Mulberry: male and female plants, choosing the right variety and growing tips. Decorative mulberry to give a special charm to your site Mulberry tree looks like

Grow in the garden. These are apple trees, pears, cherries, plums and cherries. However, the mulberry tree is quite rare in it. But in the recent past, it was very popular and affordable. The older generation of gardeners has a lot to say about a useful plant that has now become exotic.

Varieties

An amazing long-liver comes from China. It has long been grown as a fodder crop. The leaves of the tree served as food for the silkworm - the producer of raw materials for the manufacture of a unique fabric. Gardeners grow a mulberry tree, belonging to the genus Morus, not for silk production, but as an ornamental and fruit crop. The genus consists of twenty-four species. Of these, white and black mulberries are fruitful, the distinguishing characteristic of which is the color of the bark of an adult plant. Many gardeners mistakenly believed that mulberry trees are distinguished by the color of the berries. However, this is not at all the case.

White mulberry has light color bark. But the berries can be white, cream, pink, purple or completely black. The numerous genus Morus is represented by dioecious and rarely monoecious trees. Most of them are heat-loving plants that can be grown in southern regions. Only white mulberry in the middle lane does not freeze slightly, grows well and bears fruit.

Description

Not every fruit plant boasts of its durability. Within two hundred or even three hundred years, a mulberry tree will give birth, without changing its qualities over time. A spreading tree reaches a height of twenty to thirty-five meters. Often it is formed in the form of a two- or three-meter bush. The bark is light. The spherical crown is densely covered with oval foliage.

spike inflorescences mulberry tree small. They are light green in color. Dioecious or rarely wind-pollinated. The fruits of the drupe are formed in the form of small infructescences. They have a pleasant sweet taste. Depending on the variety, the berries can be colored in various colors. White mulberry ripens from May to July. It bears fruit in the fifth year after planting. The yield is high. The berry picking period is somewhat extended due to unfriendly ripening. They are non-transportable and poorly stored, consumed immediately after removal.

This mulberry tree is winter-hardy and drought-resistant. These qualities characterize the plant as quite hardy and unpretentious. It is suitable for areas with any type of soil. In addition to these advantages, the mulberry tree is medicinal plant. The fruits are high in vitamins. In addition, they contain flavonoid, morin, carotene, fatty acid, iron salts. medicinal properties possess not only berries. The bark and leaves of the tree are also used in medicinal purposes.

Mulberry varieties

White mulberry can act as a fodder, fruit and ornamental crop. They are represented by various varieties with different individual properties.

So, among the fruitful varieties, white honey mulberry is quite attractive. It is characterized by relative frost resistance and unpretentiousness, resistance to diseases. A tall deciduous tree with a wide crown. Simple oval leaves are painted in light green color. Inflorescences spike-shaped. Juicy fruits are white.

Taste qualities are good. Long harvesting begins at the end of June. Uneven fruit ripening lasts until early August. Fresh berries are stored for no more than six hours. They practically do not tolerate transportation.

White mulberry variety Baroness is deciduous. Dense, well leafy crown has a spherical shape. Flowers are dioecious. They have a light color and form a spike-shaped inflorescence. Large berries, 3.5 cm in size and 1.5 cm in diameter, are densely colored black. Fragrant complex drupe has a sweet pleasant taste. Unlike the previous variety, the fruits are relatively transportable. The shelf life is twelve hours. The variety is high yielding.

The berry picking period is June-July. This mulberry tree is an unpretentious plant with high frost-resistant performance. Mulberry winters well.

Mulberry Smuglyanka is a tall sprawling tree that has a pyramidal crown. large fruits reach three centimeters. Black berries are very juicy. Taste qualities are excellent. Slightly sour taste does not spoil the berries. This variety is less winter-hardy than Baroness. In winter, the branches may freeze slightly. An unpretentious plant has a high yield. Fruit ripening occurs at the beginning of July.

Except fruit species, there are more than four hundred decorative forms. Mulberry varieties differ in the shape and color of the crown and foliage. These are spectacular plants that are used in landscape design. Beautiful tree and shrub compositions, alleys and which include mulberry trees. Their openwork crown goes well with evergreens.

Weeping white mulberry

A low-growing tree or shrub reaches a height and width of up to three meters. It has a very decorative appearance. The elongated branches of the mulberry tree hang down. This form is indispensable in landscape design and will decorate any garden.

dark green big leaves, whose length can be from eight to twenty centimeters, are heart-shaped. In autumn they turn yellow. The flowering period is May-June. Mulberry bears few fruits. They are edible and have a pleasant sweet taste.

In addition, there are spherical, dissected-leaved, Tatar and golden forms of white mulberry. Each of them has its own advantages and is widely used for single or group plantings.

Landing

Often summer residents do not dare to plant mulberry trees, because on small area space is limited. "Is my garden suitable for trendy exotics?" - such a question arises among gardeners when choosing one or another variety of a long-lived giant.

Growing mulberry provides several ways to form a plant that will limit the height. A tall powerful spreading tree requires larger area nutrition. Mulberry is planted according to the scheme 5 x 6 m. When the height of the mulberry tree is limited and grown in the form of a bush, the scheme is different and is 2 x 3 m. White mulberry is unpretentious. It grows equally well in unfavorable urban conditions, and in suburban summer cottages. Well-lit should be a corner of the garden in which mulberries will grow. Planting and caring for mulberry trees comply with generally accepted rules for fruit trees. Planted seedlings in early spring. The seat should be such as not to damage. For better rooting, a mixture of humus and sand is added to the hole. Water thoroughly and cover the planting hole with soil. Around the stem of the seedling, the soil is mulched with peat. In autumn, planting is carried out one and a half months before the onset of frost.

Agricultural technology

Care consists in removing weeds, loosening the soil and regular watering. It is especially important to monitor newly planted plants. Not allowed in the presence of weeds that are detrimental to plants. Regular weeding and mulching with humus or peat will contribute to their normal and rapid growth. During the summer season, organic and mineral fertilizers. This agricultural technique is very important for the normal development of mulberries and obtaining good yields. Fertilization is carried out during bud break. For one square meter you need fifty grams of nitrophoska. After fertilization, the soil is heavily watered. In early July, stop watering. During this period, feeding should also not be carried out. Enhanced nutrition will promote the growth of young shoots, which will freeze in winter.

pruning

So that the tree does not grow tall and looks well-groomed, its crown is formed, limiting growth to three meters. In addition, last year's young growths in winter may freeze slightly. They need to be removed. Mulberry pruning has no individual characteristics. Sanitary and anti-aging techniques are carried out, which are performed following generally accepted recommendations for the Mulberry tree tolerates a haircut. This reception should be regular. Crown thinning is carried out annually. In this case, diseased, damaged and weak branches are subject to removal. Also cut crossed shoots.

Obtaining seed material

White mulberry ripens in summer. Ripe fruits are suitable for seeds. After harvesting, some of the berries are left in the sun. They are slightly overripe. Then for a few days they are placed in a container.

Juicy fruits should turn sour. Then they are ground in water. Full-weight seeds sink to the bottom of the container. This mass is rubbed through a fine sieve. The resulting seeds are dried. They must be used throughout the year. They quickly lose their viability.

seed propagation

There are several ways to obtain young plants. Possible seed reproduction. This method begins with stratification. Seeds are kept at a temperature of zero or five degrees for a month. Pre-prepare the greenhouse. In early April, mulberry will be sown in it. Reproduction in this way allows you to have forty-centimeter seedlings already in the autumn.

Vaccinations on frost-resistant rootstock

In order to preserve the maternal characteristics of a particular variety, grafting will be more effective. This method is more complicated. It requires careful selection of material for reproduction. Quite often, winter mulberry grafting is used. As a stock, young plants of frost-resistant mulberry varieties grown from seeds are used. They are dug up and stored in wet sawdust. Storage temperature should be zero degrees. Scions are also stored in wet sawdust. After vaccination, the planting material is placed in boxes and kept at a temperature of twenty-five degrees. After that, they are stored in wet sawdust at zero temperature until spring.

Mulberry grafting in the spring is performed on last year's stocks. This event falls on the period before bud break. Used cuttings cut in autumn. They are stored all winter in wet sawdust at zero temperature.

Can be grafted in the summer. For this, blanks are used current year.

Reproduction by green cuttings

Planting material is harvested in the second decade of June. Green shoots are suitable, the length of which is at least fifteen centimeters. They are cut from non-lignified branches. The blanks are processed by removing the lower leaves and shortening the upper ones by half. Before rooting, the cuttings are kept for six hours in an aqueous solution of heteroauxin.

Or they are placed in a mixture of sand and peat, which is moistened with this solution. Green cuttings are rooted in closed ground. The main condition is high humidity. To create a greenhouse effect, cover with plastic wrap.

Diseases and pests

Like any culture, white mulberry is susceptible to infection. It can be affected by diseases such as bacteriosis, powdery mildew and root rot.

In the spring, preventive spraying of the tree with special preparations is carried out.

There are also many pests in the mulberry tree. Khrushchi, medvedka, mulberry barbel, wireworm and spider mite damage various parts of the plant. To combat them, mechanical and chemical methods are used. In the autumn period, fallen leaves must be removed and burned.

Features of harvesting

White mulberry is characterized by an extended period of fruiting. Berries ripen unevenly. On the one hand, this is good. For a longer period, the mulberry tree will delight with ripe juicy fruits. However, ripe fruits should be removed in a timely manner. Almost all varieties of white mulberry are poorly stored. They are non-transportable. If the harvest is delayed, the berries fall off, which leads to their spoilage. After removal, the fruits are immediately processed or consumed in fresh.

Useful properties of white mulberry

The medicinal properties of mulberry have been known for a long time. The use of fresh berries helps to improve the general condition of a person. white mulberry contributes to the normalization of work nervous system. It is included in diets for weight loss. Low-calorie berry perfectly normalizes metabolism. In addition, the plant cleanses the intestines and promotes the removal of toxins. Mulberries are most often consumed fresh. It is also subjected to culinary processing. It is suitable for preparations for the future. You can make juices, syrups, jams and marmalades. Wines and liqueurs have an exquisite taste. It is also dried. In this form, it is used instead of sugar. White mulberry is indispensable in cosmetology. It is included in various masks for hair, face and body.

However, with all the advantages, one should not forget about individual features organism. Like any medicine, the use of mulberry has contraindications. Overuse can be harmful. Berries are not recommended for diabetics. For them, dried mulberry leaves will be more useful.

General information

Mulberry belongs to the genus Morus L. Mulberry family (Moraceae). She also has other names: here, mulberry, tyutina, mulberry tree. The classification of mulberry is ambiguous. Scientists can not decide on the taxonomy of the genus Morus. According to one system, there are 10–12 species in it, according to another - 60–120. Such a range of opinions is due to the easy interbreeding of various species and their diversity.

Southeast Asia and Oceania - the place of growth most mulberry species (40 species or 57%). The second major center is the American continent (22 species or 21%).

Mulberries are generally recognized

  • red (M. rubra);
  • black (M. nigra).

They differ in the color of the bark, not the berries. White mulberries may have black berries, but their bark is lighter in color.

Mulberry trees are very durable. AT favorable conditions they can live up to three hundred years or more.

Interesting! The Girey mulberry in Bakhchisarai is protected by the state. It grows in the kitchen courtyard of the Khan's palace. Its height is 9 m, girth is 5 m. Age is more than 300 years.

Kinds

White

It occurs in culture more often than other species. This tall (up to 30 m) powerful tree comes from East Asia. The crown is spreading or spherical. Shoots slightly pubescent or bare, gray. The leaves are ovate with a sharp tip, there are three to five lobed. The tree is usually dioecious.

On male specimens, the flowers are collected in catkins up to one and a half centimeters long, on female ones - in spike-shaped inflorescences of pistillate flowers. After flowering, the perianths grow, forming seedlings - achenes.

Black

A native of Iran and Afghanistan, it is more thermophilic and photophilous than white mulberry. A tree up to fifteen meters high with a spreading crown. Can only endure mild winters Central Europe, but not ours, Russian. It is cultivated primarily for the sake of black sweet and sour fruits. In Central Asia, it occurs in the wild, its weeping form is common.

The leaves of the black mulberry are pubescent below, the fruits practically “sit” on the branches, the stigmas of the pistils are hairy. The leaves of this species are coarse, unsuitable for feeding the silkworm.

Red

Native to North America. Tree up to twenty meters high. In terms of winter and frost resistance, it is superior to white and requires the same growing conditions. It is believed that in Russia it is almost not cultivated, but, perhaps, it is simply not distinguished from other mulberries. It has juicy, sweet and sour fruits.

Biology

The mulberry is usually a dioecious plant. That is, on one tree there is only female flowers, and on the other - only men's. But there are also monoecious specimens (there are both male and female flowers on the same plant). And even in a separate inflorescence, both male and female flowers can be present. Male mulberry trees (shovkuny) do not bear fruit.

How to distinguish a male mulberry plant from a female? It is impossible to do this before flowering. Heavy pruning and leaf removal can cause a tree to change sex.

To guarantee a harvest, it is necessary to plant mulberries propagated vegetatively, since it is impossible to guess whether it will produce a crop or turn out to be a barren "shovkun". Mulberry is characterized by parthenocarpy, that is, fruit set without pollination. The pollen is carried by the wind, pollinating the female flowers.

Campaign to the north

Mulberry is a very plastic culture, able to adapt to new, unusual conditions for it. There are few trees that can successfully grow and bear fruit far north of where they are habitually grown - and mulberry is one of them. The experience of its cultivation is known in central Russia, in the Urals and in Siberia: in Samara, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Yaroslavl, Khabarovsk Territory, Khakassia, Orenburg Region.

We have the most common white mulberry. Her homeland is China. It came to Europe in the 12th century and a hundred years ago it was a technical culture - it served as food for silkworm caterpillars.

In the middle lane, white mulberry does not grow above 6 m. In cold winters, annual shoots freeze slightly, but the plant quickly recovers due to its high ability to sprout. At the end of May, simultaneously with the deployment of leaves, flowering begins. Shoot growth continues until frost. Mulberry yields annually.

When does mulberry ripen? Terms depend on the region of its growth and variety. It could be the end of May or August. But the berries do not ripen at the same time. The collection can take up to a month.

The first mulberry trees near Moscow were planted in the second half of the 17th century in Izmailovo. "Sovereign silk gardens" were arranged near the villages of Pakhrin and Alekseevskaya, where more than 15 thousand of them were "sown on ridges".

In 1706, Peter I issued a decree on laying new plantations in Kyiv and the Caucasus, where it was said that "no one under the death penalty should cut mulberry trees." By the end of the 18th century, 20 silk and 70 semi-silk factories were operating in Astrakhan using local raw materials.

In 1836, four hundred mulberries were planted on Tverskoy Boulevard, and they also grew near St. Petersburg.

In the USSR in 1930, seedlings of 33 varieties of mulberry were brought from Japan. However, they turned out to be unsuitable for the conditions of our country. There was a need for stable forms. New varieties of fodder mulberries were bred - Ukrainian 1, Ukrainian 9, Ukrainian 107, Kharkovskaya 3, Kharkovskaya 4 and Kharkovskaya 5.

In the 40s of the last century, a commission was created at the USSR Academy of Sciences to study the possibility of moving this heat-loving plant northward, but the matter was not given a move - it was 1943.

Currently, the mulberry industry is practically non-existent. Breeders do not have the task of developing new fodder varieties. The goals of mulberry breeding in Russia have changed. If earlier the maximum yield of the leaf was important, then at present the mulberry is cultivated as a fruit crop. This dioecious plant is pollinated by the wind, so breeding work with this breed has its own specific features.

Assortment

Mulberry varieties are divided into fodder, fruit (dessert) and decorative.

dessert varieties

Local forms are known on the territory of Ukraine: Chernobrovaya, Zaporozhye, Simferopol, Kherson, Polupanskaya and others. Registered in the varietal register of Ukraine varieties bred in Donetsk botanical garden: Mashenka, Snow White, Merezhivo, Dina, Pivdenna nich, as well as the variety Nadiya of the Institute of Sericulture. All of them have a mass of seedlings of about three grams, a length of up to 3.5 cm.

In Russia, Agrofirm Rostok, located in Belgorod region, released a number of dessert varieties for middle lane Russia: Smuglyanka, Black Baroness, White Honey.

Known old varieties of mulberry folk selection. This is Hartut (large berry) or Shakhtut (royal berry).

The size of black seed fruits in the variety Hartut, belonging to the black mulberry (Morus nigra), is 3–4 cm in length and 2–2.5 cm in thickness. The leaves are large, rough. Fruit juice is red, sweet, slightly sour. The sugar content is over 20%. The variety is widespread in Transcaucasia, found in the Crimea.

It is interesting! Hartut's berries do not crumble, like an ordinary mulberry tree, covering the ground under a tree, but hold firmly on a branch. They are collected by cutting with scissors.

decorative forms

Mulberry is not only a fruit plant, but also an ornamental plant. Many interesting shapes with pyramidal, weeping, spherical crown known in white mulberry. They also differ in leaves: there are large ones - up to 22 cm, concave and folded, small and notched, deeply dissected. In the golden form, young shoots and leaves are colored golden yellow.

The red mulberry also has a decorative form - felt: from below the leaves have a white felt pubescence. Mulberry trees can be used in a single planting or create dense hedges - they tolerate shearing well.

The most famous decorative or "Pendula" (Pendula).

Get cascades of falling branches by grafting onto a high trunk.

It is interesting! natural form weeping mulberry- creeping or slate. The branches of this form do not grow upward, but crawl along the ground. This is such an unusual "ground cover" tree. Raised to the height of a straight trunk, it hangs down beautifully, reaching the ground without pruning.

Spherical forms (Globosa) are found in both white and black mulberries.

  • There are mulberries with a narrow pyramidal crown - "Fastigiata" (Fastigiata).
  • "Aurea" (Aurea) - with yellow leaves;
  • "Laciniata" (Laciniata) - with carved;
  • "Macrophylla" (Morus macrophylla) - with very large ones.

Benefits and healing properties

Mulberry berries are eaten both fresh and dried, they are used to prepare bekmes, marshmallow, marmalade, jam, compotes. And, besides, - wine, vodka, liqueurs and vinegar.

Calories:

  • fresh mulberries - 52 kcal / 100 g;
  • dried berries - 325 kcal / 100 g.

Mulberry has medicinal properties. The fruits contain essential oils, organic acids, carotene, vitamins B1, B2, C, PP.

Traditional medicine uses all parts of the plant for medicinal purposes: leaves, bark, roots, and berries.

The bark of the roots helps with hypertension, cough, bronchitis and bronchial asthma. Mulberry berries are used as a diaphoretic, the juice squeezed out of them is used in the treatment of colitis and gastritis, the leaves are used as an antipyretic and in diabetes mellitus.

Fruits cleanse the blood, have anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects.

In the video you can see how large the mulberry berries are:

Mulberry (morus) is a deciduous tree from the Mulberry family. It is also known under the names of mulberry and mulberry tree. The plant is successfully cultivated in temperate climates and subtropics. The natural habitat is the vastness of North America, Africa and Asia. The plant gained its popularity due to its tasty and juicy berries. It is also used for decorative design plot, treatment and industrial purposes. And, of course, it is the foliage of the mulberry that serves as food for the silkworm - the "producer" of silk.

plant description

Mulberry is a deciduous tree with a spreading crown. Usually it grows no more than 10-15 m in height. The maximum annual growth is achieved at a young age. Among the mulberries there are real centenarians. Individual specimens grow for 200-500 years.

Young branches are covered with dark brown smooth bark, which cracks and flakes with age. On the shoots grow regular petiolate leaves of a heart-shaped or ovoid shape. Them shiny surface dotted with a mesh of embossed, lighter veins and painted in dark green. The edges of the foliage are jagged, and the reverse side is lighter, matte. The length of the sheet is 7-15 cm.

In mid-spring, the mulberry blooms with barely noticeable, unattractive buds with long stamens. They are collected in dense short spikelets and resemble fluffy brushes hanging on flexible legs. Mulberry can be monoecious or dioecious. Dioecious varieties have separate male, barren trees (silk) and females.














Pollination occurs with the help of insects and wind. After it, the fruits ripen complex structure. On a short branch there are many pressed to each other juicy drupes. The total length of the fruit is 2-5 cm. Its color is purple-black, red or creamy white. The fruits are edible, they have a sweet and sour taste and are quite intense, pleasant aroma. The size of the leaves and fruits of the mulberry is highly dependent on the climate and soil fertility. In the south, they are an order of magnitude larger than in the middle lane (for example, in the Moscow region).

Mulberry species

Botanists are debating about the species classification. Various sources indicate that the genus contains 17-200 varieties.

Black mulberry (m. negro). The tree grows 10-13 m from the ground. Its dense crown is covered with large ovate leaves 10-20 cm long and 6-10 cm wide. Dark purple drupes are sweet and oblong - about 2-3 cm long. Varieties:

  • Kherson - resistant to frost, not tall tree with large (3.5 cm), sweet berries;
  • Black Baroness - a frost-resistant tree already in June is covered with large, sweet berries;
  • Smuglyanka - a tall, spreading tree gives black sweet and sour berries;
  • Staromoskovskaya - sweet black-purple fruits 3 cm in size ripen on a tall tree with a spherical crown.

White mulberry (m. alba). Spreading, tall tree covered with gray-brown bark. On young branches grow broad ovate or palmate leaves with serrated edges. The length of the leaves is 5-15 cm. The fruitful shoots are shortened relative to the vegetative ones. These dioecious plants flower in April-May and bear fruit in May-June. Fruits (polydrupes) have cylindrical shape and white or pink. Their length reaches 4 cm. The taste is more watery, sugary-sweet. Varieties:

  • Golden - shoots and foliage are painted golden in spring;
  • White honey - a tall sprawling tree gives a large crop of snow-white sugar fruits about 3 cm long;
  • Victoria - a low tree produces sweet, juicy berries about 5 cm in length;
  • Weeping mulberry - decorative variety with flexible, drooping lashes grows up to 5 m.

Red mulberry (m. rubra). The species is resistant to frost. Its homeland is North America. The plant is no different. large sizes, but it is quite spreading. Heart-shaped or lobed leaves 7-14 cm long and 6-12 cm wide have an asymmetric shape. They are painted bright green. In the middle of summer, a crop of dark purple very sweet berries ripens up to 2-3 cm in length. Outwardly, the fruits of this particular species are similar to blackberries.

Reproduction methods

Mulberry reproduces quite simply, so gardeners do not have any difficulties when growing. You can use seed and vegetative methods.

For seed propagation, freshly harvested, peeled and dried seeds are used. Crops are produced in autumn or spring immediately in open ground. All seeds need stratification. At autumn sowing it will take place in natural conditions, but in the spring it will be necessary to preliminarily withstand the seeds for 4-6 weeks in the refrigerator. Before planting, the seeds are treated with a stimulant for several hours ("Zircon", "Epin"). For sowing choose an open, sunny place. Grooves are made 3-5 cm deep, in which planting material is placed as rarely as possible. The bed is covered with earth and mulched with a thick layer. When the soil warms up, shoots will appear. Caring for them involves regular weeding, watering and fertilizing. In mid-autumn, the seedlings will grow enough for the first transplant with a distance of 3-5 m. This will avoid tangling the roots. Fruiting occurs after 5-6 years.

Since varietal characteristics are not preserved during seed propagation, vegetative propagation methods are more popular:

  • Rooting cuttings. In June-July cut green shoots 15-20 cm long with 2-3 leaves. Landing is carried out in a greenhouse. The branches are placed diagonally to a depth of about 3 cm. 1-2 leaves are left on the cuttings with a leaf plate shortened by half. The key to good rooting is high humidity. Ideally, if there is a sprayer in the greenhouse that creates a water suspension (fog). By September, developed roots will appear and shoots will begin to grow. Landing in open ground is planned for next spring.
  • Root suckers. Each tree periodically gives basal shoots. It can be used for reproduction. A developed sprout with a height of 0.5 m is dug up in the middle of spring, trying not to damage the roots, and planted in a new place. To make development faster, the branches are shortened by a third.
  • Vaccinations. Often, ornamental varietal plants are grafted onto stock obtained from seedlings. To do this, all shoots are removed on the stock, and oblique cuts are made on the scion with 2 buds. They are combined and fixed special tape. The splicing process is usually completed within 1-2 months. After that, the tape is removed. In the future, it is important to cut off all the lower branches that grow from the rootstock. The method allows you to collect several different varieties on one plant, forming the so-called "melange crop".

Landing and care

It is better to plan planting mulberry for the first half of autumn, then it will have time to adapt to a new place, after wintering it will actively start growing. Some practice spring planting, before sap flow. When buying seedlings in nurseries, preference should be given to plants at the age of 4 years. If they have already been bearing fruit, it is easier to decide whether a male or female copy has got.

Mulberry is thermophilic and photophilous plant but she needs good protection from cold drafts. The soil should be sufficiently loose and fertile. Salt, sandy or waterlogged soil is not suitable, as is the proximity of groundwater.

2-3 weeks before planting, a hole is dug 50 cm deep and wide. Overripe manure or compost with superphosphate is immediately introduced into poor soil. A layer of ordinary earth is poured over the fertilizer so as not to burn the roots. Old earthen clod when planting, they are crushed from the roots, and the voids are filled with fresh soil. Upon completion of work, 2 buckets of water are poured under the tree, and then the surface is mulched. Young, thin seedlings are tied up.

AT further care for mulberry comes down to loosening, watering and fertilizing. It is necessary to water the trees more often during the period of flowering and fruiting, but here it is also important to know the measure, otherwise the berries will be too watery. From mid-summer, watering is needed only during a long drought.

In April-June, mulberry is fertilized 1-2 times with nitrogen-containing dressings. In the second half of summer, compositions with a high content of potassium and phosphorus are preferred.

The near-stem circle is loosened from time to time to the depth of a spade bayonet, and weeds are also removed.

Mulberry pruning plays an important role. In the spring, frozen broken branches are removed. If the plants are planted for harvest, it is recommended to form them in the form of a bush or a low tree, then it will be easier to pick berries. Mulberry tolerates pruning very well and recovers quickly, so do not be afraid to remove the excess. From time to time, the crown is thinned out and rejuvenated, completely removing 1-2 old branches and up to a third of the remaining shoots. At autumn pruning remove dry, old, as well as diseased and broken branches. In the same period, too young, unripe shoots should be removed.

Mulberry resists plant diseases well. But when planted in a too damp place, it can suffer from powdery mildew, brown spotting, bacteriosis and small-leaved curl. Often a mulberry mushroom develops on it. The best salvation will be fungicide treatment ("Silit", blue vitriol, "Cytoflavin").

Periodically, the tree is attacked by insects (mulberry moth, spider mite, white American butterfly). Insecticides will help to cope with them, and treatments are carried out regularly for preventive purposes from early spring.

Benefits and contraindications

Fruits, leaves and young shoots of mulberries contain a large amount of biologically active substances:

  • vitamins (A, C, E, K and group B);
  • macronutrients (P, Mg, Ca, K, Na);
  • trace elements (Fe, Cu, Zn, Se, Mn);
  • antioxidants.

The use of fresh berries contributes to the normalization of all processes in the body. They have a beneficial effect on the circulatory system, promote the outflow of fluid, increase blood pressure and sugar. To keep the berries longer, they are dried or frozen, fermented for wine and ground with sugar. The impact of the fruits of the same tree on the gastrointestinal tract is twofold. Unripe berries strengthen the stool, while ripe and juicy ones contribute to its thinning. A decoction of berries soothes, helps to cope with stress and insomnia. It also restores the body after serious physical exertion.

Not only fruits are used, but also leaves and bark. They are harvested for future use, and then infusions and decoctions are made. They have a good expectorant effect. Unlike berries, leaves and twigs lower blood sugar and lower blood pressure.

As such, mulberry has no contraindications, but it can harm people prone to allergies. Excessive consumption of berries leads to diarrhea.

Decorative mulberry is not only useful, but also beautiful tree, which every day is becoming widely known among gardeners and gardeners. Decorative varieties of mulberry are grown not only for the use of its tasty and useful fruits, but also for decorating a personal plot.

It is quite possible to grow this tree on your own. If you carefully carry out all agrotechnical measures, you can get a regular and rich harvest.

Description

Ornamental mulberry is a deciduous tree, whose leaves can be up to 10-30 cm long. It has a tent-shaped or broadly ovoid crown shape. Young seedlings gain height very quickly, and then their growth stops. The lifespan of a tree is approximately 200 years. But in practice, there were centenarians who managed to bear fruit up to 300 and 500 years.

Mulberry decorative

Leaves are arranged alternately. They are simple, lobed, with jagged edges. One tree can have leaves of different shapes and sizes. The fruits are complex, consist of drupes. The color of the berries can be different: cream, white, red or black. They are very tasty and sweet, and they also have an incredible aroma.

The flowers are unisexual, can take on a white or white-green color. Inflorescences can be different, they are all in axillary spikes. Decorative mulberry blooms from April to May. But you can harvest in July. The flowers are pollinated by the wind. And the seeds are spread by birds that eat the berries.

To date, about 400 varieties of decorative mulberries are known. But the most popular are:

  1. weeping. The height of this mulberry reaches 5 m. It is characterized by branches hanging to the ground.

    weeping

  2. Pyramidal. These trees have a pyramidal crown. The height is 8 m.

    fruits of the Pyramidal

  3. spherical. This is an ornamental tree, in which the crown has the shape of a ball.

    spherical

  4. large-leaved. In this variety, the leaves can grow up to 22 cm long.

    large-leaved

  5. Dissected leaf. decorative culture, which has an uncharacteristic leaf shape. It will also be interesting to look at that. what they look like

    dissected leaf

  6. Golden. This plant got its name due to the fact that the color of its leaves and shoots is cast in gold. But how the planting and care of the golden thuja takes place, indicated in this

    Golden

How to plant

Growing decorative mulberry begins with the fact that it is to be planted. This must be done in April, while self-promotion has not yet begun. You can still plant seedlings in September-October, before the rainy season has begun. It is best to choose an autumn planting. When the plant can survive the winter, it will allow it to live for a long time.

To correctly determine the landing site, you need to find out what is preferable for the selected plant. Decorative mulberry belongs to light-loving crops and needs protection from cold winds.

She does not like dry and sandy soil, as well as saline and marshy land. Make sure that the occurrence of groundwater is not higher than 1.5 m. (In this case, you can use it). If you plant trees with male flowers, then one should not expect fruit from them. But it will be possible to find out the sex of your seedling only after 4-5 years. To avoid unpleasant surprises, you need to buy 3 summer plants that have already given birth.

On the video - how to plant a mulberry:

autumn planting

Before planting a seedling, it is necessary to prepare a foundation pit in advance. Its size depends on the root system of the plant. Please note that the seedling should be freely located in the recess. The average size the pit is 50x50x50 cm. But how crocuses are planted in the fall in the ground, it is indicated

If there is poor soil on the site, then the pit should be of greater depth, because 5-7 kg of rotted manure combined with 100 g of superphosphate will have to be laid on its bottom. After the fertilizers have been laid, crush them with a layer of earth. Do not allow the plant to come into contact with fertilizers.

After 14 days, you can plant a mulberry seedling. Lower the roots into the pit, straighten them and dig in. The trunk needs to be shaken slightly so that there are no voids in the ground. After planting, compact the ground in the trunk circle, irrigate with 2 buckets of water. As soon as the liquid is absorbed, then mulch the trunk circle.

If a very thin and fragile seedling is used for planting, then before planting it, a support must be driven into the bottom of the recess. Tie a plant to it after planting. When planting mulberry in a heavy clay soil, then first lay broken bricks at the bottom of the pit. They will act as a drain.

spring planting

The algorithm for planting mulberry seedlings in spring is no different from autumn. The only exception is that it is necessary to dig deepenings in the fall. Place a fertile substrate in them and leave until spring. In April, you can proceed to landing.

How to care

Treatment

To minimize the risk of developing diseases and pests, it is necessary to carry out preventive treatment of the tree and the near-trunk circle in time. For these purposes, insecticides and fungicides are used.

On the video - how to care for a tree:

Fertilization

From early spring to July, decorative mulberries need to be fed. In spring, the tree requires nitrogen preparations, but in summer - phosphates and potash top dressing.

Today, decorative mulberry can be grown on almost any personal plot. It is important at the same time to fully care for the plant and observe all the nuances when planting a seedling. If you approach this process responsibly, then after a while a real decoration will appear in the garden, which can still please you with delicious berries.

Mulberry (lat. Morus), or Mulberry tree, or mulberry- a deciduous tree that belongs to the genus of the Mulberry family and, according to data from various sources, has from 17 to 24 species. Representatives of this genus are distributed in the subtropical and temperate zones of North America, Africa and Asia. The leaves of white mulberry - one of the most popular species of the genus - are a source of food for silkworm larvae, the pupae of which are used to produce natural silk. In Russia, mulberry was already known under Ivan the Terrible - a specially created silk-weaving manufactory cultivated the most delicate fabric for the royal court, and Peter I, due to the high value of the tree, forbade its felling on the territory of the state. The elastic, dense and heavy wood of the mulberry tree is considered very valuable - in Central Asia it is used to make musical instruments, crafts, barrels.

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Planting and caring for mulberries (in a nutshell)

  • Landing: April or September-October.
  • Bloom: in the middle of May.
  • Lighting: bright sunlight.
  • The soil: any, except marshy and dry sandy.
  • Watering: in very dry weather from spring to July, then stop watering. If the spring will be with rains, watering is not needed.
  • Top dressing: they also apply only from spring to July: in spring - nitrogen, in summer - potash-phosphorus fertilizers.
  • Pruning: from April to early May - formative and sanitary, in October - sanitary.
  • Reproduction: green and lignified cuttings, layering, grafting, offspring, less often - seeds.
  • Pests: spider mites, American butterflies, mulberry moths and Comstock mealybugs.
  • Diseases: tinder fungus, powdery mildew, cylindrosporiosis, or brown leaf spot, bacteriosis and curly small-leaved.
  • Properties: is a medicinal plant.

Read more about growing mulberry below.

Mulberry tree - description

The mulberry tree in its youth grows very quickly, but gradually growth slows down and as a result the plant reaches a height of no more than 15 m. Mulberry leaves are simple, often lobed, serrated along the edges, alternate. Small mulberry flowers collected in ears can be male or female (dioecious), but on some (monoecious plants) both can open at the same time. The fleshy fruits of mulberry 2-3 cm long are false berries, drupes joined together different colors- from white to dark purple or almost black. Mulberry is completely unpretentious and can grow without any care. The tree begins to bear fruit in the fifth year of life. Mulberry lives up to 200 years, but there are mulberry trees that are already five centuries old.

In culture, mainly two types of mulberry are grown - white and black, and they are distinguished not by the color of the fruit, but by the color of the bark: white mulberry branches have a light shade of bark - yellowish, cream or white, and black mulberry branches have much darker bark. Today, mulberry is just as popular among gardeners as the time-tested apple, cherry, plum, and others. fruit trees, which have long settled in our gardens, so we offer you information on how to plant and care for mulberries, propagate mulberries by cuttings and in other ways, grow and care for mulberries in the Moscow region, protect mulberries from diseases and pests, and also tell you, how useful mulberry is and what varieties of it are most popular in amateur gardening.

Planting mulberries

When to plant mulberries

Mulberry cultivation begins with its planting, which is best done in April, before the start of sap flow, or in September-October, before the start of the rainy season. Experienced gardeners prefer autumn planting: if the plant survives the winter, then it will have a long life.

In order to correctly determine the place for mulberry, you need to know its preferences. She is photophilous and requires protection from the cold wind, does not like dry sandy soil, saline or marshy soil, and the occurrence of groundwater should not be higher than 1.5 m. Trees with male flowers do not bear fruit by themselves, but find out what sex your seedling, you will only be able to in 4-5 years. Therefore, in order to avoid unpleasant surprises, purchase three-year-old mulberry seedlings that have already given their first offspring.

Planting mulberries in autumn

The size of the planting pit, which must be prepared at least a couple of weeks before planting, depends on the root system of the seedling: it should be located freely in the pit. The average size of the pit is 50x50x50 cm. If the soil on the site is scarce, the depth of the pit should be greater, because 5-7 kg of rotted manure or compost mixed with 100 g of superphosphate, which is covered with a layer of soil, is placed on its bottom so that there is no contact between the fertilizer and seedling roots. Two weeks later, mulberries are planted: the roots of the seedling are lowered into the pit, straightened and added dropwise, slightly shaking the stem so that there are no voids in the soil. After planting, the surface in the trunk circle is compacted, watered with two buckets of water, and when it is absorbed, the trunk circle is mulched. If your seedling is too thin and fragile, drive a support into the bottom of the pit before planting it, to which, after planting, tie the tree, and if you plant mulberry in a heavy clay soil, first place at the bottom of the pit broken brick as a drainage layer.

How to plant mulberries in spring

Spring planting of mulberries is no different from autumn, except that pits are dug since autumn, a fertile mixture is laid in them and left until spring, and planting is completed in April.

How to grow mulberries

Growing and caring for mulberry requires the usual procedures for a gardener - watering, loosening the soil in the trunk circle, removing weeds, feeding, pruning and protecting against diseases and pests.

Mulberry processing

In order to minimize the risk of mulberry disease or pest infestation, preventive treatments tree and trunk circle with fungicides and insecticides. The best time for such measures - the beginning of April, when the buds are still sleeping, and October, when the plant has already stopped growing. As a remedy for diseases and pests, you can use a three percent solution of Bordeaux liquid or Nitrafen. The best drug for spring processing is a seven percent urea solution, which will not only destroy pathogenic microelements and insect larvae that have overwintered in the bark of the tree and in the soil under it, but also feed the plant with nitrogen fertilizer, which is so necessary for mulberry at this time of the year.

Watering mulberry

To increase the frost resistance of mulberry, it is watered from spring to July, but only in very dry weather, and then watering is stopped. If the spring is rainy, the mulberry can not be watered at all.

Mulberry top dressing

In the same time period - from early spring to July - the mulberry is fed. In spring, the nitrogen component should prevail in top dressing, and in summer - phosphates and potash fertilizers.

Mulberry in the Moscow region and in Moscow

Despite the fact that the climate near Moscow is not very suitable for the cultivation of southern plants, grapes and even apricots have long been successfully grown in the Moscow region, so mulberry in the middle lane is no longer a curiosity, because under snow it can withstand frosts down to -30 ºC. A tree can freeze only in a snowless winter at a temperature of -7-10 ºC. That is why, when planting mulberries in this area, the root neck needs to be buried a little in the ground.

Since the length of daylight hours in the Moscow region does not meet the requirements of culture, the Moscow Region mulberry has two growing seasons per year - spring and autumn. Its amazing ability to form a cork tissue between the mature part of the shoot and its unripened part allows the tree to shed unviable shoot segments in the fall and overwinter normally. Therefore, in autumn in Moscow and the Moscow region, one can observe not only the fall of mulberry leaves, but also the fall of shoots. In all other respects, the cultivation of mulberry in the Moscow region is no different from its cultivation in more southern regions.

Mulberry in Siberia

In order to grow mulberry in Siberia, it is necessary to increase its winter hardiness. This is not an easy task, but perseverance and purposefulness overcomes any obstacles. For those who are not afraid of difficulties, the articles of experienced gardeners V. Shalamov and G. Kazanin will help in this matter.

Mulberry pruning

When to prune mulberries

Like any other plant, it is better to trim the mulberry during a period of partial or complete dormancy. The least painful plant tolerates pruning in the spring, before the start of sap flow - it is from the end of April to the beginning of May, until the buds on the trees have blossomed, that they carry out the forming and rejuvenating pruning of the mulberry. Sanitary pruning is best done in the fall, after leaf fall, at an air temperature of at least -10 ºC.

How to cut mulberry

Each type of mulberry requires a different approach to pruning. Pruning weeping mulberry consists mainly in thinning the crown and shortening the shoots and branches, and you don’t have to worry at all that the pruning turned out to be too strong - this type of mulberry recovers very quickly.

Pruning stamped mulberry is aimed at crown formation - on long barrel without branches form a thick spherical hat or a falling cascade of branches.

The most difficult thing is to form a decorative mulberry and regularly maintain it in the future. original form plants.

Mulberry pruning in spring

At young tree the trunk at a height of up to 1.5 m is cleared of branches so that in adulthood the branches do not fall to the ground. You can keep the center guide and let it grow to 5-6m by removing competing shoots. Or you can let the crown develop naturally. If you want to grow a low tree for your own convenience, cut the apical shoot at a height of 135-170 cm and form a skeleton, like a dwarf apple tree, from 8-10 branches, then maintain the shape of the crown by plucking and cutting out unnecessary shoots. Hanging branches should not be cut, just prop them up.

Mulberry pruning in autumn

After leaf fall, it is time to prepare the mulberry for winter, and one of the necessary procedures is sanitary pruning, during which all diseased, broken, dried, frostbite, shoots and branches that are too thin and growing inside the crown are removed. And most likely, you will not have to carry out sanitary pruning every year.

Mulberry propagation

How to propagate mulberry

Mulberry propagation occurs by seeds and vegetatively - green and lignified cuttings, grafting, layering and offspring.

Seed propagation of mulberry

Mulberry seeds of the current year's crop in the middle or end of October are cleaned of pulp and, after standing for 1-2 hours in a growth stimulator solution - Epin or Zircon, sown in the ground. If you decide to postpone sowing to early spring, you will have to pre-stratify the seeds for 1-2 months. You can replace stratification with pre-sowing preparation - in the spring, before sowing, hold the seeds for a day in cold water, and then a day in water with a temperature of 50-53 ºC.

On an unshaded sunny bed, make grooves and spill them with water, adding fertilizer for fruit and berry crops to it. Sow small mulberry seeds as infrequently as you can, to a depth of 3-5 cm, and after planting the seeds in the ground, water abundantly and mulch the bed. When sown in autumn, the layer of mulch should be thicker than in spring so that the seeds do not die in winter. Seedling care consists of regular watering, fertilizing and weeding the beds. By autumn, the seedlings will be large and developed enough to be planted at a distance of 3 to 5 m, depending on the variety of mulberry. After 5-6 years, the mulberry seed will begin to bear fruit. The disadvantage of seed propagation is that seedlings may not or may not fully inherit traits. mother plant, so they are most often used as rootstocks for budding.

Reproduction of mulberry offspring

In case of freezing of mulberry in cold winter, a well-developed root offspring of a plant can replace a dead plant, on which a crown can be formed over time. Excess shoots are cut out or, having dug up with roots and shortened the shoot by one third, they are used as seedlings. The offspring retain the characteristics of the mother plant completely.

Propagation of mulberry cuttings

Own-rooted mulberries can be propagated by green cuttings, but propagation in this way is possible only with the help of an installation that forms a fine water mist in the greenhouse. In June or July, when intensive growth begins at the mulberry, you need to cut cuttings 15-20 cm long with two or three buds from shoots and plant them in a greenhouse at an angle of 45 º, deepening the lower cut into loose soil by 3 cm. Leave on the handle 1-2 top sheets, cutting the leaf plate in half, and create an environment in the greenhouse high humidity. By autumn, the cuttings will already start up new shoots and acquire a strong root system, but it will be possible to plant them in the ground only next spring.

In addition to green cuttings, semi-lignified cuttings are also used for rooting, cutting them off at the same time. The order of growing mulberries from woody cuttings is exactly the same as from green cuttings, the only difference is that they take root more slowly. Mulberry from cuttings also completely inherits the characteristics of the mother plant.

Mulberry grafting

Mulberry is grafted in all possible ways, but the simplest and most successful is copulation - grafting on a cut with a cutting. With simple copulation, a rootstock and a scion of the same thickness are spliced: on a rootstock and a scion cutting, oblique cuts are made between two buds with a length equal to four diameters of the spliced ​​plants (for example, six-centimeter-long cuts with a diameter of the scion cutting and stock of 1.5 cm). The sections are aligned and the junction is tied with budding tape or some other elastic material.

Improved copulation with a tongue is performed as follows: sections of the scion cutting and rootstock, which are done as described above, are supplemented with notches-tongues. Step back from the end of the cut one third and make a cut to the middle of the cut on the rootstock down, and on the scion up. Attach the cuts and bring the tongues in so that a closer alignment is obtained, then wrap the splice with tape.

Mulberry diseases

Mulberry is generally quite resistant to various ailments, but sometimes it also gets sick. Most often, gardeners have to deal with diseases such as powdery mildew, cylindrosporiosis, or brown leaf spot, bacteriosis and curly small-leaved. Damages mulberry and tinder fungus.

powdery mildew caused by a fungus and manifests itself as a whitish coating on the leaves and shoots of mulberries. The disease progresses in dry weather, the disease develops especially rapidly in a thickened crown. When the first signs of the disease occur, the mulberry is treated with Fundazol, Bordeaux liquid or a suspension of colloidal sulfur. As a preventive measure, collection and burning of fallen leaves in autumn can be considered.

Cylindrosporiosis, or brown leaf spot- also a fungal disease, the symptoms of which are purple-red spots with an annular border that appear on the leaves. With the development of the disease, the leaf tissue inside the spot spills out, the leaves turn yellow and fall off. When the first signs of the disease appear, and then two weeks later, the plant is sprayed with a 1% solution of Silit, spending up to 3 liters of solution per tree.

bacteriosis affects mostly young leaves and shoots of mulberries, disfiguring them with spots of irregular outlines, which turn black with the development of the disease. Mulberry leaves curl and fall, shoots are deformed and covered with gum-like clots. Against bacteriosis, mulberry treatment with Fitoflavin or Gamair is used, but, unfortunately, this does not always help, so the best way to protect the plant from bacteriosis is preventive measures.

Curly small-leaved- a viral infection transmitted by insects. The disease manifests itself by wrinkling of the leaf plate between the veins, after which granular knotting appears on them. As a result, the leaves curl up, shrink, the shoots become rough and brittle, although their number increases abnormally. Unfortunately, this disease is incurable, but insect vector control is recommended as a preventive measure. viral infections, which primarily include sucking pests - aphids, thrips, mites and the like.

Not too often, but from time to time, insect pests affect mulberry trees, which primarily include spider mites, American butterflies, mulberry moths and Comstock worms.

white american butterfly- the most dangerous of pests. Its greenish-brown caterpillars with black warts and yellow-orange stripes on the sides can eat all the leaves on the tree. Spider nests must be cut and burned, trapping belts should be installed on tree trunks, and the mulberry crown should be treated with Chlorophos.

mulberry moth, rather, its caterpillars also feed on mulberry leaves. To protect the tree from them, it is sprayed with Chlorophos in the spring, at the moment of swelling of the buds - it is at this time that moth caterpillars appear.

spider mites, settling on mulberry, they develop the thinnest web, which is a sign of the presence of these smallest, invisible to the eye, but very dangerous pests. Ticks feed on the cell sap of mulberry leaves, making punctures in them, from which the leaves turn brown and fall off after a while. But worst of all, spider mites carry incurable viral diseases. Against the tick, which is an arachnid insect, insecticides are not effective - it is destroyed by acaricidal preparations - Kleschevit, Aktellik and the like.

Comstock mealybug- also a sucking insect that settles in the bark of a tree, on its leaves and branches and feeds on their juice, weakening the plant. As a result of its vital activity, wounds and tumors are formed on the mulberry, the branches are deformed and dry, and the leaves turn yellow and fall off. Destroy worms by treating damaged plants with pesticides.

The classification of mulberry is very confusing - according to various sources, the genus has from 17 to 200 species. This is due to the fact that there are many natural hybrids of the plant, isolated by some scientists into independent species. In culture, three types of mulberry are most often grown, with which we will introduce you.

Red mulberry (Morus rubra)

originally from North America. It is hardy, drought-resistant, cold-resistant and undemanding to growing conditions. In height, plants of this species reach 10-20 m, their crown is in the form of a tent, and the bark is brown-brown. Leaves up to 12 cm long, long-walled, rounded or ovate, rough on the upper side of the plate and felted on the bottom. On young shoots the leaves are deeply lobed. The fruits of red mulberry are juicy, up to 3 cm long, sweet and sour in taste, dark red, almost black in color - very similar to blackberries. The fruits ripen at the end of July. Red mulberry is usually represented by dioecious plants that require a pair of the opposite sex for fruiting, although monoecious specimens are sometimes found. Red mulberry has a decorative form - felt, with leaves, the underside of which is covered with thick white pubescence.

Black mulberry (Morus nigra)

originally from Iran and Afghanistan. It is a tree up to 15 m high with a spreading crown, large wide-ovate asymmetrical leaves up to 20 cm long and up to 15 cm wide, the upper side of which is rough and the lower side is felt. Black, sweetish-sour glossy fruits reach a length of 3 cm. This species is drought-resistant, but more thermophilic than red mulberry and white mulberry. Based on the basic view, new forms are derived:

  • Remontantnaya- a dwarf compact form of mulberry that can be grown in a container;
  • Shelley No. 150- large-fruited fruitful mulberry, whose juicy and sweet berries reach a length of 5.5 cm, and very large, up to half a meter long leaves are used for decorative purposes.

Popular varieties of black mulberry are Royal, Black Prince, Black Pearl, Plodovaya-4 and Nadezhda.

White mulberry (Morus alba)

native to the deciduous forests of China. It is a tree up to 20 m high with brown fissured bark and a dense spherical crown. The color of the bark of young branches is from gray-green to reddish-brown. Leaves are distinguished by a variety of configurations: on one tree they can be not only different size, but also in different shapes. The leaves are dark green in summer and turn straw yellow in autumn. Sweet fruits of various colors resemble blackberries or raspberries in shape. This species is hardy in urban conditions, frost-resistant and unpretentious. There are many decorative forms of white mulberry:

  • weeping mulberry- a tree up to 5 m high with drooping thin branches;
  • pyramidal- these trees can reach a height of 8 m. They have a narrow pyramidal crown and lobed leaves;
  • spherical- a tree with a dense spherical crown;
  • spoon-shaped- a multi-stemmed plant up to 5 m high with early ripening fruits and folded concave leaves;
  • large-leaved- the leaves of trees of this form can reach a length of 22 cm;
  • ordinary narrow-leaved- bushy form of mulberry with small, very rough notched leaves;
  • dissected leafgraceful plant, the leaves of which are divided into regular narrow lobes, and the apical and two lateral lobes are strongly elongated;
  • golden- in plants of this form, the leaves and young shoots are golden yellow:
  • Tatar- slow-growing undersized mulberry with increased winter hardiness and multi-lobed small leaves.

For those who are more interested in decorative qualities, and the harvest of fruits, we offer highly productive varieties of white mulberry:

  • white honey- tall tree with white sweet fruits up to 3 cm long;
  • Darkie- fruitful frost-resistant variety with sweet and sour black fruits up to 3.5 cm long;
  • white tenderness- high-yielding variety with white tender seedlings up to 5 cm long;
  • Luganochka- highly productive variety with creamy sweet fruits up to 5.5 cm long;
  • Black Baroness- early frost-resistant variety with fragrant sweet fruits up to 3.5 cm long;
  • Staromoskovskaya- frost-resistant mulberry with spherical shape crowns and almost black sweet berries up to 3 cm long;
  • Ukrainian-6- A fruitful early variety with black fruits up to 4 or more centimeters long.

In addition to those described, white mulberry varieties Diana, White tenderness, Snow White and Masha are in demand in horticulture.

Large varieties of mulberry

Those who strive for perfection will certainly be interested in the mulberry varieties with the largest seedlings - White Tenderness, Shelley No. 150, Black Pearl and Black Prince.

Mulberry varieties for the Moscow region

It is pointless to grow black mulberry in the middle lane, but among the varieties of white mulberry there are those that have been successfully cultivated for a long time in the conditions of the middle lane. Among them are Vladimirskaya, Royal, White Honey and Staromoskovskaya.

Mulberry properties - benefits and harms

Useful properties of mulberry

The medicinal properties of mulberry are due to the substances that make up its composition - vitamins A, K, E and C, trace elements selenium, iron, manganese, zinc and copper, macronutrients phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, potassium and sodium. Mature mulberry fruits contain riboflavin, pantothenic and folic acid, tocopherol, pyridoxine and choline.

In folk medicine, mulberries are used to treat many diseases: mature berries, which have a laxative effect on the body, treat constipation, and green ones, on the contrary, are used for diarrhea and heartburn. Mulberry juice diluted with boiled water is used as a gargle for sore throats. And the infusion of bark and berries is effective for acute respiratory infections, bronchitis, and bronchial asthma.

The diuretic property of a decoction of the roots and bark of mulberry is used for hypertension, and an infusion of the leaves is used as an antipyretic for fever. People with heart disease and myocardial dystrophy are recommended to use mulberries in large quantities- 300 g 4 times a day for a month.

With stress and insomnia, the use of a decoction of dried mulberries is indicated, since they contain a high content of B vitamins that affect protein and carbohydrate metabolism and support the functioning of the nervous system.

It is recommended to use mulberries during physical overload and during the recovery period after suffering surgical intervention, since magnesium, potassium and quercetin, which are part of its berries, have a beneficial effect on blood formation.

In Vietnam, Fomidol is produced from mulberry leaves, which is used to treat rheumatism and skin diseases.

Mulberry bark powder, mixed with oil, promotes rapid healing of bruises, cuts, ulcers and wounds, and ringworm lubricated several times a day with fresh mulberry juice will disappear without a trace. But the main benefit of mulberry is that it occupies one of the first places in terms of potassium content, therefore it is used for hypokalemia - a lack of this essential element in the body.

Mulberry - contraindications

The harm of mulberry can manifest itself in case of its individual intolerance. Sometimes digestive disorders occur due to overeating or eating unripe mulberries. In addition, you should know that berries and mulberry juice do not mix well with other fruits and juices, causing fermentation in the intestines, so they, like melon, should be consumed separately - two hours before or two hours after another meal.

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