climates between temperate and tropical. Red mulberry plants require a total annual rainfall of 1’000-2’000 mm and are adapted to altitudes of up to 800 msl. The native environment of red mulberry most often consists of moist forests, thickets on the floodplains, moist hillsides and river valleys. It can tolerate short periods of flooding and can tolerate temperatures as low as -36°C. Optimal growing temperatures are between 24 and 28°C. At least 140 frost free days a year are required. Normally, the tree grows in full sun, but growth is also possible in partial shading. Red mulberry is also drought tolerant. In its native habitat red mulberry grows in mesic hardwood forests in moist soils, although they can be found in many different moist soils. Such soils include, inceptisols, alfisols, spodosols and ultisols. The plants prefer deep, well drained, soils that reach from loamy to clayey and have a high moisture holding capacity. A soil pH of 5-7 is optimal. Cultivation In an early stage, pruning is necessary to make the red mulberry tree develop a sturdy framework. Afterwards, the pruning requirements of the red mulberry involve mainly removing dead or overcrowded wood. To keep the tree in a tidy form, it is suggested to choose a few main branches and cut the laterals to six leaves in July. This allows the spurs to develop near the main branches. However, the Red Mulberry Tree tends to bleed after pruning, so pruning should be reduced to a minimum and should be conducted when the tree is dormant, as the bleeding is less severe then. Removing branches of more than 2 diameters should be absolutely avoided, anyway. When tilling the soil, it must be paid attention not to damage the horizontal roots. Cutting them, would impair nutrient uptake. In the first year of a red mulberry’s lifetime, a sufficient water supply is critical for the development of the root system. Young mulberry trees should be watered thoroughly twice a week if growing on light soils and once a week if growing on clay soils. Later, the red mulberry is drought tolerant, although under water scarcity it may drop its fruits too early which results in berry yield losses. Thus, for berry production, irrigation is recommended under dry conditions. Mulching helps to retain moisture in the soil and to reduce the competition with grass and weeds. Thus, it is recommended to apply mulch