I'm Tony, botanist and arborist at Giardino Fresco in Miami. If you've ever eaten a mulberry warm off the tree, you know why I keep recommending them. They're sweet, juicy and nothing like the dried ones in a bag. Better yet, an everbearing mulberry is one of the easiest fruit trees you can grow anywhere in Florida. Here's what to know before you buy one, and how to get it fruiting fast.
Why mulberry is a great Florida fruit tree
- It grows statewide. Unlike mango or starfruit, mulberry handles frost and cold snaps. That makes it a strong choice from Key West to the Panhandle.
- It fruits young. A healthy, well-grown plant often starts producing within its first year or two in the ground, sometimes sooner.
- It's not picky about soil. Sand, limestone, clay: mulberry adapts better than most fruit trees, as long as the spot drains.
- It bounces back. Mulberry takes hard pruning well and recovers quickly from storms and cold.
What "everbearing" really means
"Everbearing" doesn't mean fruit every single day of the year. In Florida, mulberries usually give their main crop in late winter and spring. Everbearing types tend to stretch that season out and often set smaller flushes after the main crop, especially when you prune and feed them well. Expect weeks of picking, not one weekend.
Most mulberries sold for home gardens in Florida set fruit without a second tree, so one plant is enough to get a crop.
Choosing a good mulberry plant
When you buy, look for:
- A healthy, branched plant with good leaf color and no signs of scale or sooty mold.
- A root system that fills the pot without circling heavily around the outside.
- A plant that's already mature enough to fruit. That shortens your wait a lot.
Our everbearing mulberry plant is grown at our Miami nursery and sold at a size that's ready to fruit.
Where to plant it
- Full sun. Six to eight hours or more gives you the best crop.
- Away from patios, cars, pool decks and walkways. Ripe purple mulberries stain, and birds will share the fruit with you, along with what comes after.
- Give it space. Left alone, a mulberry can get big. Plan on pruning it to stay pickable, around eight to ten feet, or give it plenty of room.
- Good drainage. Avoid low spots where water sits after summer storms.
How to plant
- Dig a hole two to three times as wide as the pot and no deeper than the root ball.
- Set the top of the root ball level with or slightly above the ground.
- Backfill with the native soil and water well to settle it.
- Mulch two to three inches deep in a wide ring, keeping it a few inches off the trunk.
Fall and winter are a great time to plant, especially in Central and North Florida. For a region-by-region breakdown, see what fruit trees to plant now in Florida this fall and winter.
Watering
Water every day or every other day for the first couple of weeks, then two to three times a week for the next couple of months. Once established, mulberry is fairly drought tolerant, but regular water during flowering and fruiting gives you bigger, juicier berries. In a container, check the soil every few days and water when the top inch or two is dry.
Feeding
Mulberries aren't heavy feeders. Too much nitrogen gives you a lot of leaves and fewer berries. Feed young trees lightly every couple of months during the growing season with a balanced fertilizer like our 10-10-10 fertilizer, and back off in the coolest months. My full schedule is in when and how to fertilize fruit trees in Florida.
Pruning: the secret to more fruit
This is where I see the biggest difference between a so-so mulberry and a great one. Mulberries fruit on new growth. A good pruning after the main spring crop does three things:
- Keeps the tree at a height you can pick from the ground.
- Pushes fresh shoots that can carry the next flush of fruit.
- Opens the canopy so light and air get in.
Cut back long branches by a third to a half right after the main harvest. Remove dead, crossing and inward-growing branches. Clean, sharp tools make clean cuts that heal well. Our basic pruning shears handle most mulberry pruning.
Harvesting
Pick when berries are fully colored and come off with a gentle tug. Underripe mulberries are tart; ripe ones are soft and sweet. Many people lay an old sheet under the tree and give the branches a gentle shake. Mulberries don't keep long, so eat them fresh, freeze them, or turn them into jam, smoothies or pie.
Common problems
- Birds. They love mulberries. Light netting over a pruned tree helps, or just plant enough to share.
- Scale and sooty mold. Watch the undersides of leaves and stems. Treat early with horticultural oil, following the label.
- Fruit drop in dry spells. Keep watering steady while fruit is forming.
Can you grow mulberry in a pot?
Yes. Mulberry is one of the better fruit trees for containers. Use a large pot with drainage holes and a well-draining mix, and prune every year to keep it compact. It's a great option for patios and for anyone renting.
Get your mulberry started
If you want a fruit tree that's easy, fast and forgiving, mulberry is it. Pick up an everbearing mulberry, ready to fruit, and plant it this season so it's settled in for the spring crop. We ship nationwide (except California, Arizona and Hawaii), and local pickup at our Miami nursery is available anytime. Have a question about your spot? Text me at 786-774-2125.
