Content
Many gardeners fell in love with the mulberry Smuglyanka due to its unpretentiousness, in addition, this variety is distinguished by a high level of drought resistance. Blackberry mulberry, as a rule, is grown in the south for the sake of obtaining a high yield of sweet fruits that children love so much. Today, mulberry grows almost throughout the entire territory of Russia. With proper care, you can get a good harvest.
Description of mulberry Darkie
If we consider the description of the white mulberry Darkie, then it is worth noting that this variety was obtained in the process of selecting the best samples of white mulberry.
The Dark Brown mulberry tree is deciduous, the crown of moderate density is in the shape of a ball. In height, the plant can reach from 3 to 15 m. At first, the mulberry tree grows quite quickly, but gradually the growth slows down. Flowers appear dioecious, as a rule, they are collected in ears. The leaves are rather large and wide, the edges are jagged, rough to the touch. In summer, the foliage of the mulberry is completely green, closer to autumn it begins to turn yellow.
The berries resemble blackberries in appearance, the shades are very different. The dark-colored mulberry has white fruits. The fruits can be eaten, the size is about 2-3 cm, the berries have a pleasant aroma.
Pros and cons of mulberry variety Smuglyanka
If we consider the advantages of this variety, then it is worth noting the following points:
- the white Dark-haired woman belongs to the winter-hardy mulberry varieties;
- unpretentiousness to the soil;
- annual fruiting;
- resistance to pests and diseases;
- high yields with proper care;
- versatility of fruits (can be used for conservation or consumed fresh);
- shelf life is 12 hours;
- sweet taste of fruits;
- pleasant aroma (in some cases it may be absent).
Some gardeners, among the minuses, note the fact that the fruits are quite difficult to collect due to their small size. In addition, despite the fact that this variety is able to withstand low temperature conditions, the Dark Mulberry needs shelter for the winter, otherwise the yield will be significantly reduced.
Planting and caring for mulberry Darkie
As many experienced gardeners note, the Smuglyanka mulberry is an unpretentious species. This plant quickly adapts to new growing conditions. In order to obtain a high level of yield, it is required to provide high-quality care for the Darkberry mulberry. It is necessary not only to choose the right planting material and a place for planting, but also in the process of mulberry growth to apply fertilizers, form a crown, and cover for the winter.
Preparation of planting material and site
When choosing a site for planting Smuglyanka mulberries in open ground, it is recommended to give preference to places with good lighting. The best solution would be loose loamy or sandy soils. In this case, you need to take into account the fact that the plant can live up to 300 years.
As a rule, planting material begins in early spring or late autumn.In order for the seedlings to take root better, it is necessary to purchase a rooting agent for the root system, dilute the solution and place the planting material in it for several hours, and only then proceed to planting in open ground.
Landing rules
The pit must be prepared in advance, its dimensions should be 80 * 80 * 60 cm.The planting process is as follows:
- The removed upper fertile layer is poured to the bottom.
- Humus is introduced.
- Fertilizers - 150 g.
- A seedling is planted in the center of the pit, while it is necessary to carefully straighten the root system without damaging it.
- After planting, the plant is watered, and the land around is mulched, which will prevent the appearance weeds.
At the time of intensive growth, fertilizers are applied. In early July, watering is possible only if there is a drought.
Watering and feeding
The key to any healthy plant and high yields is not only proper planting and reproduction, but also the process of watering and fertilizing.
It is recommended to water Smuglyanka mulberries starting in early spring and continuing until July. Particular attention should be paid to watering in dry weather. In the spring, you need to make top dressing. For these purposes, nitrogen fertilizers are usually used. In summer, it is worth giving preference to potash and phosphorus fertilizing.
Pruning
Cutting mulberries of the Smuglyanka variety is worth during a period of complete or partial rest. The most optimal solution would be to perform pruning work at the end of April or at the beginning of May, at a time when the juices did not begin to move and the buds did not bloom. At such moments, formative or rejuvenating pruning is performed.
Sanitary pruning is performed in the fall, when the growing season has come to an end and the temperature regime is not lower than -10 ° C. In this case, all diseased and damaged branches must be removed.
Preparing for winter
Mulberry Smuglyanka is able to withstand low temperatures down to -30C. Despite this, the tree often suffers from a lack of heat, as a result of which the yield is significantly reduced. In the spring, it is necessary to remove all frostbitten branches, new ones will appear over the summer.
To make the plant more convenient to cover, it is cut off, the crown is given the shape of a ball. When the first frost appears, the mulberry tree is covered with burlap, tied with twine. If necessary, you can use a quilted jacket. With the onset of heat, the shelter is removed.
Harvesting
It is important to take into account that the dark-colored mulberry has a rather prolonged fruiting period, as a result of which the fruits ripen for 1.5-2 months. Since the ripening is uneven, one branch can contain both green berries and ripe ones, ready to eat.
The berries are small in size, but there are quite a few of them. Since the fruits cannot be stored for a long time, some experienced gardeners save time allotted for harvesting. For these purposes, a film is spread under the tree and shaken.
Diseases and pests
Blackberry Mulberry is a plant resistant to a number of diseases and pests. In central Russia, plants suffer much more from low temperature conditions than from diseases. Diseases to which the mulberry tree is exposed can be divided into fungal and viral:
- powdery mildew;
- brown spotting;
- root rot;
- bacteriosis;
- tinder fungus - a mushroom that feeds on nutrients from a tree;
- curly small-leaved Is an incurable virus caused by sucking insects.
In addition, you should be afraid of American butterflies, which can leave a tree completely without foliage. In this case, if nests are found, it is necessary to cut them along with the branches.
Reproduction
In addition to describing the Smuglyanka mulberry variety, it is important to know how this variety reproduces. Reproduction is carried out in the following ways:
- seeds. In October, it is necessary to remove the pulp from the berries from the current year's harvest and soak the seed for 2 hours in a solution of a growth stimulator for the root system;
- cuttings. This method is considered the most time consuming, since it is required to create suitable conditions for planting material in the greenhouse. When propagating by cuttings, the dark mulberry takes over all the maternal characteristics;
- offspring. If the plant has been damaged, then shoots begin to appear in this place, as a result of which the plant itself prevents its further death. Excess offspring, if necessary, can be cut off and rooted;
- graft. As a rule, you can graft the dark-skinned mulberry in any convenient way, but the most popular is copulation.
Thanks to such a wide selection, every gardener will be able to determine the most convenient and easiest way to multiply mulberry trees.
Reviews about mulberry Smuglyanka
Conclusion
Blackberry mulberry gained such popularity due to its unpretentiousness and juicy fruits. Despite the fact that berries are versatile and can be eaten, some designers use mulberry trees to decorate the land.
