Mulberries, For Fast Shade and Sweet Fruit

I planted a mulberry tree this spring, and next summer I should be able to pick at least a small handful of sweet berries from this fast-growing tree. Non-fruiting mulberries are also available. The sterile kind are great if you want quick shade but don't want to worry about the black berries staining your patio. For me, though, the berries are the best part. There will plenty to share in a few years, and my new urban chicken yard will be placed conveniently under the tree.

My tree is the common cultivar 'Illinois Everbearing'. As the name implies, fruit will continue to ripen over a long period, from late June through August. I chose this cultivar because it is a very cold-hardy natural hybrid of the red and white mulberry, and is said to bear large crops with good flavor.

Mulberries can be found growing naturally in North America and China. Three species are grown for fruit - white, red and black mulberries. Red and white mulberries can cross and create hybrids.

White mulberries tend to have very sweet, large fruit, which is not always white. The berries of the white mulberry can also be lavender or black. White berries are often preferred because they won't stain when they drop on patios or when they're picked, but their flavor lacks tartness that could make them more interesting. This species was originally brought to the United States for the silkworm industry, but has now naturalized. Some white mulberry varieties are very cold hardy, surviving winter weather that plummets to 25 degrees below zero - but not all white mulberries are this hardy.

The red mulberry is a large tree with big leaves, which are sometimes lobed. Some red mulberries varieties are known for their excellent fruit. Many named cultivars exist.

Black mulberries are native to western Asia, and this is the variety grown most widely for it's fruit in Europe. This is a smaller tree that grows to about thirty feet, and may grow as a bush without pruning, The fruit is large and juicy, with both sweet and tart flavors. Unfortunately, the black mulberry is the least cold-hardy of the mulberries grown for fruit, and does not do well in the humid south.

If you have chickens or livestock, you can carry out the tradition of planting mulberries near your pig or chicken yards. The trees will provide welcome shade for the animals and birds during the summer, and the critters will find the ripe fruit as it drops.

The mulberries require little care once they're established, and some varieties can even become a bit invasive. Most will grow quickly, to provide fast shade and food for birds and people. They can be harvested by spreading a plastic sheet under the tree and shaking the limbs. Some varieties, like the 'Illinois Everbearing', will continue to ripen all summer, and it can be eaten out of hand, or used to make wine, pies, and sauce. The berries can also be dried.