The Juicy Berry Tree You Can Grow In Pots For Delicious Homegrown Fruit

Container gardening has exploded in popularity in recent years. These days, people seem to grow almost everything in pots. From vegetables and herbs to flowers and fruits, the list just goes on. That may lead many people to wonder whether berries can also be grown in pots. Well, they definitely can, and one berry tree you should try growing in your home is the mulberry tree (Morus spp.).

Mulberries are sweet, juicy, and truly a summer delight. They are also highly nutritious and contain antioxidants, vitamin C, zinc, calcium, iron, potassium, and magnesium. Mulberries are also highly productive. They offer plentiful fruit and sometimes even start to bear berries in their first year. Keep in mind that not every mulberry tree grows well in a pot. Typical mulberry trees grow quite large. Red mulberries, for example, are about 30 to 45 feet tall and 25 to 35 feet wide, while white mulberries can stretch around 50 to 60 feet in every direction.

Fortunately, there are several dwarf varieties available. A few good examples include Gerardi mulberry (Morus alba X rubra 'Girardi'), Mojo berry mulberry (Morus rotundiloba), and dwarf everbearing mulberry (Morus nigra). Different dwarf mulberry varieties may grow best in different USDA hardiness zones, so choose accordingly. And keep in mind that choosing the right mulberry tree is only part of the process. If you want delicious homegrown berries, you will also need to take care of your mulberry trees properly and adequately.

You can start a mulberry tree in a 15 to 20-gallon pot. This size should be enough for a young mulberry tree during its first growing season. However, as the tree grows, you will need to shift it into a larger pot of about 20 to 30 gallons. And for a tree that is around 6 to 8 feet tall, you will need a pot that is at least 30 to 40 gallons in size. Use pots with a wide base, which help stabilize the tree and encourage lateral root growth.

Use a fertile, slightly acidic to neutral, and well-draining soil when filling the pots. Once the pot is sorted, choose a sunny location to house your fruit plant. Mulberries thrive in full sun. If they don't get enough sunlight, they will still grow, but they won't produce as much fruit. As for fertilizing, feed your mulberry tree regularly during the growing season with a balanced fertilizer. Just make sure to follow the package instructions. You can also fertilize your mulberry tree by watering it with compost tea.

It is pretty easy to make using Martha Stewart's compost recipe for bountiful fruit trees. In addition to regular feeding, water mulberry trees consistently. You need to keep the soil moist and water deeply. Just make sure to let the top 1 to 2 inches of soil dry between watering. Finally, prune the tree to keep it at a manageable size for container growing. Prune in winter when the tree is dormant. Doing this at the wrong time is one of those common mistakes people often make when pruning fruit trees.