and therefore are in priority. The most popular large-fruited varieties:

• Black Prince
• Shelly-150
• Black Pearl
• white tenderness

Description of the mulberry variety Shelly-150

This variety is recognized for its large and sweet berries (5.5 cm long, weight 4-6 g). The fruiting season begins at the end of May. The fruits are dark colored. The variety is productive. Fruit transportability is average.

Decorative varieties of mulberries

Are popular decorative varieties mulberries such as Laciniata (her distinctive feature are beautiful carved leaves), Aurea (with yellow leaves), Globos (the tree of this variety has a beautiful spherical crown), Pyramidalis (the variety is characterized by a pyramidal crown shape).

Mulberry varieties for Russia

What varieties of mulberries are suitable for the Moscow region and central Russia? Many varieties are able to withstand frosts down to -30 ° C, but it should be taken into account that the roots of the plant freeze slightly at -7 ° C ... -10 ° C. When planting mulberry in this region, the root neck of the seedling is deepened, and for the winter the root is mulched. Prevents the normal development of mulberry and short daylight hours. In the Moscow region, it is recommended to grow a plant in the form of a bush, and not a tree, as in the southern regions. In the middle lane, varieties of white mulberry have taken root - black tolerates low temperatures worse. Popular frost-resistant varieties mulberries:

• Vladimirskaya
• Staromoskovskaya
• Royal
• white honey

Description of the mulberry variety Staromoskovskaya

White mulberry Staromoskovskaya has a spherical crown. You can grow a plant in the form of a weeping form. The berries are sweet, almost black, 2-3 cm long. The plant is frost-resistant. looking for self-fertile variety mulberry, stop your choice on the Staromoskovskaya variety - the plant is able to produce a crop of berries without a pollinator variety.

Mulberry: the best varieties

It is difficult to say which kind of mulberry is worthy of the title of the best. If you prefer the rich taste of berries, opt for black mulberries. If you love exquisite sweetness, plant white mulberry seedlings in your garden. If conditions are not favorable for pollination of plants, order a self-fertile variety from the nursery. Choose large-fruited varieties and be sure to take into account the climatic conditions of your region.

People have been growing mulberries since ancient times. Even in ancient times in southern countries, the leaves of this plant, eaten by a silkworm, were used to make a strong and beautiful thread. Mulberry is also valued for its 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 mulberries

To soil conditions, mulberry is quite unpretentious, but does not develop well on dry, saline, waterlogged soils. If the land on the site is acidic, then the intended planting site of the mulberry 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 harvest in a sunny place.

Planting mulberries

Mulberries are planted in April (before sap flow) or in autumn. The planting scheme is as follows: on the site, retreat from existing trees 5 m, between the newly planted mulberry trees there should be at least 4 m. . The planted tree is watered, the trunk circle is mulched.

Video: planting and caring for a mulberry seedling

Mulberry Care

Mulberry care has its own characteristics:

• For getting more harvest mulberries need to be fed by introducing rotted manure or compost into the trunk circle.
• To protect against frost and in regions with cold winters, mulberry seedlings can be covered with agrotex, straw, coniferous branches.
• When growing heat-loving plants, including mulberries, in regions with sharp temperature changes, it is necessary to remember 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 autumn at an air temperature not lower than -10 o C.
• Trees are watered 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 give decorativeness 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 of 0.5–1 m, cut off all side shoots to this height.

IN Lately the interest of connoisseurs of decorative living compositions is caused by the standard weeping mulberry. To form a weeping shape, the branches are cut into lower and lateral buds. Strong pruning with this shape of the crown will not spoil the appearance of the tree, but will reduce the yield.

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), white mulberry and black mulberry have become widespread in Russia and Ukraine.

Black mulberry got its name from dark color trunks and branches of trees. The plant has purple-black fruits with a more fragrant 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 dark trunk and branches

Video: black mulberry

Varieties of black mulberry:

Mulberry Shelley No. 150 has large leaves and fruits

white mulberry

White mulberry is named after light color trunks and branches of trees. The 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 the southern, but also in the northern regions of Russia and Ukraine. In the south, under more familiar conditions, the tree reaches a height of 10–15 m, in the north - 5 m. Fruits of a sweet taste.

Photo gallery: white mulberry features

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

Varieties of white mulberry:

• Black Baroness. Variety of selection of agricultural company "Rostok" from the Belgorod region, frost-resistant (can withstand cold down 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. It bears fruit in June - July, the yield is high - up to 100 kg per tree. When freezing, quickly restores shoots.

  

  Mulberry Black Baroness easily survives frosts

• White honey. Popular frost-resistant variety well resists diseases. A plant with a dense broad-pyramidal crown. Sweet juicy fruits of honey taste, without aroma, white color. Fruit length - up to 3 cm, diameter - 1 cm. Harvesting begins at the end of June and continues until early August. Fresh berries practically do not endure transportation. In the case of freezing of young branches after pruning, the plant quickly grows and restores productivity.

  

  Fresh mulberries White honey practically do not endure transportation

• Darkie. Another variety of the Rostok agricultural company. The name is associated with almost black fruits. It is frost resistant (tolerates cold down to -30°C). When young branches freeze, it quickly grows and restores productivity. The tree has a broad pyramidal crown. The fruits are sweet, without aroma, with a slight sourness, up to 3.5 cm long, 1.2 cm in diameter. The variety is high yielding. Transportability is not bad (compared to other varieties of mulberry). 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 tall successfully tolerates frosts down to -25 o C. Large fleshy juicy seedlings have a sweet and sour taste. Due to the uneven ripening period of fruits, starting from mid-June, light, reddish and black berries can be found on one branch. The disadvantages of the variety include instability to diseases, damage by pests.
• Ukrainian 6. White mulberry variety with black fruit. Bred in the Ukrainian Research Institute of Silkworm. It is frost resistant (up to -28°C). Begins to bear fruit in the 4-5th year. Sweet, without acid, 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. Productivity is average. The plant is vigorous, with a dense spherical crown. Fresh seeds can be stored for more than 12 hours. Fruit transportability is good. The tree is decorative, used in landscaping. In the case of freezing of young branches after pruning, the plant quickly restores an attractive appearance, as well as productivity.
• White tenderness. The variety is early ripe (fruits ripen from the beginning of June), the offering lasts about 2 months. It has good winter hardiness and 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, but in rainy weather it worsens, the berries lose their sweetness.

  

  Mulberry White tenderness has good winter hardiness, disease resistance

• Pink Smolenskaya. A new frost-resistant mid-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 pink or red buds 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 - multi-colored fruits

Mulberry varieties for growing in different regions

One of the main difference factors 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

Central Russia is characterized by cold winters, which are unpleasant for heat-loving plants. The probability of arrival of return frosts in the spring is high. In this regard, in this area, 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 lane, the drought resistance of the variety must also be taken into account.

For these places, the varieties are applicable:

• white honey,
• black baroness,
• Nadiya,
• Darkie,
• Ostryakovskaya,
• Black Prince,
• Vladimirskaya,
• Ukrainian 6,
• white tenderness,
• Pink Smolenskaya.

For Northwest Russia

North-West of Russia is a difficult region for growing mulberries. For most varieties of the plant, more accustomed to the climatic conditions of the southern regions, cold winters are fatal. The lack of sunlight also has a negative effect. For this reason, one must choose early ripe varieties, plants form in the form of a bush up to 5 m high. Mulberry itself under such conditions will tend to grow in the form of a bush. It is only necessary to cut out dried, broken branches, and also to prevent thickening.

Mulberries should be planted only in a dry, well-lit place. Level ground water 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 the 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, varieties of Ukrainian selection are primarily suitable:

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

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

• white honey,
• black baroness,
• Black Prince,
• Black Pearl,
• Darkie,
• Hope,
• white tenderness,
• Ostryakovskaya
• Pink Smolensk.