I've got a mulberry grove in my backyard that I've mostly let grow wild, and this year, it's finally producing a lot of fruit! At first, I was picking about 6-8 cups a day, but now many of the smaller trees have stopped producing ripe berries. They've got a bunch of small, white to pink ones that will take a few weeks to ripen. The bigger trees are also running low on ripe fruit, but they still have some berries that should be ready in 2-4 weeks. I'm curious to know if it's normal for mulberry trees to have a bit of a hiatus in the middle of the season, or if there might be something environmental causing the younger berries to take longer to ripen. We did have a dry heatwave recently but have had a lot of rain since then. Also, these trees are white mulberries, and they're a mix of different colors—white, black, pink, purple, and red. Any insights?
2 Answers
Yeah, I’ve noticed similar patterns! I picked a ton of berries not long ago, but they do get smaller and less flavorful as the season goes on. My trees start with really big fruit, and by the end, they’re tiny. If yours are making smaller berries low down, that’s also been my experience. How do you manage to pick berries at 3 AM, though? Got some serious outdoor lighting going on?
Haha, I don’t have outdoor lights like that! Just have some late-night picking sessions when I can. It’s nice and peaceful out.
In NM, my mulberries go through about 4-6 fruiting cycles. And if you haven’t tried mixing mulberries with apricots for jam, you’re missing out! Don’t forget to pick those white mulberries this year—I totally missed them last year. Oh, and freezing the extra is a great idea! We made strudel once, but the flavor kind of vanished. I just love tossing them in smoothies, though!
Thanks for the tip! I haven’t tried that combo yet, but I’ll definitely give it a go. Freezing is a lifesaver for all the extras.
That sounds delicious! I love experimenting with fruit. Maybe I’ll try some jam this year too.
Sounds like a fun midnight berry adventure! I can see how it’d be easier without the crowd.