How To DO Organic Mulberry Farming In India

In persian, black mulberry is called Shahtoot - the king's berry - which means this delicious fruit rules

Black mulberry (Morus nigra) is a fruit not readily available at the greengrocer or supermarket. You  may find these delicious berries occasionally at a farmers' market but, to enjoy the fruit and the other benefits of this easy-to-grow tree, grow your own.

Perhaps more than any other fruit tree, mulberries are a wonderful addition to a family garden. They are reasonably fast growing, easy for kids to climb, offer summer shade, have few pests and are easy to manage. In spring or early summer, when they are full of berries, climbing the tree has even more to offer with the reward of a feed.

"Mulberries are also long lived. One of the world's oldest black mulberry trees, at Syon Park in the UK, is thought to date from 1548."

Mulberries are also the preferred food for silkworms, a "pet" that many kids keep at some stage in their lives. The best type of mulberry for silk production is the white mulberry (M. alba); however, the caterpillars will feed on any mulberry leaves.

Possibly the only person who may not be a fan of a backyard mulberry is Mum (or who ever does the laundry). as washing on the line may cop the odd purple stain when visiting birds feast in the tree and drop their greeting cards as they leave. Fallen black mulberries are also likely to stain hard surfaces such as paving and garden furniture, so position the tree with care.

Types Of  Mulberry Frits

If the thought of black mulberry stains on your washing and paving is scary, plant 'White Shahtoot' (M. macroura), which has long and sweet creamy white fruit that doesn't stain. 'White Shahtoot' makes a good shade tree for the backyard and is a smart choice to screen the chook shed. The chooks will appreciate the fallen fruit and relish the tree's cool shade in summer.

There is also a red mulberry (M. rubra), native to the United States. Its fruit is edible but with more of a raspberry taste and the leaves are also popular with silkworms. Australia's so-called native mulberry is not a true mulberry but a rainforest tree called Pipturus argenteus. Native to the subtropical east coast of Australia, it has edible white mulberry-like fruit.

Not all mulberries form fruit. Plants sold as weeping standards are often male forms of the white mulberry (M.alba) that flower but do not fruit, which makes them ideal as a small ornamental but not so good if you enjoy berries.

Another option for smaller spaces is the dwarf black mulberry, which also suits a container. It grows to 5m high but can be kept pruned to around 2m.

 

Organic Mulberry Farming

Whichever type of mulberry you choose, plants are available bare rooted in winter or as potted plants during the rest of the year. They can be planted at any time but establish best when planted in winter or spring. They are also easy to grow from hardwood cuttings, which can be taken from the tree in winter while it is dormant. 

It's also worth trying tip cuttings in summer when the tree is in full growth. Select cuttings from trees that produce large, sweet fruit. Mulberries can also be grafted. Black mulberry trees are native to the Middle East but grow in all parts of Australia. In the tropics they tend to grow as bushes rather than trees. 

Although generally considered low care, mulberries perform better with extra care and attention, particularly after planting. They tolerate wet soils and crop best with regular moisture. Established trees are drought hardy but may fail to crop well if allowed to get too dry in late winter and spring when flowers and fruit form. Fruit may fail to form or be dry rather than plump and juicy. 

To keep trees growing well, give them an annual dose of fertiliser in spring as the leaves return. A slow-release organic fertiliser for fruiting and flowering (such as a citrus food)is ideal. Fruiting mulberries such as black mulberries do not need crosspollination for fruit production and have low chill requirements. 

If the tree gets too high or wide, it can be cut back. Mulberries can be pruned hard in autumn or winter without affecting their cropping with a follow-up trim in summer to remove twiggy or wayward growth. 

Mulberries have few pest or disease problems; however, birds and fruit bats can make a big dent in the crop. Most trees are too large to net, so regularly harvesting the ripening fruit is the best way to beat the predators. Fruit will ripen off the tree but is sweetest when harvested as ripe as possible. 

HARVESTING, STORING AND PRESERVING 

Black mulberries ripen from green to dark red to black. When fully ripe they are juicy and sweet. As well as tasting great, they're a good source of dietary fibre and potassium and provide a decent dose of vitamin C. No matter how carefully you harvest. it is hard not to end up with stained hands when mulberry picking. Rubbing the stains with a green mulberry is a quick and easy way to remove the stain from skin. 

Mulberries are eaten fresh but can also be cooked in pies or crumbles (add apple if you've only a small amount of berries). They can also be used to make jam but, as the berries are not high in pectin, add apple and lemon juice to improve set. Remove the small green stalks before cooking. There is no easy way to do this — the best approach is to sit down with a heap of fruit and a pair of small, sharp scissors. 

To freeze mulberries as loose berries, spread fruit on trays and place them in the freezer until frozen. Transfer the berries to plastic bags or containers to keep them loose but forzen until you're in need of a mulberry hit.

Scientific Details Of Mulberry

• Common names: Mulberry, black mulberry 
• Botanical name: Morns nigra 
• Family: Moraceae
• Aspect & soil: Sun to part shade; moist soil 
• Best climate: All areas 
• Habit: Deciduous tree 3m-10m+ tall 
• Propagation: Cutting 
• Difficulty: Easy