Mulberry in the Moscow region: varieties and their descriptions

Mulberry, here, a mulberry tree - under such names the popular mulberry is known. In the suburbs, it has become popular due to its resistance to weather conditions, delicious fruits and huge health benefits. It prefers a warm, temperate climate, therefore it grows naturally in natural conditions in East Asia, southern Europe, North America, and northwest South America.

Description of the plant

Mulberry is a deciduous tree, whose height can be from 3 to 15 meters. At first, it grows quite quickly, but gradually the growth slows down. The leaves are large, wide, with jagged edges, rough to the touch. They have a dark green color in the summer and turn yellow by autumn. On one tree, you can find a variety of leaves in the configuration and size. The plant blooms with small flowers clustered in axillary ears. Decorative soap resembles blackberry berries and can have different colors. Edible fruit, the length of which is 2-3 cm, consists of drupes and has a rather pleasant smell. The life span of the plant is on average 200 years, but there are also long-livers, whose age is determined at 300 and even 500 years.

Types of mulberry

There are about 20 species of this culture, but for convenience it is customary to divide it into white, red and black, depending on the color of the bark.

White mulberry is most often found in Russian gardens. This tree is up to 16-18 meters high with large leaves that are designed to feed the silkworm. White, pink or purple flowers up to 3.5 cm in size. The plant is very resistant to low temperatures, can withstand frosts down to -30 ° C, so mulberry white in the suburbs is considered one of the best varieties for breeding.

Red mulberry in the wild is found mainly in the eastern part of North America. Its small, up to 3 cm, very fragrant copulation can be red, purple or black. A sturdy tree that can withstand arid climates can reach heights of up to 20 m.

Black mulberry grows in South-West Asia, the height of the tree does not exceed 15 meters. Large copulation (up to 5 cm) of purple or black color is very juicy and tasty. The plant is not adapted to cold climatic conditions, it tolerates frosts badly.

Varieties of mulberry

For the Moscow region are considered the most suitable several varieties. These are those who are well tolerated by the long and frosty winter, are not afraid of frosts and are unpretentious to the soil. All of them belong to the species white mulberry.

1. Ukrainian-6. The tree has a spherical crown. The leaves are one-piece, very large, since they are intended for feeding silkworm. The co-occurrence of a black matte color can reach more than 4 cm in length. The yield of berries is not high, but they are very well preserved.
2. White honey. A monoecious tree with a pyramidal crown is very resistant to frost. Can withstand temperatures as low as -30 ° C. Sooty up to 3 cm in size has a white color and sweet honey taste. The aroma is practically absent. The ripening of berries occurs in June-July.
3. The Black Baroness. The variety is rather unpretentious to the conditions of detention, it can easily withstand very severe frosts. The crown of this tree is moderately dense, globular in shape. Berries that have a black color, are very sweet in taste, with a faint odor.

Variety Smuglyanka

This is perhaps the most common mulberry in the Moscow region. Of all varieties, it is most suitable for the climatic conditions of this region. Large asymmetrical leaves, with serrated edges, rough on one side and smoother on the other. Cotals up to 3 cm in size are black, shiny, with sour taste, very juicy and soft. The plant adapts well to the climatic conditions of the central region of Russia, it is undemanding to the soils, it can withstand severe frosts, and in the case when the young shoots freeze, it quickly recovers after cutting them. Silkworm Sugarcoat in the suburbs is popular and due to its high yield - up to 500 grams from one meter of the fruiting branch. The berries begin to ripen in June and can be kept fresh until 18 hours. They are quite resistant to transportation, they keep their presentation perfectly.

Reproduction

Cultivation of mulberry in the suburbs can be carried out in various ways - seeds, sprouts, grafting, cuttings. For planting, seeds from the current crop are required. Cleared of pulp, they are sown in fertile soil in February. The temperature in the room should be maintained at 20 ° C. And after the warm days come, young plants are transplanted to the beds. On a permanent habitat, the mulberry is transferred only the next year. It should be noted that when propagating by seeds, some properties of the variety may not be inherited completely.

Planting and care

When choosing a site for planting, preference should be given to well-lit places with loose loam or sandy soils, given that up to 300 years mulberry can live. In Moscow suburbs seedlings are planted in early spring or late autumn.

In advance, a pit of 80 x 80 x 60 cm is prepared. After pouring a little soil from the upper fertile layer, it is necessary to add two buckets of humus and 150 g of fertilizer. Mix all the ingredients, place the plant in the center of the pit, gently spread the roots, and sprinkle with the soil mixture, lightly ramming. Then thoroughly water and mulch the soil around the seedling. In the period of intensive growth of mulberry, it is necessary to make additional fertilization in the form of diluted slurry (1: 5) or bird droppings (1:10). Since July watering is only done in case of a drought.

Wintering

Despite the fact that the mulberry does not badly adapt to weather conditions and is able to withstand frosts to -30 ° C, often the plant suffers from a heat deficit, and this leads to a decrease in yield. With the onset of spring, frost-bitten branches are cut off and during the summer period the plant is fully restored.

Up to 20 meters and more, under good conditions, mulberry can grow. In the suburbs, where winters are severe enough, it is necessary to trim the plant, giving it the shape of a bush, so that it can be sheltered in the cold season with particularly severe frosts. Crown is tied with sackcloth or paper bandages, fastened with twine, to a height of approximately 2 meters.

Using Mulberry

In addition to industrial sericulture, this plant is widely used in various fields. Wood is used for the production of paper, ropes and paints. Fruits are used for consumption in fresh and dried form, as well as for the preparation of various syrups, jam, vinegar. Virtually all parts of this plant have healing properties.

The fruits of mulberry have an anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, diuretic effect. Medicines based on leaves are used for diabetes, avitaminosis. Decoction of the bark helps with cardiovascular diseases. With peptic ulcer, hypertension, throat diseases, mulberry is useful. In the suburbs this tree is easy to grow if you follow all the recommendations for its planting and care.