Mulberry is a tree which has very beautiful leaves, flowers and fruits. They live for a very long time. There are three varieties: white mulberry which is native to China, black mulberry native to West Asia and Middle East, and the red mulberry which is found in United States.
Bark, Leaves and Flowers
The bark is light brown with a rugged texture. This develops to a grayish brown with vertical fissures, ridges and rough scales. The leaves are deep green, broad and heart-shaped at the base. The top surface of the leaf is coarse and rough. The underside is covered with soft, downy hairs.
The flowers grow in drooping, cylindrical clusters called catkins.
Fruits
The fruits look like elongated blackberries and are usually an inch long. Starting with a pale green colour, they transition to a bright, vibrant red and finally, to a deep dark purple colour when ripe.
Ripe black mulberries are plump, and full of juice which stain instantaneously. They have a complex, intense, sweet-tart flavour profile.
Culinary uses
It is used for making preserves and jams. It is also used for baking into pies and other desserts. The black mulberries can be boiled down with sugar to make a thick syrup and converted to a drink by adding water when required.
Its leaves, roots, and fruits are used in Ayruvedic medicine.
Home gardening
- Take a container which is at least 20 inches deep and wide.
- Soil mix – use red soil with some compost and cocopeat.
- It needs full sun to fruit, at least 6-8 hours a day. If it does not receive adequate sunlight, it might grow lush leaves but not enough fruit.
- In order to ensure that the it does not grow too high, cut the top stem off when it is about 3 feet tall. This makes the tree go sideways. Agressive pruning helps especially after the summer fruiting season.
- If ripe berries drop to the floor, they will stain the tiles and rugs permanently. During fruiting season, place a dark washable mat underneath the pot.
- Mealy bugs and spider mites are the issues normally faced by this tree. Inspect undersides of the leaves weekly. An easy solution is diluted neem oil drenching of the leaves.
Harvesting
- The tree starts bearing fruit in 2-3 years. The fruit ripens over several weeks.
- The tree itself can be exceptionally long-lived, some of them living for over 300 years on land.
- In a container, it can give live and give fruits for 20-30 years provided it is regularly pruned, occasionally the soil is refreshed and annually, fertiliser is applied.
Cultural Significance
When there is a spring frost, mulberry does not put out any buds. It symbolises calculated patience and wisdom. The tree was also considered to be a symbol of the Sun in some parts of the world.
The white mulberry leaves were the sole food source for the Bombyx mori silkworm. The silk from this is highly prized even today. The silk industry has become a source of economic sustenance for many traditional weaving and farming communities in India.
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