Care and feeding of strawberries in spring and autumn

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Strawberries are called garden strawberries by many summer residents. Despite the fact that the latter is an independent berry grower, few are familiar with it. Therefore, within the framework of this article, garden strawberries under its name "strawberries" will be considered. Its top dressing is needed where there is a lack of nutrients in the soil.

Need to apply fertilizer

Not all gardeners use chernozem soils in their use, which practically do not require additional application of nutrients with fertilizers to restore their balance in the soil until the moment when certain plants consumed them from this substrate for their growth and development. Strawberries are perennials grown in the same area for a number of seasons. To get a good harvest, you need to feed it. Strawberries respond well to those that are done on time and with the right balance of elements.

Classification of fertilizers for garden strawberries

Thisculture is not very demanding, but loves variety in nutrition. Therefore, it is better to use both organic and mineral fertilizers for it. During the fertilization of strawberries, pesticides can also be used to combat various harmful objects.

From organic fertilizers, the following are used:

• wood ash, which must be applied separately from nitrogen fertilizers, since it contributes to the conversion of nitrogen into ammonia and its rapid volatilization - it is applied about a week after the application of mineral fertilizers; obtained not only from wood, but also from other plant residues, while it is characterized by a different chemical composition;
• composts;
• cow and horse dung;
• chicken manure.

From mineral used:

• fertilizers containing macronutrients (NPK);
• complex;
• containing trace elements.

The latter can be in the composition of macrofertilizers in the form of impurities or used as separate micronutrients. However, in the case of their separate use, the process of caring for and feeding strawberries in the spring becomes less profitable, since any synthetic preparation costs a certain amount of money.

Nitrogen fertilizers, like any other crops, are applied in the spring due to the fact that the element is quite volatile. Other macronutrients can be applied before autumn. Microfertilizers are applied if necessary.

For formationovaries, the most valuable element is boron, which should be used in very small quantities. With its deficiency, the leaves become asymmetrical, the roots do not receive proper development, the berries are deformed. This element is easily absorbed by plants during foliar feeding. For its implementation, boric acid is used.

Determination of necessary dressings

Their number is determined by the time of transplantation of berries. This procedure should be carried out after 3-5 years. They can be transplanted in autumn. If the weather is warm, then the dates may be shifted towards the end of this period. In cold summers, transplantation can be carried out before the onset of autumn. Top dressing of strawberries in this season of the year is carried out after the end of this procedure.

Spring top dressing can combine the application of various nutrients, which may make its summer application optional. In this case, the berries will have enough nutrients for the whole season, the next top dressing will need to be done in the fall.

Implementation schemes

Feeding strawberries in spring can be done in two stages:

• when young vegetative sprouts and leaves appear;
• after the formation of the ovaries;
• the third feeding is carried out in the summer season;
• fourth - in the fall.

Terms of spring dressings

If there is an opportunity to visit a berry plantation in late winter - early spring, then dry fertilizers can be scattered over the melted snow. Such top dressing of strawberriesin early spring, it contributes to the fact that fertilizers dissolve in it and go to the roots of plants themselves. So you can apply dry ash and mineral fertilizers.

If it is impossible to get into the garden at this time, then top dressing should be carried out at the first loosening. To do this, they can be evenly scattered over the garden bed, mixed with the surface layer and watered, or the prepared solution is added to the soil.

In the absence of water on the site, top dressing is carried out before the expected precipitation or foliar fertilization is carried out. In the latter case, a small amount of water is required to prepare the solution, which can be brought to the plantation with you.

Dry fertilizer should not go directly to the roots, as this will contribute to the combustion of thin roots, which transport water and nutrients to the plant.

Preparation of solutions in spring

Nitrogen is applied at this time of the year in order to accelerate the growth of the vegetative mass. Early feeding of strawberries involves the introduction of a solution under each bush in a volume of about 1 liter. Solutions can be made in many ways.

Some of them are shown below:

• add 1/2 tsp. boric acid, 1/2 cup ash, 1 tbsp. l. urea containing nitrogen per 10 liters of water and about 3 g of potassium permanganate - this way all the necessary macro- and microelements are added, high-quality tasty berries that can be stored for a long time are obtained, and there is also a slight disinfection from diseases;
• fresh or dry rye bread is poured with warm water, after which it is left for a week to ferment - it should occupy 2/3 in the volume of the container;

• before the spring feeding of strawberries, the mixture is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:3;
• boric acid is added to 10 liters of liquid in the amount of 1 tsp, iodine - 30 drops and 1 glass of ash;
• for the same volume of water, add 1 tbsp. l. ammonium sulfate and mullein in an amount not exceeding 0.5 l;
• chicken manure is dissolved in water in a ratio of 1:12;
• for 10 liters of water add 1 liter of mullein or nitrophoska in the amount of 1 tbsp. l.;
• 300 g of mullein can be added to the same volume of liquid, insisted for 2 days, then add 15 g of ammonium sulfate and water half a liter under each bush;
• liquid can be mixed with serum in a 3:1 ratio.

When caring for strawberries in the spring, fertilizing should be done carefully so as not to burn the plants and not overfeed them, which can lead to unset berries. Therefore fats should be used in strictly recommended doses.

Preparation of solutions for summer application

If the first fertilizing of strawberries is intended to provide plants with nitrogen for the growth and development of the vegetative mass, then summer fertilizing should provide them with potassium and trace elements for the full formation of the root system and the timely laying of generative buds for the next year. The solution is applied in the amount of half a liter under each bush. strawberry canbe fed with ashes applied dry at two-week intervals.

Solutions can be prepared in many ways (recipe for 10 liters of water):

• potassium nitrate - 2 tbsp. l.;
• nitrophoska - 2 tbsp. l. and potassium sulfate - 1 tsp;
• 1 glass of vermicompost with infusion for 24 hours, before top dressing a solution is made in a ratio of 1:1;
• 100g ash; ½ cup of humus is infused for one day, after which 15 g of potassium nitrate is added to the mixture.

Preparation of solutions for autumn application

Unlike fertilizing strawberries in early spring, this season it is carried out to ensure a good overwintering of plants. The dose of application for each bush of the solution is approximately the same as in summer top dressing.

Here, several options for its preparation are also possible (for the same volume that was indicated earlier):

• nitroammophoska - 2 tbsp. l., potassium sulfate - 30 g and ash - 1 cup;
• superphosphate - 2 tbsp. l., ash - 1 cup and 1 liter of mullein;
• ash - ½ cup per 1 liter of mullein.

Strawberry fertilizer on sale

In addition to the fact that the solutions can be prepared independently, you can buy ready-made mixtures that contain all the necessary nutrients for this berry.

These include the following:

• "Fertik";
• "Agricola";
• "Gumi-Omi";
• others that are marked "for strawberries/strawberries".

Injection of yeast

Care and feeding of strawberries are aimed not only at providing the plants with the necessary nutrients, but also at making the substrate the most comfortable for the existence of these berries. Yeasts are microscopic fungi that can improve soil structure.

Feeding strawberries with yeast provokes the rapid decomposition of organic matter in the soil, contributing to their conversion into a form available to plants. With its implementation, all forms of batteries become more easily digestible. Also, with its help, they achieve improved root formation, which, in turn, contributes to a more powerful formation of the bush and the formation of larger berries on it.

When applying, you need to take into account that the yeast is applied to well-heated soil, the optimal conditions for their reproduction are created at a temperature of more than 20 degrees. During the fermentation of these fungi, a lot of calcium and potassium are removed from the soil, therefore, after fertilizing with yeast, an ash solution is added.

The following yeast solution recipe can be used to feed berries:

• warm water is poured into a three-liter jar up to the shoulders;
• add 25 g pressed or 12 g dry yeast;
• 4-5 tbsp. l. sugar;
• the whole mass is mixed and placed in a warm place until it starts to play, which will bewitness the foam that appeared on the surface;
• the prepared solution is poured into a ten-liter container, topped up with water, after which root dressing is carried out at a dose of 0.5-1 l under a bush.

The purpose of this top dressing is to introduce living cultures of fungi into the soil.

Ammonia application

This substance contains nitrogen in the ammonium form. In addition, it has a pungent odor that helps repel various pests: aphids, Maybug, raspberry-strawberry weevil, etc. Also, the solution allows you to destroy pathogenic fungi that settle on the leaves and stems of strawberries.

A solution is being prepared for the purpose of fertilizing the berries. To prepare it, water is added to a 10 l container, into which 2-3 tbsp. l. ammonia. At the same time, it must be remembered that the active substance of the latter is ammonia, which can burn the mucous membranes, so you can not inhale its vapors, you need to measure the dose in the fresh air.

In closing

You can choose the optimal diet for strawberries with top dressing using both organic and mineral fats, as well as products that are not fertilizers, but can be successfully applied to this crop. It is most rational to use a mixed type, which combines the use of mullein, bird droppings, yeast and synthetic fertilizers. Nitrogen top dressing should be carried out mainly in the spring, since this element is sufficientvolatile. The rest can be done in the fall. In summer, top dressing is carried out with insufficient spring dressing to form the ovary.