Shahtoot, Mulberry Black Seeds

Black Mulberry Seeds — Morus Lot

Choose a packet of 25 or 50 seeds from a mulberry lot sold as black mulberry or shahtoot. Seedlings may vary in sex, growth, fruit colour, flavour and maturity. Seeds are supplied; no plants or fruit are included.

Sowing

Sow in pots or trays of fine, free-draining seed compost. Cover the small seeds lightly, water with a fine spray and keep the medium evenly moist without saturation. A period of cool, moist conditions may help some mulberry seed lots, followed by mild warmth and bright light. Emergence can be irregular, so no fixed schedule or germination rate is promised.

Care

Thin or pot seedlings on before roots become congested. Increase sunlight gradually and protect young plants from severe frost until their tolerance is known. Mulberries can become full-sized trees and may self-sow or spread through bird-carried fruit in suitable regions. Check local guidance and allow adequate long-term space. Seedlings cannot be relied upon to reproduce the parent tree's berry quality or sex, and some may not fruit as expected.

Storage

Keep unused seed labelled, sealed, cool, dry and dark until pretreatment or sowing.