When to Plant Mulberry in Canberra, Cold / Highland Guide

Plant August. Right now in September it is out of season. The next planting month is August.

Published · Last reviewed · By Garden Buddy
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.

This Mulberry guide is written for the Cold / Highland zone, which takes in Canberra, Cooma and Bright. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Alice Springs Perth

Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.

Mulberry

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Possibly the easiest fruit tree to grow in Australia. Virtually indestructible, tolerates poor soil, drought, neglect, and a wide climate range. Black mulberry (M. nigra) produces the best-flavoured fruit. Trees grow fast, fruit young (often in first year), and produce heavily. The main downside: fruit stains everything. Paths, cars, laundry, hands, and anything beneath the tree. Plan placement carefully. Birds love mulberries, which can be an advantage (distraction crop) or disadvantage.

Best Planting Window for Cold / Highland

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
- - - - - - - P - - - -

P = Planting window

Plant bare root August.

Want a nudge when it is Mulberry sowing time in Canberra?

One email a week with what is worth planting in the Cold / Highland zone right now, Mulberry included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.

How to Grow Mulberry in Cold / Highland Australia

When to Plant

Plant bare root August.

Soil
Tolerates almost anything including heavy clay, sand, and poor soils. Performs best in well-drained fertile soil but genuinely undemanding.
pH Range
5.5-7.5
Sunlight
Full sun for best fruit. Tolerates part shade.

Companion plants: Anything, mulberries are not fussy

Avoid planting near: Paths, driveways, clotheslines, swimming pools (staining), Anything you don't want purple-stained

Cold / Highland Growing Tips for Mulberry

Recommended Varieties

  • Black English
  • Hicks Fancy

Key Challenges

  • Late frost can damage new growth
  • Shorter season

Pro Tips

  • Mulberries are cold-hardy and succeed in highland zones.
  • Fruit season shorter but quality is good.

Harvesting Mulberry

When ready: Black mulberry: fully black-purple and soft. White/Shahtoot: pale pink to white and sweet. Ripe fruit falls at a touch. Lay a clean sheet under the tree and shake branches.

How to harvest: Shake branches over a sheet or pick individually. Wear old clothes, staining is inevitable.

Where to next

Also worth sowing in the cold and highland zone this September: Sweet Corn, Beetroot, Chilli Peppers and Snow Peas.

Get the Full Interactive Guide

Track your garden, get real-time pest alerts, and plan around your zone's weather.

Open the planting dashboard Join Garden Buddy

Common Questions About Mulberry

When do you plant mulberry in Australia?

It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:

Which zone am I in?

Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Cold / Highland zone, Canberra is its reference city.