Mulberry tree in pot

[womble]

Hello

My first thread

I've wanted a Mulberry tree for years, but have never had the space it needs, then I read in the latest GYO magazine a black Mulberry does well in a pot, so I've searched for info on the web and come up with almost nothing.

Someone says it is best kept as a bush, can you keep a tree like a black Mulberry as a bush?
A "large" pot is needed........ what size is that, dustbin sized? Bigger? I have a metal and black plastic dustbin, would either of those do? Or would I be better off buying a large terrcotta or plastic purpose built pot?

Best medium to plant it in, feeding needed?

Sorry a lot of questions I know, I have never grown fruit in containers before, it seems a silly idea to me when I have space in the garden, wish I could fit a mulberry tree in When the premium bonds come in maybe.

[debjay]

Hi and welcome to the forum. I dont know the answer to your question but I am sure someone will be along soon that does
Debbie

[percy charlie]

Blackmore sell mulberry bushes they are also great at responding to questions for advice and usually within a couple of hours, they even responded past 9 o clock to one of my question once, they grow there plants as well as import them for sale so they will know what you need. sorry cant be of more help.

[womble]

Thankyou, I ordered one from them this morning actually, I will ask them some questions.
Cheers

[gojiberry]

One big problem with containers is base in relation to height. I have a bay tree about 3/4 ft high in a 30in pot and it continually get blown over. I have always imagined mulberries to grow to about 6ft but that could be from pictures of the nursery rhyme.

Ian

[southlondongardener]

I planted one in a big planter from Wilkinson's a couple of months ago.

It has leaves now - but it is too early to say if it will be a success.

[womble]

I've got mine now from Blackmore and I have repotted it into a larger plastic pot. It looks healthy enough, but time will see

[indian]

hi dont know about growing a mulberry tree in a container the roots on ours in the ground are over 10ft long when i had to dig some out,as we had over 80 in the garden,i think they take a long time before they fruit from young,but the fruit is lovelybut most of it goes to waste as we still hace about 30 left,will try to put a picture up dont know if you can on here.
Tony

[indian]

hi womble cant see how to put a picture on go to our website and you will see rows of them.
all the best with your mulberry
Tony

[SimonCole]

Our mulberry is 20' tall and would hardly do in a pot. I think that you are a bit optimistic.

[womble]

No, restricting their roots seems to be a done thing, although it is a little difficult getting info on it. Anyway I like to do something a little different that someone else says I can't.

[Snadger]

No, restricting their roots seems to be a done thing, although it is a little difficult getting info on it. Anyway I like to do something a little different that someone else says I can't.

There used to be a mulberry bush where I once worked which bore loads of tasteful fruit. Everone thought the fruits were poisonous........so I didn't make them any the wiser! It was only five foot high with a similar girth and was pruned each year. It was in the soil, not a pot though, but this goes to prove they can be kept to a dwarf habit even in the open soil. This would be much easier to achieve in a large pot methinks with its roots restricted?

[womble]

My mulberry in a pot has just had all its leaves turn yellow, is this normal at this time, or has the OH killed it while I was working away, just add it to the list, melon, tomatoes, basil, chillis, sweetpeas....

[southlondongardener]

Two questions :-
1) Is the pot well drained - if not change this asap
2) Is it readily fed and watered - if not change this asap.

Mine (in South London) is still ok I think I will check tonight but I do feed it every week with rotten nettles and worm tea.

[womble]

1. Yes it is
2. I haven't fed it for a while, I didn't think you needed to feed them that often. The Mrs was looking after watering while I was away for 2 and a half weeks, so basically unless it rained.......

I'll give it a feed, thanks!