Harvesting Mulberry Trees
Are you ready to enjoy delicious homegrown fruit? Harvest is the time to enjoy the results of your hard work. Keep a few things in consideration as you reap the fruits of your labor: the best time to pick the fruit from your tree, and how to store the fruit.
NOTE: This is part 9 in a series of 9 articles. For a complete background on how to grow mulberry trees, we recommend starting from the beginning.
When to Harvest
Harvest season begins mid-June thru August. Fruit will be large, sweet and black when fully ripe. You can hand pick or lay a sheet or tarp under the mulberry tree and shake the branch gently. Ripe berries will fall onto the sheet or tarp. Do not layer too deep in your picking container or you will crush the berries on the bottom.
Annual average yield per tree 10 bushels, 15-20 pounds at age 10.
Storage
Berries will keep in the refrigerator unwashed in a covered container for several days. You can freeze for later use by washing the berries then pat dry and pack them in freeze bags. Can be stored frozen for several months.