Do you know how to fertilize strawberry beds?
A good harvest depends on a number of factors, namely weather conditions, care, plant variety and feeding. Few people know how to fertilize strawberries so that the bushes are beautiful and the berries are large. Possession of such information will allow you to collect a bountiful and high-quality crop throughout the year. Read the article: correct planting of strawberries - the guarantee of a good harvest!
Spring strawberry care
In the spring, as soon as the snow melts and the topsoil dries well, the bushes should be freed from foliage and weeds. Also, do not forget about loosening the soil. This is an important point, since the nutrition of the plant root system depends on it.
Chicken droppings should be used no more than once every two years.
Top dressing periods:
- April-May (stimulation of green mass growth);
- June (formation of the root system);
- September (preparation in winter).
Among all types, special attention should be paid to spring feeding. They are very important, since the strength of the bush and its ability to produce a crop depend on it. The first fertilizer for strawberries should be applied as soon as the bushes began to rapidly grow leaves. During this period, it is important to introduce mixtures that consist of a large amount nitrogen... It would also be good to feed the strawberries with preparations rich in various trace elements. They will help plants to tolerate drought, cold air and infections more easily.
What fertilizers are suitable for strawberries?
In order for the bushes to produce a lot of berries and at the same time the fruits have excellent taste, special attention should be paid to the choice of fertilizer. For feeding strawberries in the spring, you can use both purchased and natural formulations. But if it is possible to use the second option, then it will be much better.
Failure to comply with the proportions can lead to drying out of the plant.
Mullein
This type of feeding is the best substitute for chemical, nitrogen preparations. You can use either clean manure with straw or without bedding material. The first option contains potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen in approximately the same ratio. Pure mullein, in turn, consists of almost 70% nitrogen. Manure with straw is the best fertilizer for strawberries in spring, as it can give the desired result in the shortest possible time.
It is not worth bringing a clean mullein under the plants, as this can negatively affect their development. An infusion is prepared from this substance. To prepare it, you will need to fill a bucket a third with fertilizer and top up with water. In this state, keep under a closed lid for a week. Before fertilizing strawberries in spring in this way, you need to dilute a liter of infusion in a bucket of clean water. Pour about 0.5 liters of the prepared fertilizer under each plant.
Chicken droppings
This is one of the most popular ways. Chicken manure has a huge number of beneficial ingredients. If you properly prepare a solution based on it, the plants will begin to grow rapidly. The periodic application of such a mixture promotes the development of important microorganisms in the soil. The infusion is prepared according to the same principle as the mullein.But in order to make a solution, you should take half the finished mixture. Water each bush with 500 ml of liquid.
Humus
This type of fertilizer contains a large percentage of nitrogen, so it is often used for spring feeding. Humus is convenient to use. It does not need to be cooked and kept for some time. You can use it dry. Such fertilizer should be scattered between the rows of strawberries, covering their aerial roots.
Wood ash
This is important for strawberries, but it won't be enough to get a good harvest. This is due to the fact that the wood ash contains the whole complex of trace elements, but no nitrogen. To achieve the desired result, it is often combined with humus or chicken droppings. But when making it, it should be remembered that nitrogen mixtures are used first, and after a few days you can also use ash.
Ammonia
This method is often used by summer residents. The liquid has a significant amount of nitrogen and at the same time helps to cope with many pests. Before feeding strawberries in spring with ammonia, you need to properly prepare a mixture based on it. You will need to put three tablespoons of the product in a 10-liter bucket of water and stir well. Watering with such a solution should be near the bushes, and also treat the topsoil with it from infections and bacteria.
Knowing how to fertilize strawberries on the site, you can quickly get the desired result. All of the above methods of feeding are the most effective and popular both among fans of growing this type of berries and among professionals.
Read:how to plant strawberries in spring?