A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Food Garden Forum Fruit Forum Mulberries & Fruit Setting

Mulberries and fruiting? We have 20 mulberry trees, about 8 years old. 6 of them black fruit every year. The remaining 14 produce abundant blossoms but they drop off before the fruit sets. Surprisingly, 3 of the 14 will have a dozen or so blossoms that turn to fruit, but vast majority of blossoms fall off.

What makes the fruit set? Or rather, what makes the blossoms fall off without setting into fruit? Is the mulberry tree bi-sexual, or are separate varieties, sexes of trees necessary for effective pollination? Is this a soil issue?

We have lots of pollinating bugs in the area, including honey bees, flies, and other small bugs, but not sure if there is one specific type required for this fruit?

All the trees look healthy and are growing well. Your advice and experience will be much appreciated.

Mulberries have male-only, and female-only trees, not male/female on one tree. Both produce flowers, but only female trees loose flowers and grow fruit. Your mulberries are perfectly normal.

Thanks KeithP for your response. But Im still puzzled, why do some of our Mulberry tries, that mostly drop their blossoms without fruiting, end up with a few dozen fruits?