Starting a new experiment today. I got these cuttings from Todd around 10 days ago at the AZRFG Scion Exchange. I've scarified the bottom few inches of these cuttings and dipped that part of the cutting in Take Root Rooting Hormone and put them into a cup of water.

A week later and the buds are swelling and going green and about to open into leaves. This is expected and happened last year as well so no excitement yet. The acid test is whether or not these cuttings develop roots.

The Shangri La mulberry cuttings in the cup are producing berries but still no sign of any roots yet.

On closer inspection it looks like the cuttings have root nodules.

Weekly image of progress on cuttings. Tons and tons of fruit growing on the cuttings. More than I think I've ever seen before on a cutting and I think they outnumber the leaves. The top half of the cuttings are doing really well. The bottom half still have root nodules on them but those don't seem to have progressed beyond last week. Also looks like there's a bit of algae on some of the root nodules. Not sure if the algae is a good or bad thing...

Still no roots and lots of algae looking substance on the lower half of the plants. I've recovered the lower half of the cuttings with rooting hormone and changed the water in the cup to fresh water. This may have been a big mistake. Time will tell...

Images:

• These cuttings are looking super healthy and the leaves are getting bigger than I recall for cuttings like these.
• I can't work out if this white gunk rooting hormone that's at the root area is beneficial or detrimental at this stage.
• The rightmost (from previous image) and longest of the cuttings has been taken out of the cup for a planting experiment.
• This cutting has been planted in a pot and placed under the Thai Sapodilla and attached to its water system. I don't hold out much hope for this but let's see...

• Treated with "Vitamin B-1 Plus Minor Elements and Chelating Agents"
• 2 tablespoons in 1 gallon of water in a watering can and soaked the root area.
• Did this to the 2 patches of lasagna cuttings in the NW section as well as the cutting that has just been transplanted into a pot.

• Leaves appear to be significantly bigger from the cuttings in the cup.
• Still no roots.
• The cutting-in-a-pot is still doing okay and is alive. I don't think the leaves on this cutting are growing as fast as her sisters that remained in the cup.

The cuttings in the cup are still doing really well even though there are no signs of roots.

Not looking nearly as healthy as the others that are still in water.

Height estimated from image.

Metrics:

• Height (inches only): 8"

The only mulberry left on the cuttings is starting to gain some color.

That same mulberry from the cutting a day later.

The three cuttings left in the cup got transfered from there to pots of soil today. This happened because they've started to smell rank.

Images:

• I ate the mulberry that fell off the cutting. It tasted okay/average in the grand scheme of mulberries but the fact that I ate this from a cutting that I put in water on 4th Feb I think is pretty amazing.
• After two months there are still no roots on these cuttings, just nodules.
• The ripe mulberry before it fell off the cutting.
• All three cuttings before potting. The one in the middle is the one with the mulberry and also the one with wilted leaves. I think this one will die.
• After potting and running irrigation to them.

• The height has changed by 1" over the last 9 days.

As predicted the second from the left is dead. I'll leave this one in place as the roots might continue to grow and the tree might continue to live although very unlikely.

The other three are doing as well as can be expected.

Height estimated from image.

Metrics:

• Height (inches only): 9"

The only survivor of the four cuttings is the one that was transfered earlier to the pot. Will leave the others for a few months to see if they make a come back.

Weekly update - no change.

• The height has changed by 2" over the last 20 days.

Looks like there's new growth on the leftmost (first potted) mulberry and the others are looking as dead as they were last week.

Height estimated from image.

Metrics:

• Height (inches only): 11"

• The height has changed by 3" over the last 7 days.

Although the left cutting is showing strong growth I think that this is still tenuous and it could go either way.

Height estimated based on image.

Metrics:

• Height (inches only): 1'2"

It's suddenly showing very strong growth. Very happy with this. Amazed that the roots must have taken. I'm wondering if having it under shade is helping. I have a similar Shangri La growing in the yard in full sun that is not growing as fast and was rooted a year earlier.

• The height has changed by 6" over the last 25 days.

This mulberry seems to have super charged growth. I regret that I didn't start measuring its height earlier. I was able to go back to previous images and do some height estimation to get some metrics around this.

There are three buds that are branching out of this cutting. The girth is measured between buds one and two with the counting starting at the bottom.

Metrics:

• Height (inches only): 1'8"
• Girth (inches only): 1.3"

• The height has changed by 2" over the last 10 days.

Growth measure.

Metrics:

• Height (inches only): 1'10"

• The height has changed by 1" over the last 6 days.

Now at 23 inches.

Metrics:

• Height (inches only): 1'11"

• The height has changed by 1" over the last 8 days.

Growth check.

Metrics:

• Height (inches only): 2'

• The height has changed by 3" over the last 7 days.

This is doing incredibly well in a pot under shade cloth with daily water.

Metrics:

• Height (inches only): 2'3"

• The height has changed by 1" over the last 6 days.

Weekly measure.

Metrics:

• Height (inches only): 2'4"

• The height has changed by 1" over the last 23 days.
• The girth has changed by 0.5" over the last 60 days.

Measured the girth just below the lowest branch. I was expecting more growth over this time period. I'm wondering if this is root bound by the pot. If that's the case then I might need to plant this in the fall instead of waiting until the spring.

Metrics:

• Height (inches only): 2'5"
• Girth (inches only): 1.8"

• The height has changed by 0" over the last 7 days.

Metrics:

• Height (inches only): 2'5"

• The height has changed by 0.5" over the last 6 days.

Metrics:

• Height (inches only): 2'5.5"

• The height has changed by 0.5" over the last 7 days.

Weekly check-in.

Metrics:

• Height (inches only): 2'6"

• The height has changed by 1" over the last 7 days.

Weekly metrics.

Metrics:

• Height (inches only): 2'7"

• The height has changed by 0" over the last 19 days.
• The girth has changed by 0.1" over the last 46 days.

Metrics:

• Height (inches only): 2'7"
• Girth (inches only): 1.9"

• The height has changed by 0" over the last 10 days.
• The girth has changed by 0" over the last 10 days.

Metrics:

• Height (inches only): 2'7"
• Girth (inches only): 1.9"

Today the cutting graduated from the pot to the ground. A little bit risky because winter is a few months away. I'm hoping that the new growth spurt it has on and the cooling temperatures will allow it to establish itself a bit. Double irrigation ring with 6 x 0.5 GPH emitters.

• The height has changed by 3" over the last 13 days.
• The girth has changed by 0.1" over the last 13 days.

Metrics:

• Height (inches only): 2'10"
• Girth (inches only): 2"

• The height has changed by 3.5" over the last 14 days.
• The girth has changed by 0" over the last 14 days.

Metrics:

• Height (inches only): 3'1.5"
• Girth (inches only): 2"

• The height has changed by 0" over the last 14 days.
• The girth has changed by 0" over the last 14 days.

Metrics:

• Height (inches only): 3'1.5"
• Girth (inches only): 2"

• The height has changed by -0.5" over the last 14 days.
• The girth has changed by 0" over the last 14 days.

Metrics:

• Height (inches only): 3'1"
• Girth (inches only): 2"

• The height has changed by 0" over the last 14 days.
• The girth has changed by 0" over the last 14 days.

Metrics:

• Height (inches only): 3'1"
• Girth (inches only): 2"

• The height has changed by 0" over the last 14 days.
• The girth has changed by 0" over the last 14 days.

Metrics:

• Height (inches only): 3'1"
• Girth (inches only): 2"

• The height has changed by 0" over the last 14 days.
• The girth has changed by 0" over the last 14 days.

Fortnightly measure.

Metrics:

• Height (inches only): 3'1"
• Girth (inches only): 2"
• Leaf Shed Start: ✔

• The height has changed by 0" over the last 14 days.
• The girth has changed by 0" over the last 14 days.

Still hanging on to some leaves.

Metrics:

• Height (inches only): 3'1"
• Girth (inches only): 2"

• The height has changed by 0" over the last 14 days.
• The girth has changed by 0" over the last 14 days.

Metrics:

• Height (inches only): 3'1"
• Girth (inches only): 2"
• Leaf Shed End: ✔

Metrics:

• First Bud: ✔

Fruit starting to form.

Spread around 19 pounds of Arizona's Best Soil Sulphur at the base of these trees today.

• The height has changed by 2" over the last 43 days.
• The girth has changed by 0.3" over the last 43 days.

Metrics:

• Height (inches only): 3'3"
• Girth (inches only): 2.3"

• The height has changed by 6" over the last 13 days.
• The girth has changed by 0" over the last 13 days.

Gone into a growth spurt.

Metrics:

• Height (inches only): 3'9"
• Girth (inches only): 2.3"

• All trees in the Northwest orchard.
• Distributed 50 lbs of Tiger 90CR Sulfur pellets.
• Mixed in 1 pints of Link P31 (8-31-5) Nitrogen/Phosphates and two-fifths of a tablespoon of Borax powder to add Boron in around 40 to 50 gallons of water in the gorilla card. There was only 1 pint of Link P31 solution left in the container but the bottom of the container had a bunch of stuff stuck to the bottom that I rinsed out and added so it was probably more like 2 pints.
• Used the shower nozzle on the hose and watered the sulfur and Link P31 through the mulch.

This provides this part of the orchard (Northwest) which is 1,000 square feed with the following:

• 0.5 pounds of Nitrogen
• 2 pounds of Phosphate
• 0.02 pounds of Boron

• The height has changed by 4" over the last 14 days.
• The girth has changed by 0" over the last 14 days.

Metrics:

• Height (inches only): 4'1"
• Girth (inches only): 2.3"

At the first mulberry off this tree today. Tasted good. While slightly green in taste it was mostly ripe.

Metrics:

• Harvest Count: 1
• Harvest Start: ✔

Found another ripe mulberry.

Metrics:

• Harvest Count: 1

• The height has changed by 2" over the last 13 days.
• The girth has changed by 0.3" over the last 13 days.

Metrics:

• Height (inches only): 4'3"
• Girth (inches only): 2.5"

• The height has changed by 11" over the last 15 days.
• The girth has changed by 0.3" over the last 15 days.

Metrics:

• Height (inches only): 5'2"
• Girth (inches only): 2.8"

Harvest end. Marked down a total of around 60 fruit we got from this tree this year.

Metrics:

• Harvest Count: 60
• Harvest End: ✔

• The height has changed by 0" over the last 15 days.
• The girth has changed by 0.4" over the last 15 days.

Metrics:

• Height (inches only): 5'2"
• Girth (inches only): 3.1"

Discovered an irrigation leak at this tree today. Rabbits bit through the poly tubing in 4 places. It was 6 emitters at 0.5 GPH double looped and replaced it with 8 emitters of 0.8 GPH and single loop around the tree.

• The height has changed by 0" over the last 13 days.
• The girth has changed by 0.1" over the last 13 days.

Metrics:

• Height (inches only): 5'2"
• Girth (inches only): 3.3"

• The height has changed by 0" over the last 42 days.
• The girth has changed by 0" over the last 42 days.

Metrics:

• Height (inches only): 5'2"
• Girth (inches only): 3.3"

Alive but not happy with the heat.

• The height has changed by 0" over the last 20 days.
• The girth has changed by 0" over the last 20 days.

Metrics:

• Height (inches only): 5'2"
• Girth (inches only): 3.3"

• The height has changed by 0" over the last 36 days.
• The girth has changed by 0" over the last 36 days.

Metrics:

• Height (inches only): 5'2"
• Girth (inches only): 3.3"

• The height has changed by 0" over the last 29 days.
• The girth has changed by 0.1" over the last 29 days.

Metrics:

• Height (inches only): 5'2"
• Girth (inches only): 3.4"

Metrics:

• Leaf Shed Start: ✔

Manually defoliated the rest of the leaves. Did a radical prune of all the bushing branches at the bottom and just left the leader with some branches coming off it. Hoping that this will divert all energy into making this a taller and bigger tree.

Metrics:

• Leaf Shed End: ✔

Monterey Liqui-Cop Copper Fungicide - 1 fluid ounce per gallon of water. Made a total of 4 gallons for these trees.

First bud.

Metrics:

• First Bud: ✔

Fruit is starting to darken.

Spread 320 pounds of Arizona's Best Ammonium Sulfate around yard. Includes all trees tagged on this note which is about 95% of the trees in the orchard.

Staked today to try and pull more vertical. Images are before and after.

At the first mulberry off this tree today. It was very nearly ripe. In the shade it looked black so I picked it before discovering there was still red in the color. Didn't taste too bad but was obviously not fully ripe yet.

Metrics:

• Harvest Count: 1
• Harvest Start: ✔

These were tasty. If this tree survives it's going to produce a large volume of amazing tasting fruit.

Metrics:

• Harvest Count: 5

Loving the mulberries from this tree.

Metrics:

• Harvest Count: 5

Sprayed with Southern Ag Chelated Liquid Iron diluted at the recommended rate of 1 tablespoon with 1 gallon of water.

Still producing tasty berries. I sometimes find that the Shangri La mulberries have a slightly metallic taste.

Sprayed with Southern Ag Chelated Liquid Iron diluted at the recommended rate of 1 tablespoon with 1 gallon of water.

End of harvest.

Metrics:

• Harvest End: ✔

Metrics:

• Leaf Shed Start: ✔

• The height has changed by 11" over the last 455 days.
• The girth has changed by 0.8" over the last 455 days.

Metrics:

• Height (inches only): 6'1"
• Girth (inches only): 4.1"

Metrics:

• Leaf Shed End: ✔

Pruned today and used the cuttings to root more trees. Details at Mulberry - Shangri La Cuttings 2021.

Metrics:

• First Bud: ✔

A few hundred mulberries on this tree already.

Put 0.5 fluid ounces of Southern Ag Chelated Liquid Iron in a gallon of water and poured at base.

Fruit it gaining some color.

Put 0.5 fluid ounces of Southern Ag Chelated Liquid Iron in a gallon of water and poured at base.

Metrics:

• Harvest Start: ✔

This image is from six varieties currently fruiting.

Going into dormancy. I feel that this should be bigger by now.

Put 0.5 fluid ounces of Southern Ag Chelated Liquid Iron in a gallon of water and poured at base.

Spread 42 lbs of Monterey's Dr Iron product around the yard under every tree. Product is 55% sulfur and 22% iron.

Placed white pot at base of tree today. Bottom is 10" wide and top opening is 5".

Put 0.5 fluid ounces of Southern Ag Chelated Liquid Iron in a gallon of water and poured at base.

• The height has changed by -1" over the last 742 days.
• The girth has changed by 0.5" over the last 742 days.

Metrics:

• Height (inches only): 6'
• Girth (inches only): 4.6"

Starting to leaf out.

Metrics:

• First Bud: ✔

Spread Fertizona Furst Class 15-15-15 around the trees today. Used a handful for small trees and up to six handfuls for the larger trees. In total used 100 lbs.

A splash (about 0.5 fluid ounces) of Southern Ag Chelated Liquid Iron in 5 gallons of water and poured at base.

First mulberries of the season.

Metrics:

• Harvest Count: 12
• Harvest Start: ✔

Fruit at multiple stages of ripeness.

Spread Fertizona Furst Class 15-15-15 around all the trees today. Used a total used 200 lbs of which about 25 lbs went on the grass.

Used the Chapin 20 gallon lawn sprayer to spray Southern Ag Chelated Iron at the base of these trees today. Diluted mixture 50/50 with water.

• The height has changed by 2" over the last 411 days.
• The girth has changed by 0.4" over the last 411 days.

Previously the irrigation around this tree was 8 x 0.8 GPH emitters. Today I changed that to 30 x 0.8 GPH emitters which is close to a 4 fold increase in the amount of water the tree will get. This is an experiment based on the "Lauren" one of these which gets a lot more water.

Metrics:

• Height (inches only): 6'2"
• Girth (inches only): 5"

Sprinkled 15ml (cap) of Vigoro's Azalea, Camellia & Rhododendron Food (10-8-8) on the trees tagged in this note.

Sprayed with Polymer AG Anti-Stress 550. Made 4 gallons at a 2.5% dilution ratio and used the backpack sprayer. That amount perfectly covered the trees listed in this note. I was using a fairly course spray and I'm wondering if this product would perform better with a fine spray setting.