Black Mulberry: How to Plant, Grow, and Harvest

I have a black mulberry tree in my backyard. I'm not sure if I planted it, or if it was already there when we moved in, but it's been producing fruit for about five years now. It's finally time to harvest some of the berries and share them with you! This blog post will teach you how to grow and care for your own black mulberries. 

The plant is native to China, India, Russia and most of Europe. Black Mulberries are deciduous trees that produce edible fruits between June through September each year.

How to Plant a Black Mulberry Tree

Mulberry trees should be planted in full sun with no less than 15 feet (5 m.) between trees, ideally in warm, well-draining soil such as deep loam.

A level garden bed in full sun would be ideal for planting black mulberry trees. Prepare the soil by working a 2-inch layer of compost and a shovelful of pelletized chicken manure into the top 12 inches (30 cm) of the prepared area, then mix this thoroughly with the existing soil using a spade or rototiller.

Dig a hole twice as wide and about the same depth as the black mulberry tree's container, then squeeze the young tree out of its container (if it came in one) and place it into the hole, firming up soil around its roots with your hands to remove air pockets. Backfill soil halfway around the tree and water thoroughly after planting.

How to Grow a Black Mulberry Tree

After planting black mulberry trees, mulch is recommended to help retain moisture, prevent weed growth, and reduce wind damage.

Water only when the top 1-3 inches of soil are dry, and do not overwater. Water around the tree's trunk or in its crown where it meets the roots.  If necessary, you can use a soil probe to check how deep your water is penetrating into the soil.  The idea is for the roots to be wet but not standing in water.  Mulberry trees do well with about 1 inch of water per week during the growing season if they are grown in a sandy or clay loam soil; on average, mulberries need 1-3 inches of water each week.

Water black mulberry trees deeply once every 5-7 days if you are receiving less than an inch of water per week.

Once the winds blow, black mulberry trees tend to drop their fruit from the tree in a fairly random manner.  The best thing to do if you want as much fruit as possible remaining on your tree is to harvest it t when it ripens and becomes dark red/purple in color.  At this point, the fruit will be sweet and have a seed that has turned brown/black inside a pale pink-hued flesh.

How to Harvest a Black Mulberry Tree

To harvest black mulberry trees, twist the stems until they snap. Black mulberries are ripe when they're dark red/purple in color.  The best way to harvest these is to shake them off the tree onto a tarp or sheet. Make sure you don't lay too deep into your picking container because you'll crush the berries on the bottom.

Black mulberry trees should be picked every 3-5 days during the summer to encourage a continuous supply of fruit.

If you're looking to save the seeds, allow them to remain in the fruits until they turn dark brown and then remove them from the flesh.  Once they have dried, store them in an airtight container at room temperature.

What do Black Mulberries Taste Like

If you've never tasted a black mulberry, you might be surprised to learn just how different they are from the more common red or purple variety. Black mulberries are both sweet and tart with a hot woody flavor that makes them great to eat raw, but make sure not to eat too many of them at once. They also taste great when dried and are equally nutritious.

How to Store Black Mulberries

Black mulberries are more fragile than other types of berries and are difficult to store for a long period of time. They should be stored in the fridge and eaten within a month.

To freeze black mulberries, you need to wash them thoroughly before drying them. This is the only time that you'll want to remove the seeds from the fruit's flesh. Once they're dried, store them in an airtight container for up to a year.

What is Black Mulberry Used For

Black mulberry trees are often used to re-forest land that has been destroyed.  They can grow in a variety of soils, and because they grow quickly, they act as a faster regenerator for the landscape. Mulberry plants also produce large amounts of fruit that can be used for both human consumption or feed for livestock.

Black mulberry is a deciduous tree that bears dark purple fruit. The fruits of black mulberry are edible, nutritious and delicious. The ripe fruit can be eaten raw or used to make various delicious dishes like salads, smoothies etc. However, the ripe fruit contains a large number of seeds. So you can eat only a few at a time. Its leaves, bark, and root are also used for medicinal purposes.

What are the Health Benefits of Black Mulberry

Black mulberry is not acidic and yet it helps upper gastrointestinal tract. Those who are suffering from ulcers, gastritis, or diarrhea could surely benefit from the consumption of black mulberry. It soothes the inflamed lining of stomach and intestines as well as relieves pain.

The bark, leaves and fruits are used for treating dysentery as well as constipation.  It relaxes muscles of intestine which facilitate peristalsis and more movement of stool in the colon.

The leaves have a diuretic effect which in turn reduces high blood pressure due to its potassium content.

Black mulberries are a type of berry that can be eaten raw or used in various dishes. The ripe fruit should not be consumed too many at once because it has a large number of seeds inside the flesh. The leaves, bark and roots have medicinal uses as well. Black mulberry trees grow quickly to re-forest land with poor soil conditions and produce large amounts of edible fruit for human consumption and livestock feed.