Mulberry (Morus spp.)

An exceptionally fast-growing, high-yielding fruit species widely cultivated across Kerala rooftop orchards, celebrated for its dark purple-to-black or reddish cylindrical berries that offer a delightfully sweet, juicy flavor packed with antioxidants. Varieties like the Everbearing Dwarf Mulberry or English Long are particularly popular for container culture, producing multiple heavy fruiting flushes throughout the year.

Grafted or cutting-grown plants adapt exceptionally well to standard rooftop grow bags and containers (14×14 or 18×18 inches). With routine post-harvest hard pruning to keep the canopy compact and trigger fresh fruiting shoots, it thrives under full terrace sunlight, copes easily with Kerala’s monsoon humidity, and yields heavy fruit crops precociously within just 6 to 12 months of planting!

Description

Mulberry is a fast-growing fruit plant known for its sweet, juicy berries, which may be red, purple, or nearly black depending on the variety. It grows best in full sunlight, ideally receiving 6–8 hours of direct sun daily, and thrives in warm climates. Mulberry prefers fertile, well-drained soil enriched with organic matter but can tolerate different soil types. Water regularly while the plant is young and during dry periods, keeping the soil moist without waterlogging. Once established, it is relatively drought-tolerant. Pruning helps maintain a manageable size and encourages healthy growth and fruit production. Mulberry can be grown in home gardens or suitable large containers.

Recommended Planting Method for Best Results

For healthy growth and strong establishment, prepare a 2–3 ft deep pit. If available, place a layer of green leaves at the bottom. Mix 1.5 kg bone meal, 1 kg oil cake, 20 kg raw cow or goat dung, and 100 g urea with an equal quantity of soil, then fill the pit and cover it with soil.

Leave the pit for about one month, watering it daily so the mixture decomposes well. After one month, mix the contents again and add 100 g calcium or dolomite. Wait one more week, then plant the sapling.

If you need to plant immediately and cannot wait for the one-month decomposition period, do not add oil cake or calcium/dolomite; use only the soil, manure, bone meal, and urea mixture for planting.