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, grown in a container (40 L) or in-ground near the system. EC 1.0-1.8 mS/cm. pH 5.5-7.5. Temperature: adaptable (M. alba and M. rubra are cold-hardy to about zone 4; M. nigra is less hardy, roughly zone 6-7). Full sun (DLI 20-32 mol/m2/day). Self-fertile, so a single tree sets fruit. Fruiting begins at 2-4 years from nursery stock. A mature tree yields 5–20 kg of berries over a 4-6 week harvest window. Harvest by shaking the branches over a sheet on the ground; ripe berries drop readily. The fruit is fragile and stains badly, so process it at once: eat fresh, freeze, make jam, or dry in a dehydrator. Dried mulberries sell well as a health-food snack. The trees are notably pest and disease resistant and need little or no spraying. Dwarf cultivars ('Dwarf Everbearing', 'Gerardi Dwarf') reach only 2–3 m and fruit at 1-2 years, which suits 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. |