Morus nigra

MULBERRY SEEDS, Black, 50 Seeds, Morus nigra, Organic, Fresh, Medicinal Herb Easy, plant in fall for spring germination or use cold treatment Mulberry Morus nigra Uses: Culinary/Medicinal Duration: Perennial (hardy in zones 5-9) When to Sow: Spring Ease of Germination: Moderate Handsome tree bearing sweet, juicy berries that make fine conserves and wine. Rootbark decoction is a traditional remedy for tapeworms. Hardy in southwestern Ontario and B.C. coastal regions. Please note: a small percentage (<5%) of mulberry plants grown from seeds may be non-flowering and therefore non-fruiting. If fruits are important to you, plant more than one plant to be sure you get at least one fruiting tree. Please note that a small percentage of seed grown plants will be non-flowering and therefore non-fruiting. Mulberry trees (Morus) come in black, white and red varieties. They like full sun and grow in all of Sunset's Climate Zones. Ripe mulberries are a tasty fruit for both people and birds. Mulberry trees can be propagated from cuttings, grafts or seeds. Often seedlings are found around the base of the tree, growing from seeds that pass through the system of birds that ate the fruit. Seeds should be planted as soon as they are gathered in areas that have mild, frost-free winters. They can also be germinated indoors before planting. Gather mulberries at the end of the season when they are ripe. Collect plenty of berries, as not all the seeds will germinate. Soak the berries in water for 24 hours to soften them. Drain the water and mash the berries to expose the seeds. Pick out the seeds individually, or add water to the mashed fruit and many of the seeds will float to the surface, along with pulp from the berries. Rinse the seeds and spread them out in a shady spot to air dry. Once dry, rinse the seeds again in distilled water. Dampen a piece of filter paper with distilled water. Put the seeds and paper in a sealed plastic bag and place them in the refrigerator. Leave the seeds in the refrigerator for 60 to 100 days. Replace the moist filter paper as necessary. Remove the seeds from the refrigerator at the end of the 60 to 100 days. Prepare a tray with a mixture of equal parts soil, peat and perlite. Place the seeds just under the soil surface. Water the seeds until the soil is moist. Keep the seeds at around 86 degrees Fahrenheit during the day for 8 hours and 68 degrees Fahrenheit at night for 16 hours. Use a heat lamp if necessary. Give the seeds light for a minimum of 8 hours a day. Check soil moisture each day and water as needed. Check seeds every 14 days for germination. Pick out the seeds as soon as roots appear. The roots are fragile and longer roots are easier to damage. Transplant the seeds into individual pots, a minimum of 4 inches, to give them space to grow into seedlings. Keep the individual pots in the same conditions as the seeds during months there is danger of frost. If there is no danger of freezing, the pots can be moved outdoors to a sunny location. Water weekly to keep the soil moist. In 12 to 24 months the seedlings will be big enough to move to their permanent location.