If you want to collect juicy and large fruits, and even in large quantities, the bed needs to be moistened periodically. The surface roots of the plant are not able to absorb moisture from the depths, so when the top layer dries out they suffer from dehydration. But you can’t overfill either. Let's look in detail at how often to water during flowering and ripening and whether these procedures can be combined with fertilizing.
When to water
Strawberries are moisture-loving, so in the period from early May to September there is an urgent need for regular and plentiful supply. Their frequency largely depends on weather conditions and climate.
Did you know? In fact, strawberry fruits are small grains, which botanists call “nuts,” and the berry pulp we are used to is just an overgrown receptacle.
At the beginning of the growing season, when it is not yet so hot outside, it is recommended to water the strawberry plantings at least once a week. And on hot days, moisturizing procedures need to be increased up to 2-3 times. If your site has sandy soils that quickly allow water to pass through, then in the summer you will have to repeat this every other day. 
With this care over the first three years, strawberry rosettes will quickly grow and develop correctly. They will develop the correct metabolic processes, and after harvesting, many rudiments of future fruits will appear.
In autumn, excess moisture can lead to rotting of the root system and the development of pathogens. Therefore, in order not to expose the crop to risks, watering should be reduced to a minimum. On dry September days, the bed can be moistened once every seven days, but in rainy weather this is not necessary.
Strawberry plantings located in sunny areas are watered much more often than those in the shade. As a result of a chain of complex physical and chemical reactions, berries ripen, enriched with sugars, glucose and fructose, which gives them sweetness and enhances the aroma.
Important!Strawberries can grow in one place for about four years. Then it needs to be transplanted to new developed areas.
If the spring was dry, you need to water the bushes from the second half of April. In cool seasons until mid-summer, the plant can be moistened three times a month. In this case, the main thing is to focus on the condition and, of course, the strawberries.
It is advisable to carry out all water procedures in the strawberry bed in the morning or evening. But try not to let drops of water fall on the crop. 
What should the water be like?
To make the process of moistening strawberries easier, many owners throw a hose with tap water. Of course, there will be berries on such a plantation, but watering cold water It is highly discouraged by specialists. In their opinion, the risks of developing putrefactive infections increase, and the root system of the plant weakens, which, in turn, affects the quantity and quality of its harvest.
It is best to collect water in large containers for settling and heating. By the way, if you don’t want to bother yourself with full buckets, you can also attach a faucet with a hose to a barrel or tub. Warm liquid affects growth hormones, stimulating their activation. As a result, the bushes grow well and are distinguished by early ripening of berries.
Did you know?Few ladies know that strawberries can replace the most expensive face cream. The fact is that berries contain large quantities of copper, which is responsible for the production of collagen. That is why it is very useful to make masks from it. You will get the same effect as from branded and practically affordable cosmetics.
Watering rules
To figure out how to properly water strawberries, it is important to understand the basic requirements of the plant at a certain period of development. After all, anyone who likes to feast on these berries has probably already guessed that a lack of moisture, as well as its excess, affects the taste characteristics. Let us consider step by step all the intricacies of crop moistening.
After landing
In order for young shoots with tendrils to form flower stalks, it is important to provide them with a sufficient level of moisture in the ground. Experienced gardeners It is advised not to overdo it with the amount of water poured under the roots, because the transplantation process usually occurs in spring or autumn, when it is not hot outside. 
In the first two weeks after planting, it is recommended to pour half a liter of warm water under each bush. Moreover, it is advisable to do this procedure up to three times a day. In the future, for grown layering, it is necessary to distribute 10 to 12 liters of liquid per area weekly. square meter.
Important!In prolonged rains and cold damp weather, be sure to cover the strawberries with film. It will contribute to the formation of a microclimate necessary for increasing biomass and strengthening roots, and will also prevent the development of fungal diseases and putrefactive infections.
Many owners of strawberry plantations use purchased sprinklers in the first stages of development of young plants. But their use is allowed only before budding begins, since the risks of pollen being washed off from the stamens are very high.
How to water strawberries after planting largely depends on the characteristics. For example, sandstones require 50% humidity, and loams - 60%. Experts advise to moisten the plant rarely, but abundantly, since frequent and insignificant watering does not give the desired effect.
At the beginning of the strawberry growing season Special attention should be given to the soil. After each watering, it is advisable to loosen it and, if necessary, clean it from. These manipulations will improve the aeration of the roots and allow them to feed more intensively. Remember that light substrates require less water, compared to heavy ones. 
During flowering
If in this phase of bush development the necessary water regime is not provided to them, big losses in the harvest and severe depletion of the crop. To prevent this from happening, 20–25 liters of water should be poured onto each square meter of the bed.
Did you know?Lemon contains much more sugar than strawberries.
Some adjustments regarding the amount of liquid poured can be made by the physicochemical characteristics of the substrate. But in all cases, make sure that the soil is soaked to a depth of 25 cm. 
To retain moisture, it is recommended to cover the rows with pine mulch, straw or black film. These materials will not allow development, and will also protect the plant’s berries from contact with the wet substrate. As a result, they will not be affected by rot.
During the fruiting period
The first ripe strawberry fruits can be found as early as June. But some owners, thanks to proper watering and fertilizers, manage to harvest several crops per season. We asked them how often to water strawberries during fruiting and ripening.
It turns out that for such success per square meter of planting in hot weather you will need about 25 liters of water. During this period, it is important to maintain humidity at 70% on sandy substrates, and about 80% on loams.
Did you know? The size and color of strawberries affect the contents of the berries. Scientists believe that bright saturated color- a clear indicator of a large amount of vitamins.
Remember that rosettes especially need moisture when greens form on them. Therefore, monitor the condition of the mulch and do not allow a dry crust to form on the ground. Many gardeners make special furrows between rows to direct water. This technology does not endanger pollen and protects the berries from rot. 
Watering and fertilizing
Combining these two vital procedures for strawberries can work wonders. The culture is very dependent on the mineral components of the substrate. They are better absorbed by roots in a humid environment.
Before planting rosettes, experts advise fertilizing the bed with a mixture of, and. Per square meter of plot, the ratio of components is calculated according to the proportion 3 kg: 35 g: 500 g. Then it is important to put a little humus or rotted (but not fresh) in the hole under each bush.
Important!At autumn planting In the spring of strawberries, it is imperative to remove dry leaves from the rosettes and overgrown mustaches from the rows.
On old berry plantations, the first fertilizing is planned at the period when the bushes begin to throw out young leaves, the length of which does not exceed 10 cm. Then a solution of 3 kg of dry berry, which must first be diluted with water and left for about three days, and a bucket of water would be very appropriate. As an alternative, you can use infusion. 
Repeated fertilization is carried out when flower stalks appear from the rosettes. During this period, it is advisable to apply about 20 g to the root.
You need to figure out how to properly apply fertilizer to strawberries in the spring in order to increase the yield of everyone’s favorite berry. Collecting a lot of sweet, juicy, aromatic strawberries from your plot is not so difficult. This berry responds well to fertilization, so it is important to feed it several times a season. In spring, during the period of active formation of new buds, feeding is especially important.
Fertilizing strawberries in spring
Take your time with fertilizing if strawberries are planted this year. During the season, she will have enough fertilizer applied during planting. You can start feeding strawberries from the second year, when the soil content decreases. useful substances. If for some reason the soil was not fertilized during planting, then in the spring you can apply potassium or phosphorus fertilizers.
When do strawberries need fertilizing?
Spring is a time of awakening after winter, active growth and bud formation. This is an important period for the development of the plant, and at this time strawberries need to be fertilized 3 times. It is better to determine the timing of feeding not by calendar dates, but by the stages of plant development - the growth rate may differ in different climatic zones. Guidelines for fertilizing in spring:
- The first root feeding is done immediately after awakening and the appearance of the first leaf. In the spring, the garden bed is put in order, cleared of debris, loosened and fertilized.
- The second - at the beginning of flowering - foliar feeding.
- The third - after the end of flowering, at the beginning of the formation of berries.
Most fertilizers are applied under the bushes in the spring, sprinkled on top thin layer soil. Additionally, you can apply them between the rows to a depth of about 10 cm. After applying the fertilizers, the soil is moistened.
How to feed strawberries in early spring and how to process them
Before examining each stage of feeding in detail, let us dwell on important issue: what is better to feed strawberries - organic or mineral fertilizers. Each option has its advantages and disadvantages, and what is convenient for one gardener may not be suitable for another. Therefore, there is no definite answer - everyone chooses for themselves. Let's look at the advantages and disadvantages of each type of fertilizer.
Mineral fertilizers are inorganic substances containing elements important for plant life: nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus and others. Any simple or complex mineral fertilizer has the following advantages:
- High efficiency and ease of use.
- The doses of elements in the composition are known and well calculated. By adding a mineral composition, the gardener knows exactly what elements and in what quantities he has enriched the soil.
- Compact and easy to transport - often sold as a concentrate or powder for dilution in water.
U mineral fertilizers there are disadvantages:
- They must be used carefully and strictly follow the instructions, since excess minerals can affect the plant even worse than a deficiency.
- 2 weeks before the berries ripen, you should stop adding them.
- Some compounds affect the acidity of the soil. Before purchasing, you should carefully read the instructions.
Organic fertilizers are peat, manure, compost, ash and other substances of natural origin. They contain important for plants chemical elements, and many gardeners have chosen them, because they have undeniable advantages:
- Restore chemical composition soil naturally
- Environmentally friendly and safe, can be applied during fruiting period
Disadvantages of organic fertilizers:
- Not as effective; strawberries may not produce large berries, as when applying mineral fertilizers
- The concentration of useful elements is lower, it can fluctuate greatly
- Some species are difficult to transport
Both types of fertilizers are suitable for strawberries in spring.
What to choose - each gardener decides for himself based on his physical and financial capabilities. There is also combined option- organomineral, in which micro- and macroelements are added to the organic substrate in the required doses.
Now let’s look at what fertilizers, during what period of development and why should be used in the spring for strawberries.
First feeding - early spring
After the snow melts and the soil dries out, you need to help the bushes come out of hibernation. To do this, the beds are cleaned, loosened, the layer of mulch is renewed, and dry leaves are cut off. Fertilizing during this period stimulates vegetation processes, so fertilizing should contain nitrogen.
From mineral supplements In spring, nitroammofoska or complex fertilizer is good. To prepare it, 2 parts of ammophoska are mixed with 1 part of ammonium nitrate and diluted with water. Consumption rate - 15 g per 1 sq.m.
Organic supporters can use nettle infusion. Cut young nettles are placed in a container ¾ full, water is added. Infuse for 5 days, then filter and dilute with water in a ratio of 1:10. You can also use diluted bird droppings (1 part droppings to 20 parts water). When using this option, you should remember that it is only spilled between the rows; it is not advisable to get it on the plants.
Second feeding - at the beginning of flowering
Before flowering or at its very beginning, carry out foliar feeding. The nutritional composition is applied directly to the leaves and flowers of the plant - this ensures a rapid supply of elements. This fertilizing provides additional nutrition to future fruits; strawberries respond to it with a large harvest rich in vitamin C.
For such feeding, a boron solution is used. In order for the composition to reach all the flowers, spraying is repeated 3-4 times with an interval of several days. Another suitable option- spraying with ash solution. It helps enrich the berries with sucrose and make them sweeter. Remember that foliar feeding is carried out in dry, windless weather, preferably on a cloudy day.
Third feeding - at the beginning of berry formation
To obtain a tasty and sweet harvest, you need potassium, so during the period when flowering ends and berries begin to set, strawberries require nutrients containing this element.
For those who decide to use organics, excellent option there will be mullein or weed infusion. The cut grass is chopped, the barrel is completely filled and filled with water. After a week, the herbal mass is wrung out and removed. The solution must be diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10. After watering the strawberries with the infusion, in addition to the necessary elements, it will receive many beneficial microorganisms.
Supporters of the use of mineral fertilizers can feed strawberries with potassium nitrate or potassium monophosphate in the proportion of 1 tbsp. on a bucket of water. After fertilizing, the plants need to be watered.
Feeding options are not limited to these recipes. You can even find special formulations for strawberries on sale, in which all the necessary elements are selected in the required quantities.
So, our strawberries three times spring time received healthy and nutritious supplements. Of course, in the spring you shouldn’t stop there, because this crop needs fertilizer in the summer - during the growth of the berries and after they are harvested, and in the fall, when the buds of the next year are being laid. Caring and timely feeding- the key to the health of strawberry bushes and increased yield.
Caring for strawberry beds is a whole science, without which it will not be possible to reap a good harvest.
With the first rays of spring, the gardener hurries to get to work so as not to miss precious time.
After all, after a cold winter, strawberries need special care. As soon as the beds are cleaned, old and diseased plants are removed, it’s time for the first fertilizing.
Before applying fertilizers, you need to assess the condition of the plant and soil. The fact is that at certain stages of development, strawberries need different nutritional mixtures.
How to feed young strawberry seedlings in spring
If the strawberry plantation was planted last summer, then only mineral fertilizers are used to feed the plants. The basic reserves of nutrients in the soil are still sufficient for the full development of strawberries. Prepared and fertilized soil will nourish the bushes and increase their resistance to diseases.
As a top dressing during this period, you can give mineral fertilizers, which will affect the quality of the berries and their quantity. Prepare the mixture per 1 sq. m. beds 100 gr. fertilizers To do this, potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen are mixed. Sprinkle the ground around the bushes with granules, lightly embedding them into the soil while loosening. This technique ensures a gradual intake nutrients to the roots of plants.
Feeding mature strawberries in early spring
During its development, over several years, strawberries absorb all the nutrients from the soil and need additional care. Therefore, you can’t do without fertilizing, especially if you want to get a big harvest. For adult plants, fertilizing should be carried out in three stages:
Immediately after the appearance of young leaves;
Just before flowering;
At the moment of formation of berries.
For spring feeding of two-year-old strawberry bushes, organic matter is used. Very good feedback on the use of chicken manure, manure and compost as mulch. Having spread fertilizer around the bushes, they need to be sprinkled with earth.
Older strawberry plantings require balanced feeding, for which organic matter with the addition of minerals is used. Prepare nutrient solution you need this: for 10 liters of water use 1 tbsp. l. ammonium sulfate and 500 ml mullein. Fertilizing is carried out at the rate of 1 bush up to 1 liter of the finished mixture.
The second time you need to fertilize strawberries is before flowering. To prepare this feed, mineral fertilizers are used. Prepare a solution from 1 tbsp. l. potassium and 2 tbsp. l. nitrophosphates, which are diluted in 10 liters of water. When watering strawberries, you need to be careful so that the solution does not get on the leaves. Up to 500 ml of liquid feed is used for each plant.
During the period of active development of strawberries, it is necessary to use not only root fertilizers, but also irrigate the leaves with nutrient mixtures.
To stimulate growth, it is good to use spraying with nitrogen-containing preparations. Such feeding affects not only the growth of the bush, but also the formation of ovaries.
When spraying, nutrients enter the plant tissue much faster, which has a positive effect on its condition. Irrigation should be carried out in calm, windless weather. After rain, spraying will have to be repeated.
Application of organics in early spring for fertilizing strawberries
Many gardeners fertilize strawberries exclusively with mineral fertilizers, thereby obtaining a good harvest. But the use of mineral complexes requires precise dosage, otherwise you may be left without berries altogether. But when feeding strawberries with organic matter, you don’t have to worry about the plants. Of course, the use of bird droppings or manure is not a guarantee of large berries, but such fertilizers are harmless to plants and humans.
Important! There is no such thing as too much organic matter! Each bush will take only the necessary substances from the soil.
Mulch as spring fertilizer for strawberries
If you add a layer of humus and compost to the beds as mulch, then no further fertilizing is necessary. Because they create the necessary conditions for the development of microorganisms in the soil.
If for a long time only mineral complexes were used as fertilizers for strawberries, then you need to switch to organics gradually. To do this, use organic fertilizers with live bacteria that improve the health of the soil.
Recipe for yeast nutrition for strawberries
Recently, many gardeners have begun to use baker's yeast to fertilize strawberries. The whole secret lies in the fact that yeast creates a good nutrient medium for microorganisms that inhabit the soil. In such an environment, bacteria begin to work, releasing nitrogen, which is absorbed by plant roots.
Applying yeast supplements, gardeners note excellent growth of bushes, good fruiting, strawberry plantations more resistant to diseases.
- Recipe No. 1
The easiest way to prepare a nutritional supplement is to dilute 1 kg of fresh yeast in 5 liters of water, adding 250 grams of sugar. You need to infuse the mixture for several days; when the fermentation process is over, the solution is ready. To water the plants, use 500 ml of solution, diluting it in 10 liters of water.
- Recipe No. 2
You can prepare a yeast infusion with black bread. To do this, dry bread crusts are poured warm water by adding yeast to it. When the mixture is infused, you can start watering.
When using such fertilizers in the beds, you should remember the following:
1. Yeast is a living microorganism, so it needs heat to grow. Yeast is diluted only in warm water.
2. Since the resulting mixture contains a lot of nitrogen, frequent use of such fertilizers is undesirable.
3. When fertilizing strawberries with yeast, you must add ash.
Fertilizing strawberries with sour milk
Experienced gardeners know that a good large berry grows on a weak acidic soils. Therefore, they try to regulate acidity using traditional methods.
Strawberries respond well to feeding with fermented milk products. Sour milk, kefir, and whey are used. With such fertilizing, the soil is enriched with essential microelements: phosphorus, calcium, sulfur and others.
Foliar feeding of strawberries with sour milk not only has a good effect on the growth of the plant and its fruiting, but also copes with some pests: mites, aphids.
Strawberries are grown in different climatic zones.
In conditions temperate climate Strawberries grow in open ground, and in cold areas the berries are grown in greenhouses.
How to fertilize strawberries. Types of fertilizers
Growing strawberries requires certain conditions to be met.
For many gardeners, the first strawberry harvest is disappointing: the berries turn out small and watery.
To get a good harvest, it is important to use the right fertilizers.
Fertilizers are divided into:
Organic;
Mineral.
Organic fertilizers include:
Humus;
Wood ash;
Milk serum;
Green manure (plants).
Mineral fertilizers:
Complex (ammophos, nitrophos, diammophos, nitroammofoska);
Potassium;
Nitrogen (amide, nitrate, ammonium-nitrate);
Phosphorus (bone meal, vivianite, simple and double superphosphate, open-hearth slag, precipitate, phosphate rock).
The best way to fertilize strawberries also depends on the soil.
How to fertilize strawberries: organic fertilizers
Fresh manure is not used. It can be used as a fertilizer, scattered between rows, immediately before the onset of frost. Until spring, the manure will turn into humus and will serve not only as a source of nutrients for plants, but also as a mulch that prevents the growth of weeds.
Humus is also used directly when planting berries. It is poured into prepared holes or scattered over the soil surface at the rate of 3 kg per 1 sq.m.
In autumn, beds with strawberries are mulched with sawdust, peat, and covered with leaves or straw. In spring, rotted organic matter goes into the soil, saturating it with nitrogen.
Also used in spring liquid fertilizer from chicken manure. It is watered between the rows (around each bush - no more than 500 ml), trying not to get into the areas at the roots. Chicken manure is diluted as follows: for 10 liters of water - 1 liter of manure.
To saturate the soil with potassium and nitrogen, you can use nettle infusion. To prepare the infusion, plant bushes are placed in a container and filled with water. Before use, the infusion is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:20.
Wood ash contains phosphorus and potassium. A bucket of water requires a glass of ash. Before use, the solution is thoroughly mixed. For 1 sq. m requires a glass of solution. The fertilizer is effective for several years. Nitrogen fertilizers cannot be added along with the ash, so that ammonia does not begin to be released, which is harmful in large quantities to the berries.
The serum contains many useful substances. It is recommended to use it together with manure, humus or ash.
How to fertilize strawberries: complex fertilizers
Nitrophos is produced in the form of granules. Fertilizer is used when the soil content of potassium is low and phosphorus is high. For 1 sq. m requires 80 g of fertilizer.
Nitroammophoska contains sulfur. Used to feed strawberries in the summer, after flowering. For 10 liters of water, 1.5 matchboxes are enough. Strawberries should be watered generously immediately after fertilizing.
Ammophos contains nitrogen and phosphorus. Fertilizer provides berries with all the necessary substances and increases resistance to diseases.
Diammophos contains magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and nitrogen. Available in granules.
How to fertilize strawberries: potash fertilizers
Potassium chloride acidifies the soil, so on acidic soils it is recommended to use it after liming. Not recommended for strawberries due to the chlorine content, which is bad for the berries.
Potassium salt oxidizes the soil and creates signs of salinity in arid areas. Contains chlorine.
Potassium sulfate can be used to feed strawberries, as it contains a small amount of chlorine. It is considered the best potassium fertilizer.
How to fertilize strawberries: nitrogen fertilizers
A lot of nitrogen is contained in urea and saltpeter. Without nitrogen, the berries lose their taste, become small and inconspicuous. These fertilizers are well suited for any soil and have a positive effect on the growth and development of plants. Nitrogen fertilizers must be applied carefully, since excess nitrogen negatively affects the taste of the berries.
Urea is used for incorporation into the soil and foliar feeding. The soil is sprayed with a solution (50 g of urea per 10 liters of water). The solution is enough for 100 sq. m. Do not mix with superphosphate and ammonium nitrate.
Ammonium sulfate can serve as a basic fertilizer. Contains ammonia in a form accessible to plants. It acidifies the soil; for 1 kg of fertilizer you need to add 1.3 kg of chalk or lime.
Ammonium chloride contains chlorine, which is poorly tolerated by strawberries. It is permissible to use fertilizer only in the fall during deep plowing.
Ammonia fertilizers (ammonium sulfate, ammonium chloride) must be used carefully, since high ammonia content can cause plant poisoning.
Sodium nitrate alkalizes; applying 1 kg of fertilizer has an effect identical to 0.3 kg of lime or chalk.
Calcium nitrate also alkalizes, but the effect is somewhat less - 1 kg of fertilizer is the same as 0.2 kg of chalk.
Sodium and calcium nitrate are the safest for plants. It is not recommended to apply nitrogen fertilizers to the soil in the fall.
How to fertilize strawberries: phosphate fertilizers
Simple superphosphate binds quickly in acidic soil, so its effectiveness increases after liming. It is applied to the soil to a depth of more than 10 cm. This fertilizer should not be mixed with urea and ammonium nitrate. For 1 sq. m - 20 g of fertilizer.
There is simple superphosphate in powder form and granulated, double granulated.
Bone meal transforms into a form accessible to strawberries more slowly than superphosphate. Apply long before planting strawberries on acidic soils. For 1 sq. m - 30-40 g of fertilizer (twice as much as superphosphate).
Phosphate flour is an alkaline fertilizer, it transforms into a form accessible to strawberries only on acidic soil. Used for plowing. It lasts for about three years, so the dosage is twice as much as superphosphate.
Open hearth slag reduces soil acidity. Contains phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, cobalt. It transforms into a state accessible to strawberries more slowly than superphosphate.
Fertilizers are applied for the first time when preparing plants for winter. They are applied directly to the soil.
During the second feeding, after picking the berries, it is recommended to use mineral complex fertilizers. On at this stage plants form roots and new buds. During flowering and fruiting, strawberries are not fertilized.
Nitrogen fertilizers are applied to light soil in the spring, and to clayey soil in the fall.
The next feeding will be around mid-September. It is advisable to use wood ash with mullein as a fertilizer - half a glass of ash per bucket cow dung(fermented). After a couple of weeks, strawberries are fertilized with the following solution: a glass of ash, 2 tbsp. l. nitrophos, 30 g of potash fertilizers.
When transplanting bushes to a new location, the soil is fertilized with 8 kg of organic fertilizers and 30 g of mineral fertilizers.
Not every gardener can boast of a rich black soil on your site. Again, not every gardener, even if he decides to practice natural farming, is able to replace all of his traditional beds with more fertile organic ones in one sitting. Especially when it comes to strawberries, which grow in one place for several years.
In order not to be left without real fragrant and sweet strawberries during the season, many summer residents have to rely on fertilizing. Today we will talk about when and what to feed strawberries for optimal growth, vigorous flowering and appropriate fruiting.
During summer season Strawberries are usually fed three times: in the spring, in the summer after the main harvest, and in late summer or autumn before preparing for winter. Remontant strawberries are especially responsive to feeding; they need to be fed at intervals of a week.
For the first time, strawberry bushes are fed in the spring, at the very beginning of the dacha season, as soon as the snow melts and more or less warm weather sets in. The first feeding is aimed at stimulating the growth of fresh shoots and leaves, and therefore must contain nitrogen.
Recipes for spring fertilizing of strawberries
Under each strawberry bush, you need to pour 0.5-1 liter of liquid fertilizer, depending on the size of the bush.
The second feeding of strawberries is carried out in the summer, towards the end of July after the main harvest of berries is harvested. It would seem why? The fact is that at this time the formation of new roots begins and flower buds are laid for the next season, so the plants could use additional potassium and microelements.
Recipes for the second feeding of strawberries
Under each bush you need to pour about 0.5 liters of any of the above fertilizers. Alternatively, the ash can not be dissolved in water, but scattered directly under the bushes. After two weeks, it would be good to repeat the feeding: after all, at this time the plants need nutrition most of all.
It is no secret to experienced gardeners that strawberry crops in spring require careful care. Usually it involves cleaning the beds after winter, removing shelters and a number of other activities. Spring feeding of strawberries is especially important, without which the crop may die or not produce the expected harvest.
Caring for strawberries in the spring begins immediately after the snow melts from the beds. If the plants were in a “shelter”, it must be immediately eliminated. Afterwards, the area where the berry grows needs to be cleared of debris. Each individual also needs to be rid of dry leaves on them. In addition, it is necessary to remove all dry organs of the culture. Dead crops are also subject to harvesting.
It is worth planting others in place of dead plants. The procedure must be carried out as early as possible so that the seedlings take root in the new place before the onset of heat and severe drought.
From the video you will learn how to properly fertilize berries for the first time.
Spring feeding
Fertilizing strawberries in the spring is a particularly important step for the harvest. Nutrients help strawberries come to life after winter and form young organs.
However, the crop must be fed on time and strictly observing the dosage of the substance. Excess fertilizing provokes unhealthy plant growth, and flowers and fruits on them will form much later than expected.
Fertilizing young bushes
Fertilizing strawberries in the spring, which were planted last year, may not be carried out at all, since the plant contains enough nutrients. If you nevertheless decide to feed such a bush, for this purpose it is worth preparing the following solution: dilute half a liter of chicken droppings or cow manure and 1 tablespoon of sodium sulfate in a bucket of water. Ready solution need to be applied in the amount of a liter per bush.
Fertilizing adult strawberries
At 2-3 years of life, strawberries especially need nutrients. This is due to the impoverishment of the land. Therefore, in order to get a large number of fruits, you need to know how to fertilize strawberries in the spring and do it correctly.
In spring, fertilizing the berries should be carried out at least 3 times. For the first time after the formation of two or three leaves on the seedlings, again before the crop begins to flower. The last feeding should help in the formation of the plant’s fruits.
As for the timing, usually the first application of fertilizer occurs from mid to late April. At this time, strawberries especially need mullein, which can be replaced with chicken droppings.
During the second application, during flowering, the plant is fed with mineral fertilizers. They promote the appearance of large fruits and also improve their taste.
The last feeding can be successfully carried out using a weed tincture. Weed crops are removed from the beds, crushed and filled with water. After the solution has been infused for a week in a warm place, you can water the strawberry bushes with it.
Foliar feeding of strawberries
Fertilizing strawberries in spring can be done not only through watering. You can apply nutrients directly to the bush.
The easiest way to carry out foliar feeding is by spraying with a solution of nitrogen or organic matter. Such beneficial substances have a positive effect on the growth of the crop and the increase in its ovaries. Spraying helps the solutions to absorb almost immediately. This event should be held on a calm, sunny day, preferably in the evening.
You can also spray the berries with fertilizers. Known mineral mixtures high mobility and low mobility type. The first group is characterized by rapid absorption by plants. Representatives of such mineral mixtures are nitrogen, phosphorus, magnesium and potassium. The second group, represented by iron, boron, copper and manganese, is characterized by a slower effect on the plant body.
When applying fertilizers by spraying, you need to monitor where the substance ends up.
Which fertilizers to choose
The question of how to feed strawberries in the spring interests many gardeners. And this is not surprising, because the quality of the fruit and the range of its use depend on the correctly selected nutrients. Any deviation from the type and dose of fertilizer can make the use of the crop impossible. Even strawberry vinegar cannot be made from berries with excess minerals.
So, what will large-fruited strawberries respond better to: minerals or organics?
Mineral fertilizers are quite effective in application. However, such substances must be used very carefully. You must strictly follow the instructions and doses. The berries should be fertilized with minerals no later than a few weeks before the fruit ripens.
It is worth adding organic matter because of its safety for the human body. In principle, there is no overdose of manure or bird droppings. The culture itself will take the required amount of nutrients.
The addition of wood ash gives excellent results. It actively nourishes the roots, and the raw material solution can also be applied by foliar application.
Post-harvest care
How to care for a crop after its harvest has been harvested? In July and August, it is worth cutting off old dry leaves of the crop and its tendrils.
After this, the soil between the rows must be actively but carefully loosened to avoid damage to the roots. In this case, the bushes should be carefully hilled. The harvested beds are fed with mullein.
Watering for strawberries is very important even after harvesting. Therefore, you should not neglect it or allow the soil to dry out.
It is necessary to systematically trim the bush's tendrils, which has a positive effect on the appearance of new plant organs.
So, growing strawberries is much easier than it seems. However, the success of the process cannot be counted on without applying a number of fertilizers in the spring.
Video “Post-harvest care”
From the video you will learn how to care for berries after harvesting.
Not all gardeners know how to water strawberries correctly. The root system of the berry is not deep enough to draw moisture from the layers of the earth. Therefore, it is important to water regularly. Loamy soil requires abundant watering, unlike soil with mechanical maintenance. You need to water in the morning so that the soil is dry at night.
Before the flowering stage, you can water by sprinkling, so the leaves will be clean and developed. Transplanting and planting strawberries in autumn and winter period require special attention.
Caring for strawberries open ground depends on whether it blooms or not when it was planted. To ensure large berries, the bushes are publicly accessible should be watered abundantly. If you neglect the rules, then you may not expect fruit.
For comfort, a sprinkler system or drip installation is installed. After planting the berries, the soil is watered and sprinkled with humus. This is necessary to retain water in the soil. The first few weeks are important for seedlings. Water every day, so the strawberries will take root faster. After a while, reduce watering to once every 2-3 days.
There is no need to overfill it with water, as it will be unstable to diseases and frost resistance will decrease.
When to water for the first time after winter
After cold weather, you need to start watering the plants at the end of April - beginning of May days, the bushes should thaw. Watering is carried out once every 6 days in the morning, not with cold water, but at room temperature. Before the flowers appear, the method of sprinkling is suitable, but once flowering bushes appear, it is undesirable to get it on the plants.
You need to watch out for weeds that can block access to water after fruiting begins. Heavy rain or watering can have a bad effect on the berries - they will become watery and tasteless.
Strawberry does not like frost and cold. The temperature of the liquid should be more than 15 degrees. You can warm it up or leave it outside. In spring, the plant requires abundant watering, about half a liter per bush three times a day.
Features of proper spring watering if strawberries grow under a black film
Watering strawberry plantations with a watering can is not always convenient, and using a hose is inappropriate. During the flowering period, sprinkling is prohibited. And if you water with a hose under the root, the soil will be washed away and the root system will be damaged.
The best option is drip method. There will be water in every bush. This option is irreplaceable if the plant grows under a black film.
The system must be installed before landing. High-quality film will last a couple of years.
Before the first watering in spring, you need to determine the soil moisture. Both drying out and waterlogging will be dangerous for strawberries.
If the ground is dry in some places, there may be moisture under the film. Or the spring rain that watered other crops will not be enough, since it will practically not fall under the film. Agrofibre will allow water to enter without any obstacles. root system. Possible different variants glaze.
Black film has the following advantages:
- Reducing water costs 5 times;
- Water reaches the strawberries, and not the weeds, which slows down their reproduction.
Drip irrigation for a good harvest
The first year requires abundant watering. It is better to give preference before the first appearance of flowers. sprinkler method, and drip use is secondary. This method will clear the leaves of dirt, and the strawberries will develop faster and more correctly.
You can make a drip system yourself or purchase a ready-made design. Main element – watering tape. It must meet the requirements:
- The tape material must withstand changes in pressure;
- Distance between droppers from 10 to 30 cm;
- Tape wall thickness from 5 to 8 mm.
You need to select a pump based on the source of water supply, for example, how far is the distance to the connection to a well, tank or borehole. Vortex and centrifugal pumps relevant for surface structures, and submersible ones for wells.
Watering immediately after planting
At the beginning of planting, you need to water the bushes often in small quantities. Ground surface should always be wet. Water in the surface is necessary for the appearance of new roots growing from the base of the bush.
After the first ten days, watering should increase in volume but decrease in frequency. The roots should absorb as much water as possible. After 20 days the plants will be ready for the cold, when unfavorable conditions in 50 days. The period falls at the end of November.
Dry weather is what is dangerous for seedlings.
In winter, the soil is dry, as in summer. For the whole winter, strawberries are almost without moisture. To prevent it from drying out, it needs to be watered thoroughly before frost. The moisture should be absorbed and remain on the surface. After wintering, it is important to promptly remove weeds and water the bushes abundantly at the right time. To prevent the leaves from burning, you need to water early in the morning.
How often does a berry need moisture?
Permanent and frequent watering necessary at the beginning of May until the end of September, since it is at this time that the bushes are actively growing. In autumn and spring, plants do not require much moisture. In summer, increase the volume of fluid to once every three days. And in hot weather you can do it every day.
You can do this using:
- Cardboard, paper;
- Needles;
- Straw and sawdust;
- Leaves;
- Agrofibre or black film.
Blooming means reducing watering, or you may not need to water at all. If you cannot do without it, you need to make sure that pollen remains on the pistils. Watering must be done carefully so that do not harm the flowers. When the fruits appear, watering is carried out along the grooves so that the leaves and berries do not begin to rot.
You need to take care of berries comprehensively. If you follow the rules and advice, after a couple of years you can notice powerful bushes with large berries. After harvesting the fruits, they will return to normal.
Fertilizing strawberries in the fall - important stage obtaining a quality harvest for next year. This crop is demanding on the soil, therefore, in the absence good fertilizers the berries begin to shrink, the pulp becomes dry and unsweetened, and the plant itself simply degenerates over time.
The importance of autumn nutrition
Although strawberries are considered an undemanding plant, generally adapted to the climate middle zone, a sufficient harvest can be obtained only with high-quality fertilizing. The type of root system itself determines the importance of applying various fertilizers.
The absence of a main root and a large number of small adventitious roots located in upper layers, contributes to the fact that the bush cannot receive all the necessary nutrients. During the fruiting phase, strawberries take all the microelements from the upper layer, the remains are washed away with water into the lower layer, from where the small roots of the plant are practically unable to extract them.
Autumn feeding Strawberries are also important because this plant has two phases of active growth - the leaves grow vigorously in the spring and at the end of August after the fruit is harvested. Accordingly, by spring there are practically no nutritional components left in the soil, and the formation of vegetative buds may not occur.
If you do not strengthen the root system in the fall, in the absence of snow in winter, leaves may not appear on the bush. Lack of nutritional components in the best possible way affects the harvest - the berries become small, with wrinkles, the pulp loses juice, the leaves are small and may turn yellow.
Timing of the procedure
Garden strawberries Cultivated soils are important, so fertilizing should be repeated. Moreover, agricultural technology is carried out even before the first bushes are planted on the site:
- Fertilizer with potassium and phosphorus mixed with manure is applied to the soil before planting the first rosettes. Typically, this feeding is done 1.5 months before seedlings. If planting is carried out in the spring, the harvest will appear only after a year, so it is usually carried out in August or September, fertilizing the soil in July.
- A week after seedlings are transplanted, the first feeding is done with ash, after 7 days a complex mineral fertilizer is applied, and after another week you can feed the bushes with an infusion of mullein or bird droppings.
- After removing all the ripe berries from the bushes, fertilize the strawberries in the fall (September 1-20). Some types of crops require additional nutritional components in October-November.
In autumn, you can feed the root system only after harvesting the entire crop. During this period, buds are formed, on which the rudiments of flowers are visible. This determines the volume of harvest next season. High-quality fertilizers can increase the number of fruits by 30% or more.
How to feed strawberries in the fall
Fertilizing strawberries with organic matter in the fall is more difficult, but the final harvest is environmentally friendly. They mainly collect bird droppings, although this fertilizer is aggressive and can damage the roots of the plant, so it is mixed in water. Organic cow manure, nettle infusion, and wood ash are also used.
Ready-made mineral mixtures are also suitable for strawberries. They are used dry or diluted and must be combined with watering. Liquid mineral fertilizers are usually applied until the end of September at most.
Organic
The following preparations can be used in the feeding process.
Poultry or cow manure
It is recommended to use manure for application into the root system only when it has been rotted. This will neutralize weed shoots to reduce the need to weed the beds next year. You can buy this fertilizer in stores in dry form, packaged in bags.
The liquid infusion is prepared as follows: use 1 kg of dry mixture for 10 liters of water, then the solution is infused for two days. It must be poured into the grooves strictly between the bushes, trying not to get on the ovaries and leaves of the bush.
Mullein
You can feed the plants with mullein. It is used in the same way as bird droppings. 1 part of dry powder (or pre-rotted manure) is diluted in 10 parts of water. After stirring, the mixture should sit for at least a day. Additionally, you can add one part of charcoal to the infusion. Watering is carried out strictly between plants.
Slurry
Slurry is prepared as follows - 1 liter of cow waste is used for 8 liters of ordinary water. The mixture needs to stand for two days. The consistency is reminiscent of liquid sour cream. When watering strawberries, try not to get any parts of the plant.
Wood ash
Wood ash is used in many ways:
- You can add it to an infusion of bird droppings or cow dung. In this case, it is necessary to thoroughly stir the mixture until it has a homogeneous consistency.
- In dry form, ash is used at the rate of 150 g per square meter of area. It is scattered on top, so you don’t have to worry about getting it on the leaves.
- A solution is also used. 150 g are diluted in 5 liters of water, then approximately 500 ml of the mixture is used per bush.
Mineral fertilizers
- Nitrophoska based on phosphorus, nitrogen, potassium. Additionally, the composition includes boron, molybdenum, cobalt, copper and other components. The fertilizer is universal, replaces superphosphate, potassium nitrate, potassium chloride and others. Available in the form of white or gray granules coated to protect against moisture. Dosage – 3 g of granules per 1 liter of water. The resulting solution is fertilized at the rate of 500 ml per plant. Nitrophoska is applied to the beds after collecting all the berries. Not suitable for remontants, since the last harvest of this variety occurs in late autumn. Recharge is carried out maximum until mid-September.
- Potassium salt based on sylvinite, potassium chloride, kainite. The powder dissolves easily in water and looks like small dark orange crystals. Salt can be mixed with the soil, but it does not remain at the top, but penetrates into all layers of the soil. An overdose of potassium salt can lead to a deterioration in the taste of fruits, a decrease in their shelf life and an increase in the ripening phase of the crop. If fertilizer is applied correctly, the plant’s immunity increases. Potassium salt is scattered under the roots of the plant along the bed at the rate of 30–40 g per square meter of area. After this, abundant watering is required to penetrate the substances into the upper layers of the soil.
- Superphosphate is a complex mineral fertilizer containing sulfur, nitrogen, and magnesium. More than half of the volume is occupied by phosphorus. The substance dissolves in water and quickly reaches the root system of the plant. Increases crop endurance, makes roots and stems stronger, and increases resistance to low temperatures. Superphosphate does not mix with other fertilizers and is not suitable for all types of soil. Fertilizing is used maximum four times - during planting, in the spring after the end of the flowering period, in the fall and before wintering the plant. The powder is applied directly under the roots to the surface of the soil, then watered generously with settled water.
- Kemira is a water-soluble fertilizer containing phosphorus, magnesium, and nitrogen. It is produced in the form of granules with a long shelf life, applied directly between the rows of the plant, and watered abundantly with water. When working, you must use a respirator and rubber gloves, since inhaling the powder is dangerous for humans. You can also use the powder diluted in water - 1 tablespoon per 10 liters.
- Nitroammophoska based on phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium used for many garden crops, including strawberries. Take 1 kg per square meter of bed. It is necessary to work with this fertilizer carefully, since an overdose can burn the root system and deplete the soil.
The main elements for feeding are potassium and nitrogen. The latter affects the size of the fruit, rich red color and sweet taste.
Mineral fertilizers prevent plant diseases, stimulate growth and strengthen the bush. If you add them in the fall after harvest, next year the berries will be large, not deformed, sweet and juicy.
Folk recipes
Natural substances for fertilizing strawberries are cheaper than mineral ones and allow you to obtain a harvest that is clean from an environmental point of view. The following methods are especially popular in organic farming:
- A mixture of 1 liter of tobacco decoction, 10 liters of weed infusion and half a glass of ash.
- 130 g of wood ash and 1 liter of slightly warmed mullein.
These mixtures are used in pure form without additional dilution with water in a volume of 300–400 ml per bush, depending on its size.
Also for autumn processing You can use the following recipes:
- Vermicompost in a volume of 200 ml is dissolved in 10 liters of water, kept at room temperature and combine in a 1:1 ratio with settled water.
- A mixture of rainwater with compost and soil, you can additionally add old jam.
- An incomplete ten-liter bucket of dried bread crusts must be soaked in water and allowed to stand for a week at room temperature. Then the resulting slurry is diluted three times with water. You can add 1/3 of the whey to the solution and pour 500–8000 ml per bush.
Fertilizers, especially dry ones, are applied in calm weather, dry soil at a time when there has been no rain for at least two days before. Liquid mixtures can be used before frost, so that moisture from the soil has time to evaporate. At later dates, it is optimal to use dry or granular products.
Almost all the substances necessary for strawberries contain complex mixed fertilizers. They help the plant recover and prepare for the coming winter.
IN wildlife Strawberries bear fruit abundantly, but not regularly. To increase the yield in home garden beds or vegetable gardens, you need to properly care for the plant, in particular, introduce complementary foods or fertilizing. At different stages of strawberry development, certain fertilizers are required, but the most important period is the spring, when the planting of the future crop is underway.
As soon as the snow melts and the soil begins to dry out a little, it’s time to prepare the beds for the new season. Timely introduction of fertilizing will help the plant wake up faster after winter, form new buds.
Unfortunately, not every area has fertile soil, and on devastated land it is unlikely that you will be able to get large, juicy berries. Not only the soil is enriched with nutrients; the bushes are sprayed directly with nitrogen compounds.
Work should begin by cleaning the beds.
In autumn, in order to protect the crop from frost and precipitation, an insulating layer of dry leaves or straw was created. After wintering, the peculiar fur coat needs to be removed and the soil around each bush should be loosened. In this case, you should properly care for them before the strawberries begin to bloom - remove all weeds and old roots found in the ground.
From the bush dry leaves need to be cut off, diseased brown tops. It is also worth checking the condition of the strawberry neck after winter; the growing point should be slightly above the ground (4-5 mm). Burying the neck into the soil is fraught with rotting of the root system.
Lure should not be introduced randomly without respecting proportions. An insufficient amount of fertilizer will be ineffective, and an excess will provoke the growth of twigs and greenery. The berries will ripen later than usual, reaching minimum parameters.
Stages of proper fertilizing
In total, there are 3 main stages of introducing fertilizers:
- after wintering at the beginning of the season– the procedure is aimed at early stimulation of the growth of young shoots and first leaves (April-early May);
- feed at the end of the fruiting period– treatment or watering promotes the formation of new roots, the formation of flower buds that will be able to bear fruit in the next season (July);
- autumn bait, carried out in mid-September, is needed to prepare the crop (especially young shoots) for wintering.
Remontant varieties of strawberries are very susceptible to bait, so it is recommended to fertilize with nutrients at intervals of a week.
Organic fertilizers are considered the most affordable, especially if the farm has cows and chickens. Enriching the soil with organic matter compensates for nutrient deficiencies for 2-3 years.
In addition, the use of mullein or bird droppings improves the soil structure and increases air permeability, which is important for the vegetative process of strawberries.
Mineral fertilizers
Among the popular mineral fertilizers used to process or water strawberries:
- urea;
- saltpeter and sulfates;
- complex preparations (Azofoska, Stimovit, Agricola, etc.).
Azofoska
The advantages of this group of baits are:
- awakening activation plants after hibernation;
- increasing productivity;
- balanced composition;
- low consumption;
- acceleration of the period of fruit ripening;
- improvement of taste and safety;
- protection of plants from pests and fungal infections.
When using medications it is recommended strictly observe proportions when diluting the working solution or powdering the area. An excessive amount of the reagent leads to burning of the crop and its death. Other disadvantages include: high cost, regular use.
It is worth giving preference to mineral chemistry in cases where strawberries are grown on an industrial scale.
There have been long-term debates among gardeners regarding the benefits of fertilizers: synthetic and organic. The best possible solution is complex use or sequential use. Then the crop will receive useful microelements, and the berries will be juicy and sweet.
Folk remedy - using sour milk
You can get a good strawberry harvest, according to reviews from experienced gardeners on slightly acidic soils. To balance the acidity of open ground, you can introduce sour milk into it.
This popular type of fertilizer is a foliar fertilizer, so spraying or pouring the working solution should be done at a distance 7-10 cm from the bush. The dairy product is mixed with water in arbitrary proportions (depending on the acidity level of the soil), but more often 1:2. You need to feed at the beginning of the season with repetitions: after harvesting and in mid-September.
Benefits of using fermented milk products:
- enrichment of soil with potassium, sulfur, calcium, phosphorus and other microelements;
- increase in yield and fruiting period;
- growth activation culture;
- increasing resistance to attacks by ticks, aphids and the development of various diseases.
The disadvantage of the method is considered consumption of fermented milk product and the costs for it. Such fertilizing is justified only in small beds, when it is necessary to fertilize several bushes.
Chicken manure solution
Chicken manure is a fast-acting organic fertilizer that promotes the awakening of beneficial microorganisms in the soil.
Timely feeding improves the quality and quantity of fruits, so it should be introduced at the beginning of the season after the soil has warmed up and dried (April - mid-May).
Benefits of organics:
- improving the soil structure by increasing the level of humus;
- rich composition, including micro and macroelements;
- increase in yield and fruiting period.
Chicken manure is introduced Once every 2-3 years, which is an undeniable advantage of the product over other fertilizers.
The disadvantage of this method is the specific smell when watering and compliance with proportions. An overabundance of the product may cause the plant to dry out.
Preparation of bait consists of the following steps:
- pouring settled water into the droppings (to dissolve);
- diluting half a liter of the resulting concentrate in a bucket of water.
It is not the plant itself that should be watered or sprayed with the solution, but stepping back 5-10 cm from it. One bucket can feed up to 25 bushes.
The composition of wood ash includes a large number of micronutrients necessary for plants to develop and grow. It includes: potassium, phosphorus, iron, sulfur and other substances.
The availability of fertilizer is the main advantage, because you can get the powder gray possible as a result of burning branches cut in the garden. Main - do not use painted wood.
Benefits of wood fertilizer:
- activates growth strawberries;
- makes the soil nutritious, improves its structure;
- increases the fruiting period and productivity;
- improves the taste of berries.
The disadvantage of this method is that the ash cannot be combined with urea, manure, saltpeter. In such a tandem, the fertilizer loses its properties.
The principle of application is simple, just add the dry powder into the grooves made along the beds (150 grams per linear meter).
For better absorption of nutrients by the soil, it is recommended to mix ash with peat.
One of the options for fertilizers for strawberries involves the use of yeast. It should be noted that this technology is also suitable for other crops, for example, tomatoes, potatoes, tomatoes.
The solution is prepared quickly and simply: a kilogram pack is diluted in 5 liters of water. The result is a concentrated composition, which must be dissolved again with liquid before processing (0.5 yeast mixture per 10 liters of water). About half a liter of solution will be needed for 10 strawberry bushes. It should be poured right under the bush.
If you only have dry yeast in bags in the kitchen, then the bait is prepared in the following proportions: one sachet per bucket of water plus 2 tablespoons of sugar. It is better to first dilute the yeast in a glass of warm water with the addition of granulated sugar, and after complete dissolution, add it to a bucket of water. After 2 hours the product will be ready for consumption.
Advantages of yeast fertilizers:
- rich nutritional composition (zinc, iodine, nitrogen, iron, phosphorus, etc.);
- growth activation;
- increasing the fruiting period;
- promotes rapid adaptation of the crop to a new place after transplantation;
- strengthens roots;
- improving soil quality by creating a favorable environment for the proliferation of beneficial microorganisms.
The use of yeast increases the endurance of plants, prevents pest attacks and infections with various diseases.
Apply this technology effective only in warm weather, when low temperatures the fermentation process is suspended. This is the disadvantage of the yeast method.
To choose the right fertilizer for spring feeding strawberries, you need to take into account the composition of the soil and its degree of fertility. If difficulties arise with the definition, it is better to use complex drugs, rich in nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus and other useful microelements. Then a good planting harvest is guaranteed!
