Mulberry
Morus alba
Also known asBlack mulberry (M. nigra) · Red mulberry (M. rubra) · White mulberry (M. alba) · Shahtoot · Mûrier
Environment
The bounded range this crop tolerates.
Climate and zones
- USDA zones
- 4–11 (winter low around -34°C)
- Frost
- very hardy (survives deep cold)
- Season
- cool (spring/fall)
Growing systems
Root mass: very heavy. Thin-channel systems can't hold this crop.
Growing media
| Medium | pH effect | Retention | Bacterial surface |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soil-based mix (Potting soil) | varies | high | high |
Nutrient demand by stage
NPK ratios are relative weights. EC targets shift through the plant's life.
| Stage | N | P | K | EC (mS/cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| seedling | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| vegetative | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1.4 |
| flowering | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1.6 |
| fruiting | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1.6 |
Companion-growing notes
- High transpiration. Regular reservoir top-ups needed during fruiting.
Aquaponics suitability
Not recommended
Fish waste alone doesn't supply enough of what this crop demands. Grows in hybrid systems with supplemental dosing, but expect active management.
Care notes
A productive fruit tree for outdoor aquaponics integration. Container growing (40 L) or in-ground near the system. EC 1.5-2.5 mS/cm. pH 5.5-7.0. Temperature: adaptable (M. alba and M. rubra are cold-hardy to zone 4; M. nigra is less cold-hardy, zone 6-7). Full sun (DLI 18-25 mol/m2/day). Self-fertile; a single tree produces fruit. Fruiting begins at 2-4 years from nursery stock. Each mature tree produces 5–20 kg of berries over a 4-6 week harvest period. Harvest by shaking the branches over a sheet spread on the ground (the ripe berries drop readily). The extremely fragile, staining fruit must be processed immediately: eat fresh, freeze, make jam, or dry in a dehydrator. Dried mulberries are a popular health-food snack. The trees are remarkably pest and disease resistant, requiring little to no spraying. Dwarf varieties ('Dwarf Everbearing', 'Gerardi Dwarf') reach only 2–3 m and fruit at 1-2 years, suitable for large containers.
Notable varieties
| Cultivar | Type | Days | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois Everbearing | open pollinated | 730 | M. alba × M. rubra hybrid. Productive over a long season (6+ weeks) rather than a quick burst. Self-fertile. Zone 4-9. The most-recommended home garden mulberry in the US. |
| Pakistan | open pollinated | 730 | M. macroura (Shahtoot). Long thin fruit 5-7 cm, deep red-purple, very sweet. Zone 7-10. The premium dessert mulberry; common in California, Florida, and Southwestern US gardens. |
| Black Persian | open pollinated | 1095 | M. nigra, the true black mulberry of Mediterranean and Persian cuisine. Slower-growing and longer to first fruit (5-7 years) but exceptional intense flavor. Zone 6-9. |
| Dwarf Everbearing (Issai) | open pollinated | 365 | M. alba dwarf, 1.5-2 m at maturity. Fruits in year 1 from container-grown plants. Suitable for patio container culture. Modest fruit flavor, but the small-space option for mulberry production. |