White mulberry, or mulberry, is an interesting plant that will decorate your garden. The noble tree, reaching a height of 20 m, not only looks luxurious, but also abundantly bears fruit in white, sweet, healthy berries. The plant got its name thanks to the succulent leaves that the silkworm caterpillar loves to feast on.
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Description of variety and variety
White mulberry is a medium-sized tree with brown bark and a ragged, spherical crown. Foliage abundantly covers branches. This culture is especially beautiful during the flowering and fruiting period. This tree withstands urban conditions and, with proper preparation, tolerates winter frosts well. Appearance, height, crown shape, leaf structure - these characteristics depend on which variety the plant belongs to.
| Title | Features |
|---|---|
| Weeping | Tree, height 5 m, branches and leaves are thin. |
| Pyramidal | 8-meter trees with a crown in the shape of a pyramid. |
| Spherical | Beautiful, tall trees with a crown shaped like a ball. |
| Golden | The stems and foliage are yellowish in color. |
| Tatar | A short plant with small leaves, characterized by excellent frost resistance. |
| Spoon-shaped | The tree grows to 5 meters, the leaves are concave inward, the fruits ripen early. |
| Common | Tall bush with rough, narrow leaves. |
Mulberry berries are very tasty and sweet, but absolutely non-transportable. It’s best to just eat them fresh. But you don’t eat much - the taste of berries is sweet-sweet, cloying. Harvest can be used to prepare various culinary delights.From mulberry, unsurpassed pastilles, preserves, compotes are obtained. The fruits can be dried, chopped and added to flour, from which later to make the dough for baking various sweets.
In China, from ancient times, mulberry has been grown as a feed crop. Only in the second half of the 20th century, breeders managed to breed several varieties with tasty, large fruits.
Where does white mulberry grow and what does it look like
White mulberry is rather an exotic plant. It is quite rare. Culture is cultivated in gourmet areas. And it's not that she is whimsical and demanding. Simply, not every region has the conditions necessary for its normal development. White mulberry attracts the attention of gardeners from central Russia and the Moscow region.
Important nuances of growing a plant
Mulberry is a sun-loving, drought-tolerant plant. She does not feel well in cold, windy areas, does not tolerate drafts and high humidity. An adult tree can withstand short frosts up to -30 degrees, but if the winter is harsh, the mulberry can completely freeze out and then recover.
During the ripening period, the crop should be protected with a net, because birds like to eat sweet berries.
Outdoor landing
The ideal land for mulberries is loam, sandstone, chernozem. You can not plant a tree in a swampy, salted or dry ground - it will die.
Plant planting scheme in open ground:
- Dig a hole 0.5x0.5x0.5 m in size. If the soil is poor, dig a pit deeper, put fertilizers on the bottom.
- Plant a young tree half a month after digging a hole.
- Gently lower the plant roots down, straighten the root system, shake the trunk.
- Thoroughly tighten the trunk circle, water the plant abundantly and mulch the soil.
Spring and autumn planting are not much different. If you are going to plant a tree in spring, you can dig a hole and fill it with fertilizer in late autumn.
How to care for white mulberry
In order for the plant to feel comfortable on the garden site, it is necessary to provide him with competent care. You won’t have to do anything particularly difficult.
- Between spring and mid-summer, trees are abundant and often watered. Then watering stops completely. Thus, the culture is tempered and becomes more resistant to the negative effects of external factors.
- In addition, you need to feed the mulberry. The tree responds well to mineral fertilizers (phosphorus, potassium, nitrogen).
- The plant tolerates pruning perfectly, after thinning it quickly recovers.
Reproduction of a white mulberry
White mulberry honey reproduces in many ways. Most often, seeds are used for this purpose. In October, they are soaked in a solution of "Zircon" or "Epina" and left for a couple of hours. Seeds can be sown in fertile, pre-prepared soil in boxes. In addition, mulberry can be propagated by inoculation, green stalks, offspring.
Pest and Disease Control
White mulberry like pests. She often gets sick, especially if she grows on unsuitable soil.
The most common troubles this tree encounters:
- powdery mildew;
- fungus fungus;
- brown spotting;
- bacteriosis;
- fine-grained curliness.
Do not do without the use of special chemicals. The trees themselves and the area around them are sprayed with the means intended for this, which you can buy in a specialized store.
The procedure should be performed at least 2 times a year. In spring - before fruiting, in autumn - after harvesting.
Useful properties of white mulberry leaves
Mulberry tree is a truly unique plant. Useful properties are endowed not only with fruits, but also with leaves. From the latter, you can prepare decoctions, infusions, teas, and steam them for a bath.
- A decoction of mulberry leaves can be used as an expectorant, diuretic, disinfectant.
- To get rid of morning edema, drink a glass of healing liquid before bedtime.
- If there are wounds on the body, rinse them with concentrated infusion prepared on the basis of mulberry leaves, and they will quickly heal without scarring.
- But ointments made from the bark of a plant can be used to treat psoriasis, eczema, and accelerate the healing of purulent wounds.
So, mulberry is not only a beautiful tree with very tasty fruits, but also a universal doctor. Make a little effort and this green pet will thank you with its beautiful appearance and abundant harvest.
