Pump up the Jam...


Morus nigra otherwise known as Dwarf Mulberry originates from Asia and the Middle East. It grows best in Hardiness Zones 8a-8b and can tolerate partial shade to partial sun. Depending on the area they can grow up to 30 feet tall but in most areas they will be more of a large shrub. We are lucky enough to have one of these gorgeous trees in our garden here at Fifield shown in the picture below.


The berries are dark in color and knowing when to harvest is of utmost importance when it comes to this tasty treat. Berries that are not black/dark purple in color yet can cause stomach upset and hallucination. Birds have even adapted to eat the correct color of berries in most cases which is a outstanding example of coevolution. Those birds can be quite a pest though so it is important to keep a scare crow handy and pick the dark berries early in the morning or as you see them so that you can get your hands on them before the birds!




Mulberry jam is quite delicious known to be sweetest when made with Morus nigra berries specifically and a wonderful way to preserve the large amount of berries that this plant yields. They can also be frozen for smoothies or future use. Here is a helpful link for a recipe if you like to try it out for yourselves! https://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2012/06/mulberry-jam.html


Sources: http://www.gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/trees-and-shrubs/trees/mulberry.html
http://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/leonco/2015/09/04/mulberries-feast-or-foe/

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