Many people think that mulberry is a thermophilic plant that is unable to endure harsh winters. However, this is completely wrong. In the past few years, thanks to the efforts of gardeners, it has been successfully grown in the north. This culture is able to adapt to various climatic conditions.
A plant in Siberia does not grow above 6 meters. In cold winters, the branches may freeze slightly, but the mulberry is quickly restored.
Plant description
Mulberry is also called a mulberry or mulberry tree. It blooms a little later than other crops, but its fruits ripen quite early. The problem of growing mulberries in Siberia and caring for it can become spring frosts. Part of the leaves, when the temperature drops to -1 degree, blackens and falls.
At the same time, the tree itself almost never dies, and young shoots grow quite quickly. However, there may be no fruit.
Mulberry leaves are simple, slightly serrated at the edges. Small flowers collected in ears can be male and female. Fruits are approximately 1 cm in size, but may be larger or smaller.
Mulberry is absolutely unpretentious. Fruiting occurs on the 5th year of life. Today it is very popular and it is widely grown in gardens.
Growing Features
A photo of mulberry in Siberia allows us to make sure that this tree coexists perfectly in the northern regions. Despite the fact that it is a thermophilic plant, it is well established in colder regions. Usually, special freeze-resistant hybrid varieties are used for this.
It is better to plant a plant in a place sheltered from the wind, which is well lit by sunlight. Regarding the cultivation of mulberries in Siberia, the reviews are most positive, despite the fact that the berry is slightly less than in the southern regions.
In order for acclimatization of seedlings to be successful, it is best to purchase them in local nurseries that specialize in varieties suitable for the climate of a particular region. They can withstand temperatures up to 30 degrees. If it is colder in winter, then young shoots may freeze slightly.
In Siberia, mulberry rather resembles a shrub than a tree. However, this does not stop her from bearing fruit at all.
It must be remembered that the mulberry tree can be in a dormant state for a long time, so do not rush to prune slightly dried branches in the spring. They can still turn green with the arrival of heat.
What varieties to choose
For the successful cultivation of mulberries in Siberia, it is imperative to select the most suitable varieties. For a cold region, these are best suited:
- "Vladimir";
- “Royal”;
- "White honey";
- "Old Moscow";
- "black Prince";
- "Black baroness."
Variety "Vladimir" differs in that its fruits have a rich red hue. The tree under natural conditions reaches a height of 6 m. If you cut the main branches closer to the ground, the plant will take the form of a bush. If you cut at a height of 1.5 meters, the mulberry will become in shape similar to a weeping willow. The variety is cold-resistant and does not require pollination.
Royal mulberry is a tree of medium height. Its fruits are very tasty and sweet, rather large, since their length is 3 cm. The advantage of this variety is frost resistance and high productivity. For the winter it does not need to be covered. The variety is resistant to pests and diseases. The fruits and bark of this plant are widely used in folk medicine. Partial self-pollination is considered the only drawback, therefore pollinators of a different grade are required.
Mulberry "white honey" is resistant to severe frosts. This is a high-yielding variety with very tasty fruits. White mulberry in Siberia takes root best, as it tolerates cold well. It can be grown on absolutely any soil. The only drawback is that the berries can be stored for no more than 6 hours.
Mulberry "black prince" is a plant with large fruits, about 5 cm in size. It can grow on absolutely any soil. This variety is frost-resistant, does not require watering. The only drawback is that it is not self-fertile and requires additional pollinators.
Mulberry "Staromoskovskaya" is famous for its sweet fruits in rich black. The tree can reach a height of up to 10 meters. The variety "Black Baroness" got its name thanks to large fruits. The tree is frost-resistant and high-yielding. The only drawback is that it is possible to store the fruits plucked for only 12 hours, and also that it is self-fertile.
It is worth noting that some mulberry trees bloom in large hairy flowers, but do not bear fruit. They are intended for pollination of female trees.
Mulberry planting
Mulberry cultivation in Siberia begins with planting, which is desirable to carry out in April, before the start of sap flow or in early autumn. Many people prefer to make autumn planting, because if a young plant normally wintered, then it will continue to grow and bear fruit.
Mulberry cultivation in Siberia (photo in the article) has its own specific features. Initially, you need to correctly determine the place for planting, knowing the preferences of the plant. It is photophilous and necessarily requires additional protection from piercing cold winds. Moreover:
- Mulberry does not like too dry and sandy, swampy or saline soil;
- the occurrence of groundwater must be no higher than 1.5 m.
Trees with male flowers do not bear fruit, however, it is possible to find out which sex a seedling is only after 4-5 years. That is why it is recommended to purchase 3-year-old seedlings that have already yielded crops.
When planting mulberries in autumn, you need to prepare a preliminary pit about 2 weeks before planting. At the same time, its size should be such that the root system of the seedling is located freely in the pit. If the soil on the site is very poor, then the depth of the pit should be slightly larger, since 5-7 kg of compost or rotted manure mixed with 100 g of superphosphate should be placed on its bottom. Then cover the fertilizer with a layer of soil so that there is no contact with the roots of the seedling.
After planting the mulberry, the trunk circle needs to be slightly compacted and poured with 2 liters of water, and when it is completely absorbed, the trunk region is mulched. If the seedling is very fragile and thin, then in the bottom of the pit you need to first drive in the supports and attach a tree to them.
Spring mulberry planting is almost no different from autumn, except that you need to dig a hole since autumn. A fertile mixture is laid in it, and left until spring. In April, seedlings are planted. Planting mulberry in Siberia and caring for it does not present any particular difficulties, the most important thing is to follow all the rules and strictly follow the instructions.
Plant care
Growing mulberry in Siberia and caring for it require the implementation of routine procedures for the gardener, namely:
- glaze;
- weed removal;
- loosening the soil;
- top dressing;
- trimming
- protection against diseases and pests.
To minimize the risk of mulberry disease or pest damage, preventive treatment of the tree and the trunk circle with insecticides and fungicides is carried out. It is best to carry it out in early April, when the buds are still sleeping, and in October, when the plant has already stopped its vegetation.
As a remedy for pests and diseases, it is better to use a 3% solution of Bordeaux fluid or Nitrafen. The best means for conducting spring insect repellent treatment is considered to be a 7% urea solution, which can not only destroy pathogens and insect larvae, but also act as a nitrogen fertilizer.
To increase resistance to frost, mulberries are watered first in the spring and until July, but this must be done in very dry weather, and then gradually watering stops. If the spring is rainy, then the plant generally can not be watered.
Growing mulberry in Siberia and caring for it implies periodic application of fertilizers. They are brought in from early spring until July. In spring, nitrogenous fertilizers should predominate in fertilizing, and in the summer - potassium fertilizing and phosphate should prevail.
The first two years after transplanting to a permanent place, preparation of mulberry for winter in Siberia is required. Before that, you need to cover the plant for the winter. This applies even to those varieties that are cold-resistant. Knowing how to grow mulberry in Siberia, you can get a beautiful tree with juicy and tasty fruits.
Cropping and shaping
Growing mulberries in Siberia and caring for the plant also involves pruning. It is advisable to do this during the rest period - in the early spring until the moment of sap flow. It is necessary to carry out forming and anti-aging pruning of mulberry. Sanitary pruning is recommended in the fall, after the leaves fall, but the average daily temperature should not be lower than -10 degrees.
Each individual type of mulberry necessarily requires its own special approach to pruning. Weeping should be cut mainly to thin out the crown and shorten the branches and shoots. At the same time, you don’t have to worry about the fact that the cropping will turn out too strong.
Trimming the stamped variety is aimed at forming a beautiful and dense crown. In this case, a spherical crown or a falling cascade of branches is formed on a long, thin trunk without branches. It is most difficult to form a decorative mulberry and subsequently regularly maintain its beautiful and neat appearance.
Mulberry propagation
Growing white mulberry in Siberia and caring for it also involves reproduction of the plant by seeds and vegetatively - layering, green and lignified cuttings, offspring and grafting. During seed propagation, the seeds of the current year's crop in October should be cleaned of pulp and kept in a solution of a special growth stimulator for 1-2 hours. Then sow in the soil.
If sowing is carried out in early spring, then a stratification procedure must be carried out. It can be replaced with faster pre-sowing preparation. To do this, stand the prepared seeds in cold water for 24 hours before sowing.
On a sunny unshaded bed, make grooves and pour them with water, as well as add fertilizers intended for fruit. Small seeds need to be sown rarely enough, to a depth of 3-5 cm, then water the soil with water and mulch.
Care for mulberry sprouts in Siberia consists of regular moderate watering, fertilizing and weeding the beds. By autumn, the grown seedlings will become larger and well developed, so they need to be planted at a distance of 3-5 m. After 5-6 years, fruiting will come.
In the case of mulberry freezing in a frosty winter, a dead plant may have a good root offspring, on which a lush crown can be formed over time. Extra processes can be cut or used as seedlings.
Mulberries can also be propagated by cuttings and this is best done in the summer, when the tree begins to grow more intensively. Initially, you need to cut small shoots of 15-20 cm from 2-3 shoots with 2-3 buds from young shoots. Then plant in a greenhouse, deepening the bottom cut into loose soil by 3 cm. It is necessary to create an environment of high humidity. When the cuttings are strong, and they have a strong root system, they can be planted in open soil.
Harvesting
Regular fruiting of the tree begins around the 5th year of its growth. In the early years, even in large-fruited varieties, the berries are quite small. However, every year their size increases.
In an ordinary mulberry tree, the berries are very easily separated from the stalks, crumbling from the branches and covering the ground under the tree. Harvesting does not present any difficulties. Under the branches, you just need to send the fabric and shake the fruits from the branches on it. For subsequent processing, they are removed a little immature.
Mulberry Disease
When growing white mulberry in Siberia, you need to remember that it can suffer from diseases and pests. Basically, you have to deal with such diseases:
- cylindrosporosis;
- powdery mildew;
- brown leaf spot;
- curly small-leaved;
- bacteriosis.
Powdery mildew is provoked by a fungus and appears as a whitish coating on the shoots and leaves of the plant. The disease progresses in dry weather, and especially it develops in a neglected crown. When the very first signs of the disease appear, you need to treat it with Bordeaux liquid, Fundazol or a solution of colloidal sulfur.
With cylindrosporosis, purple-red spots with a border are formed on the leaves. Gradually, they begin to turn yellow and fall. When the first signs of the disease appear, it is necessary to spray 1% Silita solution.
Bacteriosis affects mainly young leaves and mulberry shoots, resulting in spots of irregular shape, which gradually turn black. Mulberry leaves curl and fall, and the shoots are severely deformed. Against bacteriosis, drugs such as Gamair or Phytoflavin are used.
Mulberry Pests
Periodically, mulberry trees can be affected by pests and insects, which include:
- mulberry moths;
- spider mites;
- american butterflies.
One of the most dangerous pests is the white American butterfly. Its caterpillars can eat all the leaves on the tree. That is why their nests need to be cut and burned, and the crown of the tree should be treated with “Chlorophos”.
Moth caterpillars also feed on leaves. In order to protect the tree from them, it is necessary to carry out the treatment with “Chlorophos” in the spring during bud swelling.