How to select mulberry seeds? What are the seedling raising methods?

Mulberry is now a cash crop tree in many regions. The mulberry fruit it bears is rich in nutrients, has a unique taste, and commands a high market price. If you want to plant mulberry now, then how should mulberry seeds be selected? What are the seedling raising methods? Let's find out below.

How to select mulberry seeds?

1. Choose a mulberry variety that has passed certification and is suitable for planting in your local area.

2. Pay attention to the seed packaging information, such as seed category, variety name, place of origin, production date, quality indicators, quarantine certificate number, seed production and business license number, etc.

3. Select high-quality seeds with a dry surface, plump individual seeds, fresh and alive, and seed coats free of moisture.

4. Do not buy seeds of unknown origin or unlabeled seeds. When purchasing, ask for an invoice, and properly keep the invoice and the seed packaging bag.

What are the mulberry seedling raising methods?

1. Sowing and seedling raising

Sowing seeds is currently a fairly commonly used method, and the sowing time is generally in spring and summer each year. For the seeds, you can generally directly pick highly ripe mulberry fruit, take out the seeds, clean the pulp off the seeds, wash them, and drain off the water; seeds treated this way can then be planted. It is best to plant fresh seeds directly, as this gives a higher seedling emergence rate. In addition, the seeds should preferably be pre-germinated, so that the seed germination time can be brought forward. Soak the mulberry seeds in clean water for about 24 hours, take out the soaked seeds, place them on moist sandy soil or a moist towel, maintain the temperature at around 25 degrees, and keep them ventilated. Generally, within about one week you can see the mulberry seeds sprout white shoots, and at this point they can be planted.

2. Cutting propagation for seedling raising

Cutting propagation is generally carried out in summer, using semi-lignified mulberry branches for cuttings. The length of the cuttings is about 15 cm; keep only the top two leaves to reduce nutrient loss. Fine sand can be used as the substrate for cuttings, and the substrate needs to be kept at a depth of about 20 cm; the substrate should be disinfected before use. The cuttings can be appropriately dipped in rooting solution. When inserting the cuttings, be careful not to use too much force, to avoid the substrate scratching the cuttings. The cuttings are generally inserted to a depth of one-third to two-thirds. Afterward, keep the substrate moist; in addition, summer temperatures are relatively high, so temperature control should be done well to avoid a high-temperature environment for the cuttings. Generally, within about three weeks you can see the cuttings take root, but at this time the growth of the cuttings is not yet stable enough, so it is best to transplant the cuttings only after six weeks.

3. Grafting for seedling raising

Grafting mulberry can promote the mulberry to enter the fruiting stage earlier and can also play a role in improving the tree variety. Mulberry grafting is generally carried out in spring each year, and there are many grafting methods, such as side grafting, bag grafting, bud grafting, etc. Here we introduce a relatively commonly used grafting method - the saw-stump bud grafting method. This method is a bit rougher, but it is still used quite often. First, dig away the soil at the base of the mulberry until you reach the root crown of the mulberry, that is, the place where the mulberry trunk transitions from green to yellow; then saw it open with a sharp knife, use the knife to pry open the mulberry bark at the cut, and insert the graft bud. Afterward, tie it tightly with plastic tape to avoid rain.

Mulberry is a native tree in our country and has a very long planting history in China. Mulberry also has very wide uses. Many places in the south have the habit of planting mulberry and raising silkworms, and mulberry is planted in some areas of China. Is there anything else you would like to add about mulberry?

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