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Post by john on Mar 16, 2020 16:41:51 GMT -6
A couple of years ago my wife thoughtfully purchased me a saddle grafting kit. It was basically a pair of pruners that cut the scion and the rootstock perfectly so that they would dovetail together. The grafts look beautiful but I have never gotten one to take. In my opinion they are a complete gimmick. The ones she purchased me were just like the ones in the video.
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Post by macmex on Mar 16, 2020 20:38:49 GMT -6
John, I "may have to get me one of those!" For sure I still need to perfect my technique!
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Post by john on Mar 17, 2020 6:50:30 GMT -6
Hi George I would save your money, in my experience the grafting tool didn't work, I had better success with a knife using more traditional grafts like the cleft and whip and tongue.
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Post by heavyhitterokra on Mar 17, 2020 10:00:13 GMT -6
You guys are both ahead of me. I think my grafting skills may be part of what has caused global warming. I've probably killed more tree limbs than a beaver.
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Post by rdback on Jun 10, 2021 7:47:41 GMT -6
Looks like there might be a wild mulberry crop this year.
Last year a very late frost took all the buds and there were no berries. This year, it's looking pretty good. Maybe Ricky the Raccoon will come visiting again lol.
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Post by macmex on Jun 10, 2021 11:36:09 GMT -6
Our mulberry tree got hit with a really hard freeze at the end of April, right when it was flowering. It's forming some new buds, just like it did last year, but the crop is hardly a fraction of what it would be if the freeze hadn't gotten the first flush of flowers.
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Post by rdback on Aug 25, 2021 6:18:29 GMT -6
Forgot to post this pic of the 2021 mulberries. The tree did produce a good crop of berries, but they were almost flavorless - not sweet, no taste, just bland and blah. The racoon did not come back this year, nor did the birds even indulge. The berries just fell to the ground and rotted. Very unusual.
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Post by heavyhitterokra on Aug 25, 2021 7:29:55 GMT -6
What a crop though! Those were beautiful to see. Especially, after the April 20th snowstorm took all of our blossoms. This was a year with hardly any fruit or nuts here.
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Post by macmex on Aug 25, 2021 14:17:10 GMT -6
We had a meager, late crop of mulberries from our Illinois Everbearing Mulberry tree. Ron's right, that looks so beautiful! Too bad they had no flavor!
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Post by heavyhitterokra on Nov 4, 2021 19:24:17 GMT -6
I read something about mulberry leaves today that I've never heard of before. I didn't know you could eat them.This is an excerpt from: www.healthline.com/nutrition/mulberry-leaf Mulberry trees produce flavorful berries that are enjoyed around the world and often deemed superfoods due to their concentration of vitamins, minerals, and powerful plant compounds.However, the fruit isn’t the only part of the mulberry tree that may offer health benefits. For centuries, its leaves have been used in traditional medicine as a natural treatment for a variety of conditions.In fact, the leaves are highly nutritious. They’re loaded with powerful plant compounds like polyphenol antioxidants, as well as vitamin C, zinc, calcium, iron, potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium (2Trusted Source, 3Trusted Source, 4Trusted Source).This article reviews mulberry leaf, examining its uses, benefits, and potential side effects.How is mulberry leaf used?Mulberry (Morus) belongs to the Moraceae plant family and includes several species, such as the black mulberry (M. nigra), red mulberry (M. rubra), and white mulberry (M. alba) (1Trusted Source).Native to China, this tree is now cultivated in many regions, including the United States, Europe, Asia, and Africa.Mulberry leaves have a variety of culinary, medicinal, and industrial applications.The leaves and other parts of the tree contain a milky white sap called latex, which is mildly toxic to humans and may result in symptoms like an upset stomach if ingested or skin irritation if touched (5, 6Trusted Source).Yet, many people consume mulberry leaves without experiencing adverse effects.They’re said to be very palatable and commonly used to make tinctures and herbal teas, which are a common health beverage in Asian countries. Young leaves can be eaten after cooking.You can also take mulberry leaf supplements, which have become increasingly popular for their potential health benefits.Additionally, these leaves are the sole food source of the silkworm — a caterpillar that produces silk — and sometimes used as feed for dairy animals.
The bottom line Mulberry leaves have long been used in traditional medicine and are associated with several impressive health benefits. This unique tree leaf may combat inflammation and improve various risk factors for heart disease and diabetes. All the same, further human research is needed. You can take it as a supplement or eat cooked, immature leaves. Still, due to its potential side effects, you may want to consult your healthcare provider before adding mulberry leaves to your routine.
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Post by hmoosek on Nov 4, 2021 20:54:29 GMT -6
I used to climb our mulberry tree and fight the birds for my share! I’ve probably ate more bird poo than most people!
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Post by Tucson Grower on Nov 5, 2021 20:28:47 GMT -6
A few years back, I purchased some seed of M. nigra, I grew 3 Mulberry trees from those seed. One died young, the other 2 grew for 2-3 years (I had planted them in the ground on drip). I probably should have done a better job feeding them. They didn't grow very large, the largest one grew to about 18 inches tall. Just before I lost them I discovered the larger one was female (it had 3 berries forming on it). Sadly it expired before they even ripened. Since 3rd grade, where we raised some silkworms and fed them Mulberry leaves, I've been aware of them. It wasn't until the late 1980's when I was at New Mexico State University, where there are many growing on campus, some female, whose fruit I remember giving a try - yum, they were good. NMSU is also where the weeping Mulberry was developed.
Since then I discovered that Tucson has outlawed planting any Mulberries. Yet, 18 miles farther NW, where my brother lives, in a town called Marana, it appears they may be legal, as his neighbor has had a large male Mulberry in his front yard for more than 30 years.
The pollen must also travel quite far, as I knew of no male trees anywhere near where my little female set 3 berries.
I'm going to try again, and again, if necessary, and plant them at my brother's house, after making sure they're truly legal at his location.
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Post by Tucson Grower on Nov 5, 2021 20:58:59 GMT -6
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Post by heavyhitterokra on Nov 8, 2021 18:51:13 GMT -6
Thanks for posting that video. That was very informative, as I only have one bearing mulberry tree near here and taking cuttings from it sounds like the best way to carry that on to another planting. That process is very similar to what I've used in the past to start my elderberry cuttings. Out of 60 cuttings, I only lost 8; most of those were due to cribbing by geese who enjoy eating all the greenery off the stems as soon as they begin to sprout.
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Post by macmex on Nov 14, 2021 8:35:52 GMT -6
Yes, thank you! That was a very helpful video. I'm really hoping to succeed at mulberry propagation in the coming year. Hank gave me a Pakistani mulberry last year. I had it in the pot, by my carport when the February freeze hit and... it died. Once I succeed in propagation I may see about obtaining another start.
Here's another mulberry resource page. These folk seem pretty knowledgeable.
Growingmulberry.org on Propagation
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