Description of the flowering and fruiting of the mulberry tree or mulberry. White mulberry: planting, care and description of the best varieties (photo)

Many people love mulberry or mulberry fruits for their original and refreshing sweet and sour taste. At the same time, both berries and leaves have healing properties, and the tree itself looks great as a hedge or decorative planting.

The mulberry tree belongs to the Mulberry family, the Mulberry genus. This tree is distinguished by its longevity: the average lifespan is 200 years, in some cases up to 300-500 years. The record holder is a tree growing in Israel, whose age exceeded 2 thousand years!

The average height of trees ranges from 10 to 15 m. When young, they grow very quickly. Dense and elastic wood is suitable for carpentry and cooperage. In Central Asia, musical instruments are made from it.

The leaves are simple, with a serrated edge, often lobed on young shoots. It is these that the silkworm larvae feed on, which is why the tree received its second common name - mulberry. The mulberry tree prefers loamy or sandy soil. If it is very light, the mulberry may grow adventitious roots that provide it with additional stability.

The plant can be formed in the form of a tree or shrub. In this case, the tree will need an area of ​​2.3-3.5 m, the bush - 0.5-1 m. Since the mulberry blossoms are not particularly decorative, it is valued in landscape design appearance the crown itself. Depending on the variety and shape, it may look weeping, pyramidal, spherical, spiral, etc.

Some varieties are famous for their leaves of unusual color or huge size: for example, in the Shelly-150 variety, one leaf with a petiole can reach 0.5 m in length! The mulberry tree can be grafted onto other crops. This is usually done in the spring, before flowering begins.

Main types

The classification itself is quite confusing. IN different systems separate subspecies are sometimes considered independent species, A big number hybrids further complicate the system. Although about 200 species have been identified, 17 of them are considered valid. There is a popular way of classification - by bark color.

Black mulberry is not suitable for raising silkworms, but it is its berries, which look like blackberries, that are most often eaten. The homeland of this variety is South-West Asia. The bark is dark, red-brown.

White mulberry is commonly used for silkworm breeding. In China, where this variety was first discovered, it has been cultivated for about 4 thousand years. In Russia, it can grow up to the Volgograd line; in regions with a harsher climate, the tree takes root with difficulty. The fruits are edible, but have a less intense, sometimes sickly sweet taste. Most often they are white, but they can also be intensely black. The bark is light gray and thick. Red mulberry grows primarily in North America.

Its wood is considered the most valuable. The fruits are sweet and edible. The red variety has a subspecies - the so-called. small-leaved mulberry. It differs from the main one in smaller fruits and leaves.

Flowering and fruiting

The mulberry tree begins to bear fruit 4-8 years after planting.

Depending on the region and variety, it blooms in April-June. Flowers can be male or female. It is logical that the tree is capable of self-pollinating, but with group plantings its yield increases noticeably.

Mulberry or mulberry fruits ripen unevenly, from late May to August: on one branch there can be both fully ripe berries and barely formed ovaries. Usually the fruit becomes edible when it acquires the color characteristic of the variety. These fruits are prone to shedding and practically do not tolerate transportation. The average size berries - 2-3 cm.

The fruits of the black mulberry are distinguished by a particularly rich sweet and sour taste, as well as a pleasant, pronounced aroma. They are consumed fresh and used to make jams, preserves, syrups, artificial honey, vinegar and wine. They make a good filling for baked goods.

White mulberry fruits, in addition to being consumed fresh, are dried, preserved and used to make wine. Sometimes novice gardeners have a question: is mulberry more of a berry or a fruit? The answer is clear: it is a berry.

Medicinal properties

Information about beneficial properties mulberries can be found in ancient sources. Practice and Scientific research confirmed these data. Among the most valuable qualities of this plant, experts tend to call its beneficial effects on the cardiovascular and digestive systems, the ability to renew the blood, improve mental abilities and strengthen the immune system. The fruits of the mulberry tree are much healthier than many other fruits and berries.

In particular, they contain:

• organic acids: citric and malic;
• macroelements: potassium, calcium, phosphorus, sodium, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper;
• vitamins: A, B1, B2, B3, B9, C, K.

They remove phlegm, have an anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effect, therefore they are recommended for infectious diseases, including ARVI, flu, bronchitis, etc. The leaves are also very useful - they contain tannins, essential oils, flavonoids, resins, vitamins C and group B. Extracts are made from them for the preparation of pharmaceuticals, and are also used in folk medicine.

For example, they are recommended to be applied to inflamed joints for half an hour 3-5 times a day. It is recommended to rinse your mouth with an infusion of leaves 4-5 times a day. inflammatory processes(stomatitis, etc.). In any case, when consuming fruits or decoctions of leaves with medicinal purposes It is necessary to consult a specialist in advance, as self-medication can be hazardous to health.

Mulberry or as it is also called Mulberry tree was known even under Tsar Ivan 4. Then, for the first time in Russia, the royal manufactory began to cultivate beautiful natural silk for the royal court. Mulberry leaves provided food for the silkworm, from whose cocoons silk was obtained. Peter I was very fond of mulberry; by a special decree, he prohibited the cutting down of mulberry trees. In many countries, to this day, mulberry trees are used to make real silk, but in Russia such production is not developed.

Mulberry belongs to the mulberry family, which is represented by a genus of tall trees and shrubs. Its berries are not actually berries, but clusters of mini-nuts with fused pericarps. In our country, white and black mulberries have gained their fame, but the forage mulberry, also known as satin mulberry, also grows in the wild, and in America the inedible red mulberry grows with valuable wood.

White mulberry- the same one that silkworm caterpillars fed on in China. Its leaves are tender, it turns out to be silk highest quality. The fruits are usually white, yellowish or pinkish, juicy, sickly sweet, however (!) they can also be dark. White mulberry is quite frost-resistant and widespread. The tree has thick gray bark.

Breeders have bred about 400 varieties of mulberry trees. Oddly enough, the photo below is also one of the white mulberry varieties.

Black mulberry, which came to us from the South, from Iran, is not suitable for food for capricious silkworms - its leaves are too coarse. But for people, its purple-black fruits are of undoubted gastronomic interest. Sweet, sour, outwardly reminiscent of blackberries with oblong berries. The flavor nuances are richer than those of white mulberry. The tree is heat-loving, although frost-resistant varieties also appear. The bark of the black mulberry is red-brown.

Mulberry cultivation

A mulberry tree can reach 35 m in height, but in a garden it is necessary to form the crown so that the tree is no higher than 2-3 m. The mulberry lives for an extremely long time, 200-300 years. You can expect a harvest 5 years after planting, and even earlier from grafted trees. A 10-year-old tree produces up to 100 kg of fruit,

Mulberry plants can be either self-pollinating (monoecious - on the same tree there are male and female flowers in the same inflorescence) or have female and male plants(dioecious), depending on this, one tree or always a pair (male and female) is planted.

Mulberry is often used in landscape design due to its excellent fruiting and good vitality within the city. It looks great in group plantings and as hedges. Nowadays they choose more decorative forms of mulberry, for example, weeping, the branches of which gently bend towards the ground. Low mulberry trees with a spherical crown have also gained popularity. In group plantings, a pyramidal or narrow pyramidal crown is most often used. The height of such trees can reach 6 m.

Mulberry propagation

Seeds

The seed method is used by breeders to adapt mulberries to harsh northern regions or to grow rootstocks for grafting. To do this, take seeds and stratify them for 2 months. If you sow without stratification, you should soak them for 3 days before planting. Sowing is done in early spring.

2. Vegetatively

Mulberries can be propagated shoots, layering(for weeping form), green cuttings, vaccination.
Cultivars are usually propagated by grafting using budding. White mulberry is used as a rootstock. The bark of the rootstock should separate well, and the buds of the scion should ripen well - this means they are ready for grafting!

Mulberry planting

It is preferable to plant mulberries on sandy loam and loose loamy soils. If you plant a mulberry on sandy soil, it will begin to form additional roots (adventitious) in order to fix the sand. It can also grow on saline soils.

Decide in advance whether you will form trees with a trunk or use a bush form, which is very convenient in the garden. In the bush form, the distance between plants in a row should be about 0.5 m, and about 3 m between rows. The distance between mulberry trees is about 5 m, and about 4 m between rows.

The rest of the landing process is consistent general recommendations for planting trees and shrubs. Just keep in mind that mulberry roots are very fragile and must be handled with care.

Mulberry care

Watering

In order for the tree to withstand frosts well, in the first half of summer until July, the mulberry must be watered and nourished with mineral and organic fertilizers, and starting in July, you need to stop fertilizing and watering the plant. This will help the mulberry, being in a dormant period, to tolerate temperature changes and frost well.

Trimming

The tree is formed with a trunk of 0.5-1.5 m, the height of the crown will be 2-4 m, and its shape will be broom-shaped or spherical.

Young growths from last year are often frostbitten because their bark is still weak and it loses moisture very quickly, unlike old shoots covered with cork bark. In this case, they need to be trimmed; this operation will not affect the harvest.

Harvesting and using mulberries

Mulberries, depending on the climate and variety, ripen from late May to August. Ripening is very uneven; on one branch there may be completely ripe berries that are just beginning to grow. Ripe berries fall off quite easily, so when they begin to ripen, place a cloth or film under your mulberries in advance to make harvesting easier.

Traditional medicine in many Asian countries has been using mulberries for a long time as a cure for many diseases.
Mulberry bark when brewed is the strongest anthelmintic, infusion of berries helps with cough. Berry juice helps cope with stomatitis, sore throats and many inflammations of the mucous membrane. An infusion of leaves is a godsend for hypertensive patients.
But eating berries raw or in cooking does not in any way detract from the merits of this wonderful delicacy.

Mulberry varieties

White mulberry "Black Baroness"

Here's a paradox: although she is white, she is still black. The variety was bred in the Rostok gardening; the berries are large, up to 3.5 cm long and up to 1.5 cm in diameter, sweet with a faint aroma. The yield is high, harvested in June-July. The tree can withstand frosts down to -30 °C, and if it does freeze, it quickly restores its shoots and the yield practically does not drop.

Black mulberry “SHELI No. 150”

This variety and two more below belong to Leonid Ilyich Prokazin from the Poltava region. Shelly berries are very large, up to 5.5 cm, with high taste, the variety is very high-yielding. It is considered one of the best and most famous mulberry varieties.

One leaf of mulberry Shelly 150 reaches half a meter in length with a petiole!

White mulberry “White tenderness”

Very tender and large watery white fruits up to 5 cm long. Not transportable. The harvest is very high, fruiting is extended.

White mulberry “Luganochka”

The fruits are creamy pink, sweet, up to 5.5 cm long, the yield is very high.

1. Botanical description
2. White mulberry
3. Black mulberry
4. Application
5. In medicine
6. In cooking
7. Growing
8. Landing
9. Watering
10. Feeding
11. Crown care, pruning
12. Reproduction

Mulberry, or mulberry tree (lat. Morus) - one of the most famous deciduous plants of warm subtropical climates, mild temperate zones of Europe, Asia, North America, Africa. It is also called tyutina, mulberry. Juicy large berries- valuable food product, source of vitamins, effective medicine. Tree leaves are eaten by silkworm caterpillars. In the 16th century, mulberries were actively bred in Russia; at the royal court there was a manufactory for the production of silk fabrics.

Botanical description

Most mulberry species are low-growing or medium height trees with thin trunks and spreading crown. They rise to 15–18 m. Individual specimens in favorable conditions reach 25–30 m. Life expectancy is 200–400 years. Young seedlings develop quickly; at 7–8 years, growth slows down.

The bark of the trees is greenish, brown or silver-gray, mottled with thin cracks. The side shoots are located at an angle of 45–60°, densely branched. The leaves are simple, bright green, ovoid or lobed, with pointed tips, serrated edges, and long petioles. The plates are 6–15 cm in size. The venation is pinnate or reticulate. The leaf arrangement is regular. Backside leaves, petioles slightly pubescent.

Mulberry blossoms bloom in May. These are paniculate racemes or catkins, consisting of several dozen small white, yellow or pink corollas. There are dioecious and monoecious species. The fruits ripen from the end of June to the last days of July, depending on the region of growth.

Mulberries are similar to blackberries and large raspberries.. These are oblong fruits, consisting of many fused round granules with juicy pulp. Contains inside small seeds. The berries are 2–5 cm in size, have a fragrant aroma and a spicy-sweet taste. There are also seedless mulberry species. The color of the berries depends on the variety. There are light cream, yellow, pink, dark purple fruits. Collecting them is not difficult: just place a suitable sized container under the tree and shake the branches. Ripe fruits will fall down, green ones will remain hanging.

Storing and transporting mulberries is difficult: after picking, they quickly lose their freshness, become wrinkled, and begin to ferment.

Kinds

There are 17 varieties in nature; almost 500 hybrid varieties have been bred from them. Not all mulberry trees have edible fruits, and not all species are suitable as food for silkworms.

White mulberry

This dioecious tree is native to the Far East. Caterpillars that spin Chinese silk feed on the leaves of the plant. During the pupation period, insects release the finest silk threads 400–900 m long, white or pink.

It is bred in culture as a raw material for feeding silkworms and obtaining fruits.. The species grows up to 10–17 m in height, has a wide dense crown, delicate light green serrated leaves. The bark is silvery. The berries are up to 5 cm in size, sugary and juicy. There are varieties with light fruits: yellowish, white, pink. In some varieties they are dark red, almost black. Fruiting is abundant, each tree brings up to 90–100 kg during the harvest period.

White mulberry is unpretentious in maintenance, grows on loamy, sandy, low-nutrient soils. Can be grown in urban environments. It easily establishes itself on the slopes of ravines thanks to its branched root shoots. The species is frost-resistant, can withstand cold temperatures down to -30 °C. After freezing, young branches quickly recover. Lives white mulberry up to 250 years. Known cultivated varieties:

• Victoria;
• White tenderness;
• Luganochka.

Black mulberry

The homeland of this monoecious species is the countries of the Middle East and Transcaucasia. Black mulberry tree prefers hot climates. IN natural environment the plant reaches a height of 7–10 m. Its crown is picturesque, tent-shaped, and consists of long hanging shoots. Skeletal perennial branches are shorter than young ones. The width of the crown reaches several meters. The trunks are often curved, branched, and covered with dark brown bark. The leaves are dark green, thick, large, 15–17 cm long, broadly oval, with a notched base. The plates are rough to the touch. They are not suitable as food for silkworms. Trees are cultivated for their fruits. The berries are inky, purple or dark red, about 3–4 cm in size, juicy, sweet and sour. It tastes like grapes.

Fruiting of black mulberry varieties begins at 4–5 years of age. The lifespan of trees is 200–300 years. The most popular fruit varieties:

• Black Baroness;
• Istanbul;
• Hartut;
• Dark-skinned.

Application

mulberries for unique properties often called the king tree. The plant produces tasty and healthy fruits that are decorative. Valuable natural fabrics are produced from this tree.

In medicine

Mulberry leaves, stems and roots contain:

• tannins;
• fatty and organic acids;
• resins;
• flavonoids;
• copper, phosphorus, magnesium, iron and zinc compounds.

A large amount of:

• ascorbic, nicotinic and folic acids;
• thiamine, B2, B12, K;
• rutin, carotenoids, choline;
• antioxidants;
• minerals.

The juice of the fruit contains a valuable compound that prevents the development of tumor processes and vascular pathologies - resveratrol.

Greens, bark, berries have anti-inflammatory, astringent, bactericidal, expectorant, diaphoretic, and diuretic effects. The pharmacological activity of fruit juice is slightly higher due to the higher concentration of biochemical compounds in it.

For the first time in medicine, mulberry products began to be used in medieval Persia, during the time of the healer Avicenna.

Juice fresh fruits, decoctions of them are used to treat intestinal disorders, inflammation oral cavity, tonsillitis, diseases of the upper respiratory tract, including bronchitis, bronchial asthma. Ripe fruits relieve constipation, unripe fruits relieve diarrhea..

Fresh berries are recommended for various diseases of the heart and blood vessels: arrhythmia, myocardial dystrophy, hypertension, surges in blood pressure. Mulberry pulp is useful for chronic pathologies gallbladder, liver, pancreas.

Decoctions of leaves and bark are used in complex treatment tonsillitis, bronchitis, tracheitis, pneumonia, influenza as an antiseptic, antipyretic, expectorant. Crushed bark and root shoots are used to prepare ointments for bruises, dermatological diseases, abrasions, cuts, purulent ulcers.

Tea from young twigs, leaves, dried berries strengthens physical strength, is useful for hypovitaminosis, anemic conditions, nervous exhaustion, decreased vision, dysbiosis, disorders of the digestive organs, diseases genitourinary system, on initial stages diabetes mellitus

Regular use of mulberry preparations helps restore the health of skin, hair, and nails.

In cooking

Mulberries are superior in taste to raspberries and blackberries. It contains a lot of fructose, glucose, pectin, and organic acids. Despite their strong sweetness, the berries are low in calories: 40–45 kcal per 100 g of product. You can eat them as a healthy treat without fear of gaining weight.

Mulberries are dried, preserves and jams are made from it, fruit drinks, compotes, jellies, marmalade, fillings, impregnations for pies and pastries are prepared.

In gardening and landscape design

Having a mulberry in your garden is considered happy sign. There she is sacred. Due to its insensitivity to adverse weather conditions and ease of care, the plant is called a tree for the lazy. It can be planted on city streets, in green areas, parks, and in local areas.

Mulberry is good in single and group plantings. Compact hybrids with pyramidal, columnar, and weeping crown shapes have been bred. Trees decorate the landscape from early spring to late autumn.

Contraindications to the use of mulberry products

Mulberry fruits are a fairly strong allergen. They can cause a reaction at the first use: skin rash, itching, hay fever. In some cases, swelling of the eyelids or lips is likely - a manifestation of angioedema. In case of intolerance healthy berries will have to be excluded from the diet.

Mulberry juice is prohibited for consumption by those suffering cholelithiasis, stomach ulcer, ulcerative colitis, advanced stages of diabetes mellitus.

Mulberry dishes should not be given to young children under 2 years of age.

Growing

The mulberry tree grows well in temperate conditions. climate zone, adapts to almost all types of soil. Grows on alkaline, acidic soils. Mulberry does not tolerate excessive dampness or frequent waterlogging.

Landing

Mulberries are planted in spacious, well-lit areas. A widely growing root system requires a large area. In gardens, it is recommended to cultivate varieties that grow up to 4–6 m. If the plant is intended to be used as a fruit-bearing plant, it is advisable to select proven seedlings, young trees that have already bear fruit. Until the age of 5, it can be very difficult to understand the gender of a mulberry tree.

In the middle zone, it is recommended to plant mulberries in the spring, after the snow melts and the soil warms up to 10–12 °C. Holes for plants are prepared with a size of about 50x50 cm. The distance between bushes in group plantings should be at least 2 m. Add ½ bucket of compost, leaf humus or rotted manure to the soil removed from the holes. You can supplement the fertilizing by adding potassium-phosphorus fertilizer or superphosphate. Drainage is placed at the bottom of the holes. The roots of the seedlings are placed carefully, straightened, and the soil is evenly distributed throughout the entire volume of the holes. Small tubercles are placed near the root collars. Immediately after planting, the trees are watered and mulched with pine needles or sawdust.

Watering

Mulberries need additional moisture until they reach 5 years of age. Trees growing on dry sandy soils are watered every week with 15 liters of water. Wet clay soils should be moistened carefully so as not to cause rotting of the root system. In case of heavy natural precipitation, you can refuse watering. By the second half of summer, the plants have time to become saturated with water, the growing season slows down, and they require less moisture. From this period, you can refuse to moisturize in order to provide the mulberry tree with protection from future cold weather.

Feeding

Before flowering begins, add superphosphate to the soil.. If the soil is not nutritious enough, add compost, humus or other organic matter once a month.

Crown care, pruning

Trim mulberry tree branches to give the crown decorative look, rejuvenation begins at 3 years of age. Earlier pruning is acceptable for sanitary purposes. To do this, remove diseased, damaged branches that have been frozen over the winter.

The mulberry tree quickly recovers and increases its green mass, so during the season you can cut off ⅓ of the crown volume. In decorative varieties, the lower part of the trunk up to 1.5 m high is usually left bare, and the crown is given a spherical or pyramidal shape.

To prevent the death of young shoots in winter frosts, it is recommended to insulate mulberries under 5 years old. The branches are bent down, the crown is wrapped in burlap and tied. The roots can be covered with spruce branches.

Reproduction

Varietal mulberry is not propagated by seeds. This method does not preserve the species properties of the plant. Vegetative methods are usually used: cuttings, grafting.

Cuttings are cut at the beginning of summer from one-year-old shoots. The rods should be 12–15 cm long, have 1–2 healthy buds, and a couple of leaves. Excess greenery is torn off. The shoots take root in a mixture of peat and sand. For the first 2 years, it is recommended to grow them in a greenhouse, then transfer them to open ground.

In sandy soil, mulberries often send out root shoots, which can be easily detached from the mother tree in the spring. Low-growing varieties with long side shoots are propagated by layering. To do this, bend the selected branches to the ground and lightly sprinkle them with soil. After a year, the shoot takes root, it is disconnected and replanted.

In our family Bell pepper they love it, that’s why we plant it every year. Most of the varieties that I grow have been tested by me for more than one season; I cultivate them constantly. I also try to try something new every year. Pepper is a heat-loving plant and quite whimsical. Varietal and hybrid varieties of tasty and productive sweet peppers, which grow well for me, will be discussed further. I live in central Russia.

Home floriculture is not only a fascinating process, but also a very troublesome hobby. And, as a rule, the more experience a grower has, the healthier his plants look. What should those who have no experience but want to have a home do? houseplants- not elongated, stunted specimens, but beautiful and healthy ones, not causing a feeling of guilt with their fading? For beginners and flower growers who do not have much experience, I will tell you about the main mistakes that are easy to avoid.

Lush cheesecakes in a frying pan with banana-apple confiture - another recipe for everyone’s favorite dish. To prevent cheesecakes from falling off after cooking, remember a few simple rules. Firstly, only fresh and dry cottage cheese, secondly, no baking powder or soda, thirdly, the thickness of the dough - you can sculpt from it, it is not tight, but pliable. A good dough with a small amount of flour can only be obtained from good cottage cheese, and here again see the “firstly” point.

It is no secret that many drugs from pharmacies have migrated to summer cottages. Their use, at first glance, seems so exotic that some summer residents are perceived with hostility. At the same time, potassium permanganate is a long-known antiseptic that is used in both medicine and veterinary medicine. In plant growing, a solution of potassium permanganate is used both as an antiseptic and as a fertilizer. In this article we will tell you how to properly use potassium permanganate in the garden.

Pork meat salad with mushrooms is a rural dish that can often be found on festive table in the village. This recipe is with champignons, but if you have the opportunity to use wild mushrooms, be sure to cook it this way, it will be even tastier. You don’t need to spend a lot of time preparing this salad - put the meat in a pan for 5 minutes and another 5 minutes for slicing. Everything else happens practically without the participation of the cook - the meat and mushrooms are boiled, cooled, and marinated.

Cucumbers grow well not only in a greenhouse or conservatory, but also in open ground. Typically, cucumbers are sown from mid-April to mid-May. Harvesting in this case is possible from mid-July to the end of summer. Cucumbers cannot tolerate frost. That's why we don't sow them too early. However, there is a way to bring their harvest closer and taste the juicy beauties from your garden at the beginning of summer or even in May. It is only necessary to take into account some of the features of this plant.

Polyscias is an excellent alternative to classic variegated shrubs and woody ones. The elegant round or feathery leaves of this plant create a strikingly festive curly crown, and its elegant silhouettes and rather modest character make it an excellent candidate for the role of the largest plant in the house. Larger leaves do not prevent it from successfully replacing Benjamin and Co. ficus. Moreover, polyscias offers much more variety.

Pumpkin cinnamon casserole is juicy and incredibly tasty, a little like pumpkin pie, but unlike pie, it is more tender and just melts in your mouth! This is the perfect sweet recipe for a family with children. As a rule, kids don’t really like pumpkin, but they never mind eating something sweet. Sweet pumpkin casserole - delicious and healthy dessert, which, moreover, is prepared very simply and quickly. Try it! You'll like it!

A hedge is not only one of essential elements landscape design. She also performs various protective functions. If, for example, the garden borders a road, or a highway passes nearby, then hedge simply necessary. “Green walls” will protect the garden from dust, noise, wind and create a special comfort and microclimate. In this article, we will look at the optimal plants for creating a hedge that can reliably protect the area from dust.

Many crops require picking (and more than one) in the first weeks of development, while for others transplantation is “contraindicated.” To “please” both of them, you can use non-standard containers for seedlings. Another good reason to try them is saving money. In this article we will tell you how to do without the usual boxes, pots, cassettes and tablets. And let’s pay attention to non-traditional, but very effective and interesting containers for seedlings.

Healthy vegetable soup made from red cabbage with celery, red onion and beets - a vegetarian soup recipe that can also be prepared on fasting days. For those who decide to lose a few extra pounds, I would advise not to add potatoes, and slightly reduce the amount of olive oil (1 tablespoon is enough). The soup turns out to be very aromatic and thick, and during Lent you can serve a portion of the soup with lean bread - then it will be satisfying and healthy.

Surely everyone has already heard about the popular term “hygge”, which came to us from Denmark. This word cannot be translated into other languages ​​of the world. Because it means a lot of things at once: comfort, happiness, harmony, spiritual atmosphere... In this northern country, by the way, most of the time of the year there is cloudy weather and little sun. Summer is also short. And the level of happiness is one of the highest (the country regularly ranks first in the UN global rankings).

Meat balls in sauce with mashed potatoes- a simple second course prepared based on Italian cuisine. The more common name for this dish is meatballs or meatballs, but the Italians (and not only them) call such small round cutlets meat balls. The cutlets are first fried until golden brown, and then stewed in a thick vegetable sauce - it turns out very tasty, simply delicious! Any minced meat is suitable for this recipe - chicken, beef, pork.

Mulberry fruits, shaped like blackberries, are extremely useful and are used as a natural antiseptic.

Mulberry in medicine: benefits and contraindications of fruits

Mulberry- a genus of deciduous trees of the mulberry family. In culture for more than 3000 years. People breed them for their leaves, the main food of silkworms, and as a fruit crop. There are about 10 species in the genus, but three are most often used. The berries are a cluster of juicy grains with skin, pulp and small grains.

There are many types, shapes and varieties, among which black, white and red mulberries stand out for their fruits. All species are fast-growing deciduous dioecious plants, distinguished by a variety of leaf shapes, which, even on one branch, can be three-, five-fingered or whole heart-shaped.

All parts of the mulberry tree contain milky sap, which is released when the plant tissue is injured. The fruits resemble berries or, in some cases, contain seeds, in others they are seedless.

As you can see in the photo, mulberry berries have the shape of drupes and reach 2-3 cm:

The fruits are juicy, sweet, have pleasant aroma. The first fruits begin to ripen in mid-July. The main ripening period occurs at the end of July - beginning of August.

The first to use mulberry in medicine was the medieval Persian scientist, physician and philosopher Abu Ali ibn Sina - Avicenna, who was one of the first to draw attention to the benefits of using this plant.

All parts of the tree are used for treatment - roots, bark, leaves and fruits. This plant is excellent natural antiseptic, can be used as an anti-inflammatory, expectorant, diuretic, diaphoretic, and astringent.

It is used in the production of sugar, citric acid and vinegar. In folk medicine, this unique plant can bring tangible benefits in the treatment of many diseases. The berries, when fully ripe, are an excellent laxative and are suitable for constipation. Green fruits are used for diarrhea. Juice diluted with boiled water is used to rinse the mouth for throat diseases. An infusion of mulberry bark and berries is effective for acute respiratory infections, bronchitis, and bronchial asthma.

As a diuretic, decoctions of the bark and roots are used for hypertension. The leaves are infused and taken in infusions for fever to reduce the temperature. It is recommended to consume berries in large quantities with heart disease and myocardial dystrophy. Made from bark healing powder, if you mix it with oil, you get a remedy for healing wounds, cuts, and ulcers. This ointment quickly eliminates bruises.

Eating it helps in the treatment of prostatitis and impotence, with uterine bleeding and to relieve menopausal syndrome.

The main contraindication for mulberries is individual intolerance. Excessive use this berry can cause side effects digestive system. In addition, people suffering diabetes mellitus or hypertension, you should consult your doctor before eating berries.

Black and white mulberry: photo and description

There are about 24 species of mulberries native to Eastern and South-East Asia, on the Sunda Islands, India, southern North America, partly in Africa and southern Europe. There are 2 common types of mulberries in culture - white and black mulberries.

They are grown for their fruits and leaves for feeding silkworms. To feed the silkworm, white, silkworm and multi-stemmed mulberries are cultivated, and black mulberries are also cultivated to produce fruits.

White mulberry can have not only white, but also pink, yellow and even black fruits - this variety got its name thanks to light color tree bark.

White mulberry is native to Asia Minor and East Asia. This is a fast-growing, tall, long-lived tree with a dense spherical or spreading crown. The leaves on one tree grow in various configurations; in summer they are dark green and yellow in autumn. The berries of this type of mulberry deserve a special description - they have a surprisingly sugary taste.

It is unpretentious to soil and growing conditions - it grows successfully in city conditions, and its long roots help stabilize slopes and ravines. At a young age, it easily tolerates transplantation. This species can withstand significant frosts (up to -30 degrees), and when young branches freeze after pruning, they quickly grow back and restore fruiting.

It is grown by gardeners and as an ornamental plant: there are many garden forms with weeping, pyramidal, spherical, multi-stemmed, dwarf crown and a variety of leaves. Decorative forms are propagated by grafting and vegetative methods.

Pay attention to the photo - white mulberry is used for single, group planting and for creating a dense hedge, as it tolerates regular trimming well.

Black mulberry originally from Iran and Afghanistan. In nature and in hot countries, it is a large tree up to 15 m high. The wide spreading crown is covered with large leaves. The shiny black fruits are very juicy and tasty, sweet and sour.

Summer green deciduous tree with a low, very wide and spreading crown. The tree is usually much larger in width than in height. The trunk is often twisted, curved or crooked. The bark is dark brown or orange-brown, fissured. The leaves are 7-18 cm long and about 8 cm wide, broadly oval and heart-shaped, with a short slender apex, deeply notched at the base, irregularly crenate, serrate-crenate or slightly lobed along the edges; on the upper side they are rough, pubescent, light green to bright green, on the lower side they are light green, with soft pubescence.

The plant is monoecious. Men's earrings are short and thick, pale green. Female inflorescences are even shorter. Fruits develop not from carpels, but from elements of the flower cover. Blooms in May-June.

Below are descriptions of black and white mulberry varieties.

Black Baroness. Deciduous dioecious tree with a moderately dense spherical crown. The flowers are dioecious, collected in spikes. The leaves are simple, 3-5 lobed or entire. The fruit is a large one-dimensional edible, juicy, sugary complex drupe of thick black color. The taste is very sweet and pleasant, almost without acid. The aroma is insignificant. Fruiting is abundant and regular, the berries ripen in June-July. Productivity is high. Transportability of berries is satisfactory. Shelf life fresh berries without spoilage 6-12 hours. The variety is unpretentious to soil and living conditions. Withstands frosts of -30°C and above.

Dark-skinned girl- a variety of white mulberry. A large deciduous tree with a dense spreading crown. Productivity is high. The fruits are almost black, up to 3.5 cm in length and 1.2 cm in diameter, juicy, sweet, ripen in June-July. Transportability is good. When describing this variety of mulberry, it is especially worth noting the frost resistance, drought resistance and unpretentiousness of the trees.

Black mulberry Istanbul. One of the largest-fruited mulberry varieties. The tree is tall, up to 7 m high. The crown is dense, spherical. It begins to bear fruit in the 4th year.

Look at the photo - this black mulberry has small flowers, collected in spike-shaped inflorescences:

Leaves are ovoid. Blooms at the end of April. Ripe fruits almost black in color, large 3 cm in length. The ripening period is long from the second ten days of July to August - the third ten days.

Unpretentious to soil and living conditions. Withstands frosts down to -30°C

Planting and caring for mulberries in spring and autumn

The plant is easy to grow, its unpretentiousness allows it to be planted on any soil. The plant loves moderate watering and mulching of the soil. The tree tolerates pruning well, which results in the crown becoming denser and more spherical in shape. In winter, no shelter is required - it can withstand frost well. In summer it can easily withstand drought. Propagated by cuttings, seeds or separating offspring from the mother plant.

There are two main planting methods: seedlings and seeds.

For planting and subsequent care of mulberries, use a sunny place; the soil should be loose to make furrows easier to make. These furrows need to be well watered; it is advisable to add fertilizer for fruit and berry crops to the water.

Sow seeds as rarely as possible - this will make it easier to plant the seedlings. It is necessary to sow the seeds at a depth of 3–5 cm; after sowing, water them thoroughly and mulch them so that the soil does not dry out. When planting in the fall, take care of insulation so that the seeds do not freeze.

After the seedlings sprout, they need to be watered and weeded periodically. Seedlings can be fed with fertilizers to better growth. With proper care, mulberry seedlings will be strong and large by autumn. They will need to be seated - the distance should be from 3 to 5 meters.

Seedlings should be planted in early spring in the sunniest place. After digging a hole, add compost or nutrient soil to it, pour in plenty of water with fertilizer diluted in it for better rooting of seedlings, and cover with soil. Water and mulch the soil around the seedling again.

Caring for mulberries in spring, summer and autumn consists of weeding and watering. Seedlings can also be planted in the fall, but this must be done a month and a half before frost. To prevent the tree from growing too large and looking well-groomed, its crown must be periodically trimmed and shaped.

Pruning mulberry trees (with video)

Mulberries should be pruned only during the period of complete dormancy from early to mid-winter. In older trees, however, intensive sap flow may already occur at this time; A red-hot poker is traditionally used to cauterize wounds.

Prune old trees only when necessary - remove infected and damaged branches in the summer. Juice is also released through wounds in the roots; do not cut them off when planting.

Later, pruning of a properly formed tree can be kept to an absolute minimum.

For a young tree, clear branches from a trunk to a height of 1.5 m so that the spreading branches of an adult plant do not fall to the ground.

Unwanted shoots on the developing trunk are shortened in the first year, and completely removed in the second year.

To form a structurally sound tree, try to keep the main shoot to a height of about 6 m, tie it up if necessary and remove competing leaders, otherwise give the crown the opportunity to develop naturally.

To make harvesting easier, low-growing compact trees can be formed.

Trim the apical shoot directly above the top 3-4 powerful side shoots, at a height of 1-1.5 meters. Form a skeleton of 8-10 branches, like a low-standard apple tree.

Then allow the crown to develop naturally, keeping pruning to a minimum. Unwanted shoots must be quickly plucked or trimmed.

Young trees are easy to form. Seedlings slowly form side shoots, so pruning them to clean the trunk may only be necessary after 3-4 years, as with some ornamental standard trees.

Once the trunk is formed, allow the crown to develop naturally or, to form a more compact tree, prune the top and upper side branches, like a low-bole tree, this year and next.

Watch the mulberry pruning video to better understand how this procedure is performed:

Mulberry grafting rules

If for some reason the plant produces low-quality fruits, or you want to grow several varieties on one tree at once, then the grafting procedure will help you.

The first step is to ensure that the cuttings are prepared in advance. Annual shoots are cut from the upper part of the crown of the fruit tree from the well-lit side in early spring or at the end of winter, when there are no longer severe frosts. Store them in a damp, cool place, wrapped in a damp cloth. It is very important that the cuttings are prepared correctly and are not frozen.

Most often, mulberry grafting is done in the spring, in early or mid-April. The period of spring grafting begins with the beginning of bud break on the tree and lasts until the end of flowering. At this time, the circulation of sap in the tree trunk reaches its peak, which means there is a high probability of fusion of the scion and rootstock.

Vaccination in the summer is also welcome; it can be repeated after an unsuccessful procedure in the spring. For summer grafting by budding, shoots of the current year are used, rather than prepared in advance. To do this, you should choose vegetative shoots: elongated, fruitful and with large leaves. It is also important that the buds on them are well developed.

It is very important to follow the rules for mulberry grafting:

• The work must be done with clean and well-sharpened tools to ensure high-quality cuts the first time.
• The cut areas quickly oxidize, so the work must be done quickly enough.
• After the procedure, the wounds must be treated with a special putty - garden varnish or oil paint.