Mulberry Tree
A Comprehensive Gluttonous Gardener Plant Care Guide
The ancient mulberry tree is much loved for its delicious fruit, expansive boughs and astonishing longevity. It’s also the theme of one of our favourite nursery rhymes ‘Here we go around the mulberry bush’.
The oldest mulberry tree in Britain is rumoured to be around 500 years old, and whilst we hope your tree will live to an equally ripe old age, you can look forward to enjoying its deep purple fruits in the meantime
Many of the oldest mulberry trees dotted around London are assumed to be relics from an attempt by King James I to start a silk industry. It’s been suggested that the idea floundered because the trees were black mulberries, which are sadly not favoured by silkworms, which prefer to munch on tastier white mulberry leaves.
Mulberries are large, delicate berries which bruise very easily and don’t travel well, so you will rarely find them for sale. All of which makes growing your own even more rewarding!
In a nutshell
Tree
Fruit
Hardy
Sunny garden
Care Instructions
Planting
Choose a sunny location with free-draining and moisture retentive soil. Mulberry trees spread out generously as they mature and can grow up to 10 metres in diameter, so if you are planting yours in the garden, make sure it has plenty of room to expand.
Dig a hole twice the size of the root-ball. Spread the roots as you place the mulberry in the hole and refill the hole to the base of the stem with a mixture of soil and compost. Press the soil down gently with the heel of a boot. For the first few seasons it’s wise to provide a sturdy stake to support the establishing trunk and encourage strong root growth.
The trees can also be grown in containers for 10-15 years. Use a loam-based compost and each spring, pot on to a slightly larger container just before the new growth starts.
Planting your mulberry tree in the centre of a lawn is also a good idea if you have space as the soft turf provides a gentle cushion for freefalling berries.
Watering
It is important to ensure that the young tree does not dry out, especially in the first few seasons. Our mulberry trees can be planted all year round, but if you are planting in the spring or summer, water especially well in the first few months and more frequently if the weather is particularly hot or dry.
Feeding
In the spring treat the tree to a generous helping of mulch or well-rotted manure. Towards the end of winter, feed the tree with a general-purpose fertiliser.
Fruiting
Mulberry trees usually produce their first full crop of berries between 6-10 years after planting. In the late summer the fruit deepens in colour from raspberry red to deep purple and is generally ready to be picked during August and September. Just remember to wear gloves if you want to avoid the intensely coloured juice staining your hands!
Harvest
There is nothing quite like the taste of fresh mulberries, picked off the tree and still warm from the sun, but if you are lucky enough to have a bumper harvest, we heartily recommend following our simple mulberry jam recipe, our favourite accompaniment to a traditional afternoon tea.
