The Latest Cultivation Techniques and Methods Tutorial for Red Mulberry
Red mulberry, also known as iron amaranth, blood-wort, sea mussel beads, pearls hidden in leaves, etc., is the above-ground part of the plant red mulberry of the Euphorbiaceae family. As an excellent tree species for tropical garden landscaping, it is often cultivated in the south as hedges and foliage shrubs in courtyards and parks, and can be placed among shrubs to add splashes of color. In the Yangtze River basin it is grown in pots for indoor display. Now let us take a look at the cultivation techniques for red mulberry!
Growth Habits of Red Mulberry
Red mulberry is a rather typical tropical tree species. It likes high temperatures and high humidity, has low cold resistance, and cannot tolerate frost. When the temperature drops below 10°C, the leaves suffer mild cold damage; with prolonged low temperatures of 6-8°C, the plant is severely damaged. In our country, only Hainan, Taiwan, China and the southernmost tip of the mainland allow open-ground cultivation; elsewhere it is only suitable for pot cultivation, overwintering in a greenhouse or indoors, with room temperature not lower than 12°C. It likes light and cannot tolerate shade, so it is not suitable for long-term indoor cultivation. It has relatively high requirements for soil water and fertilizer conditions, requiring loose, well-drained soil. With dense branches and large leaves, the crown shape is full; it grows poorly in arid and barren soil. For pot cultivation, pond mud or forest soil should be used, with calcium magnesium phosphate fertilizer mixed with decomposed cake fertilizer as base fertilizer. Afterwards, depending on leaf growth, spray with dilute nitrogen fertilizer water. Stop fertilizing after autumn, and keep the potting soil constantly moist.
Propagation Methods of Red Mulberry
In most regions of our country, the heat is relatively low, so it is difficult for seeds to form after flowering, and cutting propagation is mostly used for seedlings. From late March to late April, select robust 1-year-old branches and cut them into sections about 10 cm long as cuttings. After cutting, soak in water for 1-2 hours, then insert densely into a moist sand bed. Without shading, keep moist; roots and leaves can emerge in about 20 days, and after about 1.5 months they can be transplanted to the nursery for cultivation. When the seedlings are about 10 cm tall, remove the terminal buds to encourage early sprouting into a clump-shaped crown. Cover with plastic film in winter, and in the following spring they can be taken out of the nursery for potting or open-ground planting. They can also be potted in autumn or planted in large containers and placed in a warm shed to overwinter.
Cultivation Techniques of Red Mulberry
1. Site selection and land preparation: Red mulberry is not strict about soil, but grows well in slightly alkaline soil. It has a certain drought resistance and grows poorly in fields with poor drainage. Choose flat land with convenient irrigation and drainage and few weeds, and make level beds. Red mulberry seeds are very small, so land preparation must be fine, with level ground and fine soil, to facilitate seedling emergence.
2. Apply sufficient base fertilizer: Red mulberry likes fertilizer. Before land preparation, apply 1500 kg of decomposed human manure per mu, then make ridges or beds. The sowing rate varies with the sowing period; the earlier the sowing period, the more seed used. For early spring sowing, the sowing rate is 4-5 kg/mu. The sowing method can be broadcast sowing or drilling. After sowing, cover with soil 0.5-1 cm.
3. Topdressing and watering: When sown in early spring, seedlings emerge relatively late, requiring 7-12 days to emerge. When the seedlings grow to 2 true leaves, the first topdressing can be carried out at the 3-5 leaf stage, applying 10 kg of urea per mu. After 12 days, carry out the second topdressing. After the first harvest, carry out the third topdressing. Thereafter, after each harvest, apply fertilizer once. Each topdressing should use dilute liquid fertilizer mainly based on nitrogen fertilizer. If quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer is applied, it can be combined with watering. In spring sowing, water less.
4. Cultivation and pruning: During the seedling growth period of red mulberry, timely cultivation and weeding should be carried out to prevent weeds from affecting the growth of red mulberry seedlings. For red mulberry harvested multiple times, pruning is also needed, that is, after the main branch is harvested, leave 2-3 nodes at the base of the main branch to promote the sprouting of side branches, so as to increase yield.
5. Timely harvest: Red mulberry is a leafy vegetable sown once and harvested in batches. The first harvest is mostly combined with thinning. Generally, 40-45 days after sowing, when the seedlings are 10-12 cm tall and have 5-6 leaves, harvest successively along the ridges. When harvesting, grasp the principle of harvesting large ones and keeping small ones, and keeping seedlings evenly, to increase later yield. Apply fertilizer after harvest. Red mulberry is mainly eaten for its tender leaves, so harvest must be timely; otherwise fiber increases and quality decreases. The yield per mu can reach 1000-1500 kg.
6. Pest and disease control: Red mulberry has strong disease resistance. The main disease is white rust, which can be controlled with triadimefon or mancozeb. The pest is aphids, which can be controlled by spraying with imidacloprid or pirimicarb.