Homemade silkworm chow

[BenjiTheCham]

Does anyone make their own silkworm chow out of their own mulberry leaves? I was wondering so I can keep silkworms in the winter without buying mulberry

 

[Chameleomom]

Here is what I do and I have fresh mulberry leaves year round. If you blanch you can freeze them for up to 6 months and when thawed stay green as the day they were picked. If you don't blanch, the leaves, when they thaw out they turn brown. I put each leaf in boiling water for about 30 seconds put on a paper towel and let dry and then into freezer bags and date. I always have fresh mulberry leaves for my silks

 

[Ramrod]

Answer above

 

[snitz427]

Here is what I do and I have fresh mulberry leaves year round. If you blanch you can freeze them for up to 6 months and when thawed stay green as the day they were picked. If you don't blanch, the leaves, when they thaw out they turn brown. I put each leaf in boiling water for about 30 seconds put on a paper towel and let dry and then into freezer bags and date. I always have fresh mulberry leaves for my silks

How much do you go through? I tried fresh leaves by my little mulberry cant keep up

 

[Chameleomom]

My neighbor has a big tree...I get all I want so I blanch and stock up for winter

 

[Chameleomom]

The last batch of silks OMG ate me out of house and home. I went thru 2 big bags

 

[Spyro]

Does anyone make their own silkworm chow out of their own mulberry leaves? I was wondering so I can keep silkworms in the winter without buying mulberry

A point that cannot be overstated is that you should be incredibly careful where you harvest your leaves from. From personal experience:

• Harvesting near crop fields is a disaster waiting to happen.
• Harvesting near ponds or other areas where they tend to spray for mosquitoes/pests is also a disaster waiting to happen.
• ALWAYS feed a test batch every time you harvest. By the time you find out your leaves have pesticides on them, it'll be too late. Don't assume that it's a "clean" tree because you didn't have issues last time.
• Rinsing the leaves can help, but may not always work.

Diligence is key. The powdered chow is always a safe bet and can be found pretty cheap.

 

[BenjiTheCham]

A point that cannot be overstated is that you should be incredibly careful where you harvest your leaves from. From personal experience:

• Harvesting near crop fields is a disaster waiting to happen.
• Harvesting near ponds or other areas where they tend to spray for mosquitoes/pests is also a disaster waiting to happen.
• ALWAYS feed a test batch every time you harvest. By the time you find out your leaves have pesticides on them, it'll be too late. Don't assume that it's a "clean" tree because you didn't have issues last time.
• Rinsing the leaves can help, but may not always work.

Diligence is key. The powdered chow is always a safe bet and can be found pretty cheap.

Can’t I wash the leaves the get the pesticides off? Or is it not that easy

 

[Spyro]

Can’t I wash the leaves the get the pesticides off? Or is it not that easy

Yes, washing can help. I would never trust that washing leaves that came from a high-risk area would remove everything you want to get off them. Best to play it safe...

 

[BenjiTheCham]

Yes, washing can help. I would never trust that washing leaves that came from a high-risk area would remove everything you want to get off them. Best to play it safe...

Okay thanks, good to know