How to fertilize the strawberries in the spring to make the harvest jealous of neighbors

Strawberries are a true queen of bed, but over the years, they degrade the land in which she grows. For the berries to be juicy, sweet and abundant, you need to put the bushes in a timely manner to accumulate strength. How to fertilize strawberries?

How to properly prepare a strawberry bed

For fertilization to give a maximum effect, the strawberry bed must be loosen from the winter ballast. Old leaves, mustache and mulch residues create a dense layer that blocks the fertilizer – they simply drain the top and do not penetrate to the roots.

What to do before fertilization:

• Cropped dry leaves. Not only do they interfere, but can also become a home of pests and diseases.
• To remove the mustache. Young rosettes take away nutrients from the main shrub and strongly thicken planting.
• Remove old mulch. Sawdust, straw and hay break through the winter and do not protect the ground more, but only interfere with.
• To loosen the ranges. This will allow the roots to breathe and absorb moisture and nutrients.

Now the bed is ready for spring jump. And strawberries are already waiting for a portion of a nutritious cocktail!

How do you fertilize the strawberries in the spring

In the spring, strawberries need special care – their short roots do not reach the depth of fertilizer, so it is important to feed them in a timely and proper way. Particularly critical is not to overdo it: nitrogen excess will make berries acidic or rot.

The most popular mineral variants:

• Ammonium nitrate: 1 tablespoon 10 liters of water, a rate of 0.5 liters per bush.
• Urea (urea): 1 tablespoon 10 liters of water, rate 0.3 liters per bush.

Alternatives:

• Chicken manure dressing: 1/2 of the bucket for 5 liters of water, held for a week, diluted in a ratio of 1:25, 0.5 liters per bush.
• Cattle manure dressing: 1/2 bucket for 5 liters of water, held for a week, diluted in a ratio of 1:10, 0.5 liters per bush.
• Complex fertilization: 2 glass of cattle manure dressing (already diluted 1:10) + 1 tablespoon ammonium sulfate 10 liters of water.

Fertilize when the soil is slightly dry but still moist after snow melting. And don’t wait for the leaves to appear – shrubs should get nutrients until active growth.

How to use ash for strawberry fertilization

If you want to do without chemistry or simply to enhance the effects of minerals – use wood ash. Not only is it a natural source of potassium and phosphorus, it is also a great remedy for fungi and pests.

How to use ash in the spring:

• Sprinkle a handful under each strawberry bush.
• Be sure to water water after fertilization to allow the trace elements to penetrate the soil.
• Can be combined with organic or mineral fertilization.
• You should not mix with acidic fertilizers – they will neutralize each other.
• Do not pour on wet or frozen ground – the effect will be minimal.

Ash is an almost free but very effective spring care component. And the strawberries will definitely answer you with a generous harvest!

Photos associative © canva

Source: https://www.bc.ua/