Effective mulberry planting methods
Content
When to plant
Like most fruit trees, mulberries can be planted in spring or fall. Spring planting is preferable, as the plant has more time to take root and take root in a new place before the onset of winter. The autumn planting of mulberries does not give such an opportunity, and unstable seedlings may die. This problem is especially relevant when growing crops in the middle lane, as well as in the central one, including in the Moscow region, where winters are quite harsh.
Before planting a tree, you should decide on the site and prepare the planting soil. An adult mulberry has a high height and a very voluminous crown, therefore, it is necessary to allocate a large and sunny area in the garden for it.
As a rule, gardeners pay great attention to the formation of the crown, and strive to ensure that the tree does not exceed a height of 5 m.But even if you plan to cut the crown, the area should still be of such a size that there is no no trees or other plants. It should also be borne in mind that the culture does not like swampy soil and stagnant water, so it is better to plant it on a small slope or hill.
Mulberry trees are not demanding on the composition of the soil. It is good if the soil in your area is sandy loam or loamy - it is most suitable for mulberries. Not a problem if it is slightly salted. The main thing that they need is drainage, since prolonged stagnation of water for a plant is destructive.
Planting holes for seedlings are prepared in advance so that the soil will stand, and the fertilizers come into contact with the ground. Pits are dug 60-70 cm wide and at least half a meter deep. It is important that the root fits freely in the hole. Part of the soil from the pit is mixed with fertilizers (humus or compost 0.5 buckets, superphosphate 70-100 g), and it is poured back. A bucket of water is poured into the pit (you can water it at the end of planting), then the tree is placed vertically, the roots are straightened, and carefully covered with the remaining earth. Further, the soil around the trunk is tamped, moistened and covered with mulch. After planting, the tree is tied to a support so that the newly planted trunk does not break.
Video "How to plant mulberries correctly"
From the video presented, you will learn how to plant a mulberry correctly.
Planting in autumn
It is not advisable to plant young trees in the autumn, but it is quite acceptable for the southern regions. If autumn is chosen for planting, then you need to have time to plant a tree no later than 1-1.5 months before the onset of frost. For some regions, this is September, in others, constant cold comes later, and there you can plant seedlings in October. It is very important that at the time of soil freezing, the plant takes root.
When planting in autumn, it is imperative to mulch the near-stem circles with organic matter, preferably with compost or humus - these materials release heat during decomposition and can prevent the root system from freezing.You should also protect the trunks from rodents with solid material (roofing material, mesh), since pests first of all feast on young trees.
Autumn is suitable for planting ornamental mulberry varieties, as well as transplanting seedlings. For example, if during the summer you grew layers, or you want to plant root shoots, then autumn is the most favorable time for this. Just remember that planting should be done no later than a month before frost.
Planting in spring
In the spring, you can carry out any activities for planting or replanting seedlings. In early spring (March - early April), this should not be done, since the soil has not yet warmed up enough, and the roots of the mulberry, especially the young, are very sensitive to cold. It is best to plant in mid or late April, but later. The landing technology is the same in all cases. Also, in spring and early summer, cultivars are grafted onto rootstocks.
The best varieties for planting
Although the mulberry is a very winter-hardy tree, one should not forget that this is a southern plant, and if its ground part is able to withstand frosts down to -30 ° C, then the root system may die already when the soil freezes down to -10 ° C. Of course, snow, as well as mulch around the trunk, saves the tree from freezing, but this problem can also be solved by choosing a suitable winter-hardy variety.
Today there are up to 400 varieties of mulberry, which include decorative, forage and fruit forms. Decorative mulberry, planting and caring for which practically does not differ from fruit varieties, has an original crown, color and size of leaves, height and shape of shoots. The most common varieties for landscape decoration are: Weeping ornamental, Stambovaya weeping, Holly-leaved, Black Pendula, White mulberry (Morus alba).
White mulberry has many decorative forms that have an unusual crown, and some of them bear fruit. It is these compact trees that are most often found in city parks, in official buildings, as well as in the courtyards of private gardens.
White mulberry comes from eastern China. There, this tree is planted as a fodder crop - silkworm feeds on its leaves, and berries are of secondary importance.
It is customary for us to plant mulberries exclusively for obtaining sweet fruits, but, unfortunately, not all trees can survive in the temperate climate of the middle zone, and in the Moscow region. Therefore, a list of the most resistant and productive varieties for such an area is proposed:
- Mulberry "Royal". Compact tree of medium height, undemanding to the soil. Compound fruits are black, shiny, large (3-4 cm), aromatic, very sweet in taste. The variety has advantages in all characteristics: fast growth and early fruiting, high yield, good immunity to frost and disease, tasty and transportable fruits, use of the bark for medicinal purposes.
- "Staromoskovskaya". Self-fertile variety resistant to frost. The trees are compact, of medium height (up to 10 m), the crown is spherical, dense, easy to form - you can give the shape of a bush or form decorative weeping shoots. The berries are dark purple, almost black, 2-3 cm long, with a pleasant sweet and sour taste.
- "White honey". High-yielding, very frost-resistant variety. The tree is compact, with a dense pyramidal crown, undemanding to soil and maintenance. The fruit is white, 2-3 cm long, with a very sweet honey taste and delicate texture. The transportability of the berries is low, the shelf life is no more than 6 hours.
- "Vladimirskaya". Frost-resistant self-pollinating variety. The tree is not tall (about 6 m), with a wide, dense crown. The fruit is medium in size (2-3 cm), round, dark, purple in color, very sweet on the palate. The transportability of the berries is average.
- "Black Prince". Unpretentious to conditions, frost-resistant variety with very large (5 cm) berries.The yield is high, the safety and transportability of the berries is good. The fruit is long, glossy, black in color, sweet dessert taste, good for making wine.
- Shelley mulberry. Another large-fruited early ripening variety (mid-June). The tree is compact, decorative, with large, unusual-shaped leaves. Compound fruits are large (up to 5.5 cm), long, matte, intense black color. Sweet dessert taste, light honey aroma.
- "Darkie". A frost-resistant self-pollinating hybrid bred by pollination of a white mulberry. The tree is large, with a spreading, dense crown. Compound fruits are large (up to 5 cm), cylindrical, black, sweet and sour taste. The transportability of the berries is good, the storage capacity is up to 18 hours.
- "White tenderness". Frost-resistant, plentifully fruiting, early variety. Productivity is high, achieved due to a long (2 months) fruiting period: from early June to August. Compound fruits are delicate white, medium-sized, elongated. The taste is very sweet, but can become neutral in high humidity and during periods of rainy. The transportability of the berries is average.
In principle, if you provide good care for mulberry, then any variety can be grown in our latitudes. In many cases, the size of berries and their taste will differ from varietal specimens, but mulberry is such a productive tree that this deficiency will be more than compensated for by the amount of harvest. So, be sure to plant mulberries in your garden and enjoy the flavor!
Video "Growing and caring for white mulberry"
From the video you will learn how to properly plant, grow and care for white mulberry.