Chinese Mulberry (Cudrania tricuspidata) CHE DARROW

Early ripening female Cudrania variety. Compared to other strongly growing varieties, the tree grows only moderately. Requires minimal maintenance and is drought tolerant. Endures poor soils like a mulberry tree. Young shoots have small thorns that lose with age.

Origin: USA, breeder Dr. George M. Darrow
Vigour: medium-vigorous tree with a height of 3 to 5 m and a width of up to 4 m. Tree growth depends on pruning. Is grafted on the Maclura pomifera rootstock.
Site requirements: full sun location. Che will grow in a range of soil types. Deep, well drained loam is the best.
Blossom: monoecious, female. Female flowers of variety Darrow need pollinator with male flowers to create fruits.
Fruits: on average 2.5 - 3.5 cm, red or maroon-red. The che fruit is not a berry but a collective fruit, in appearance somewhat like a round mulberry crossed with a lychee. The ripe fruits are an attractive color with a juicy, rich red flesh inside.
Taste: when fully soft ripe fruits develop a cantaloupe to papaya flavor. It is important that the fruits be thoroughly ripe to be at their best.
Harvest season: the stem does not bleed white sap when the fruit is picked fully ripe. Fruit ripens on the tree individually, not all at once, and does not ripen further once picked.
Yield: medium, regular yields if pollenizer is nearby. The Che begin to bear at an early age. The tree tends to drop ripening fruit when very young, but gets better at retention with age.
Disease resistance: generally highly resistant to disease and pests, suitable for organic or no-spray culture
Frost resistance: frost-resistant throughout Central Europe