Victoria care and cultivation. How to feed Victoria during flowering in spring. What fertilizers does Victoria need?
Every gardener is interested in getting a good harvest from his summer cottage. Especially when we're talking about about such a fragrant and healthy berry as strawberry. Juicy fruits contain a large number of vitamin C, folic acid and other important microelements. How to grow this in your garden bed wonderful berry and how to achieve excellent fruiting if there is no rich black soil on the site?
The first berries of early strawberries
Strawberries are a rather capricious berry that requires careful care, including timely and high-quality feeding. It is important not only to prepare the plant for winter, but also to properly organize its recovery after the cold season, since the quality and quantity of the future harvest depends on this.
Preparatory stage
After a long cold winter, all plants need to replenish the deficiency. nutrients. Before choosing what to feed strawberries in the spring, it is necessary to carry out preparatory work on harvesting and processing.
It is important not to miss the moment of starting work! The optimal period is when the berry has not yet woken up. In April, when the snow melts and the first warm days set in, you can start cleaning the beds.
Cleaning
In early spring, after the bushes have completely thawed, the following steps should be performed:
- Collect unrotted mulch and remove the top few centimeters of soil. This will prevent pests from awakening. This will also allow the roots to warm up better.
- Clear the bushes of dead, dry or frozen leaves.
- Loosen the soil to a depth of approximately 5-7 cm, and if necessary, weed out the first weeds that appear.
- Straighten the sides of the beds.
Treatment
It is important to treat the bushes before they begin to bloom!
There is no universal remedy that is ideal for strawberries. Depending on the variety of berries, you can choose one of the following chemical solutions: Caesar or Taurus. Copper sulfate is also suitable for these purposes. For those who prefer to use biological products, Fitoverm or Acrofit are suitable. Remember, biological products are effective at air temperatures above 18 C 0.
The first shoots on strawberry bushes after wintering
Burning last year's mulch, dry branches outside the site, as well as choosing high-quality planting material will help reduce the risk of infection.
Organic fertilizers
Timely application of fertilizers stimulates plant growth. Moreover, it is important to fertilize both the above-ground part of the plant and the strawberry roots. Organic fertilizers allow you to get an excellent harvest without harm to the plant and soil. You can fertilize the ground only when the soil has dried well after the snow has melted, and the bushes themselves have fully recovered from the cold and loosening.
The most effective and safe organic fertilizers
- Humus
Completely decomposed cow manure contains a large amount of nutrients that are easily absorbed by the plant. It is recommended to use it to mulch the soil.
- Mullein or cow dung
Manure contains many minerals, but in order not to “burn out” young shoots, this fertilizer must be added in doses, no more than one garden scoop per bush. It is recommended to carry out such feeding as early as possible.
- Chicken droppings
Chicken manure is very close in composition to mineral fertilizers, so it is recommended to dilute it very strongly and use it no more than once a year. It is necessary to take 1 part of excrement and fill it with 20 parts of water, keep the resulting mixture in plastic container in a warm place for about 3 days.
It is important to remember: you can water this fertilizer only between the rows, avoiding the root area.
Wood ash extract is perfect for fertilizing roots and foliar feeding. Thanks to the ash, the berries become sweeter and their shelf life also increases. The ash must be scattered between the rows of bushes, optimal time for this procedure is the period before mulching and before rain.
Fertilizing strawberries with ash
- Dairy products
Fermented whey is also an excellent source of nutrients for strawberries. It is the slightly acidic soil that will allow you to get good development plants and fruiting.
Whey can be used as an independent fertilizer or together with ash, manure or humus.
- Yeast
Regular baker's yeast is an excellent source of nutrients: it contains amino acids, minerals, and proteins. Fertilizer is done in the following way: 200 g of yeast diluted in half a liter warm water, and after 20 minutes another 9 liters of water are added to the resulting mixture. This fertilizing guarantees the growth and strengthening of the root system.
- Weed infusion
Weeds collected after weeding can also be used as an absolutely harmless fertilizer. To do this, they should be crushed and filled with water, kept in a warm room for about 7 days. After which you can safely water the bushes with this infusion. This infusion from weed will increase the number of fruits and have a positive effect on the taste of the berries.
Mineral fertilizers for strawberries
Mineral fertilizers are used to prevent the development of various diseases when plaque appears on leaves, white edges or visible wilting of young shoots. Fertilizing also improves taste and produces larger berries.
Nitrogen or potassium can be used as fertilizer, however best effect allows to achieve the use of complex mineral fertilizers with the addition of phosphorus, magnesium and other microelements. These products are sold in specialized stores.
Complex mineral fertilizers
Nitrogen
This valuable macronutrient stimulates the growth of green shoots and leaves, so it must be included in the first spring feeding of strawberries. Nitrogen is contained in saltpeter and urea. Feeding allows you to achieve the following results:
- improve strawberry color;
- increase the size of each berry;
- get a harvest with high taste.
Nitrogen fertilizers dissolve well, so to prepare a liquid fertilizer, it is enough to dissolve a tablespoon of dry urea in a bucket of water. Strawberries should be watered at the root, at the rate of 0.5 liters of solution per 1 bush. Do not increase these proportions, otherwise the berry will become tasteless.
Potassium
While the benefits of nitrogen for strawberry growth are undeniable, many summer residents forget about the importance of fertilizing with potassium fertilizers.
At the same time, it allows you to:
- increase the shelf life of berries;
- make strawberries more juicy and sweet.
The appearance of a brown tint on the leaves is a clear sign of potassium deficiency. To replenish it you can use:
- potassium nitrate;
- wood ash;
- potassium chloride;
- potassium sulfate.
Potash fertilizers are applied under the bush, strictly adhering to the dosage indicated on the package.
Complex mineral fertilizers
For spring feeding of strawberry bushes, ready-made mineral fertilizers are used, the composition of which is designed specifically to increase the size and improve the taste of the berries. In particular, it is allowed to use:
- Kemiru Lux;
- Kemiru Universal;
- Ryazanochka.
Kemira Lux is a water-soluble powder with a high concentration of macro- and microelements. The fertilizer contains nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, iron, boron, copper, manganese, molybdenum and zinc. To prepare the solution you need 1 tbsp. l. Dissolve the powder in 10 liters of water.
Thanks to the addition of selenium, Kemira Universal improves the taste of strawberries. It is this microelement that is responsible for the sugar content in berries. The basis of Kemira Universal is the NPK complex (nitroammophoska), which allows you to accelerate growth and increase the yield of strawberries.
Ryazanochka contains nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, manganese, cobalt, copper, magnesium, molybdenum, boron. Just 1 tsp. dry mixture per bucket of water allows you to effectively feed bushes weakened after winter. The diluted mixture can be used for root watering, as well as for spraying leaves.
Combined fertilizers
Combined organic-mineral fertilizers (OMF) demonstrate excellent results in stimulating plant growth. Their chemical composition does not differ from organic ones, but they have a number of obvious advantages:
- ease of preparing a liquid solution;
- saving time and effort for the summer resident;
- you can easily calculate the proportions and apply fertilizer.
There are several types of these fertilizers. First of all, there are fertilizers on sale that combine organic substances (biofermented chicken manure) with an NPK complex. They are produced in the form of granules that easily dissolve in water and provide complete nutrition for strawberries. Used as the first spring feeding, they guarantee the growth of the bush, as well as timely setting and ripening of fruits.
Application complex fertilizers
Another type of organo-mineral fertilizer is a product of high-tech peat processing, which contains a significant amount of physiologically active substances. Such fertilizing improves soil quality and protects berry crops from pests and adverse factors. external environment(strong wind, temperature changes, excess moisture).
The most valuable substances in the composition of WMD:
- monovalent salts of humic acids (humates);
- fulvic acids (fulvates);
- nitrogen;
- phosphorus;
- potassium;
- microelements.
The use of organic-mineral fertilizers allows you to achieve an increase in yield by 20 - 100% and obtain natural, environmentally friendly products.
Foliar feeding of strawberries
Foliar feeding is spraying strawberry bushes with special compounds. This feeding method ensures that nutrients quickly reach the leaves, but it can only be done in dry weather.
Foliar complex processing of strawberries
There are a number of rules that should be followed:
- Spraying is best done after watering the plants.
- You should start foliar feeding with young, newly emerged leaves.
- A good result can be achieved if you repeat feeding during the flowering period.
- It is recommended to prepare a spray solution based on boric acid.
To prepare spring fertilizer, you can use one of the following recipes:
- Mix 1 tsp. boric acid, 30 drops of iodine and 1 glass of ash. Dilute in 10 liters of water.
- Make a mixture of ½ tsp. boric acid, ½ cup of ash, 3 g of potassium permanganate and tbsp. l. urea per 10-liter bucket of water.
- Dilute whey with water at a ratio of 1:3.
Feeding by age
Since organic, mineral or combined fertilizers are applied into the recesses when planting strawberries, the plants do not need additional feeding in the first year. The soil still contains enough nutrients for their growth, and excessive fertilizing can deteriorate the basic taste of the berries.
- 2nd year – mineral and organic fertilizers are applied;
- 3rd year – only mineral ones are used;
- 4th year – mineral and organic, etc.
Video: First feeding of strawberries. Spring strawberry care
Fertilizer for strawberries, how to fertilize Victoria?
What to achieve good harvest For strawberries (Victoria), the bushes must be fed correctly and in a timely manner. Undoubtedly the best Fertilizers for strawberries– natural. Using natural fertilizers you will not harm the berry bushes or yourself.
How to fertilize Victoria? Manure Rotted ones are good for strawberries. Humus (completely decomposed manure). Manure and humus are sprinkled under the bushes or applied when digging between rows, and when preparing beds when planting Victoria. To fertilize strawberries they use Bird droppings(slightly diluted, 1 part to 20 parts water). You will see how strawberries respond to fertilizer, increase productivity and will delight you with large berries.
Well, those who don’t have the opportunity to fertilize with natural products should take advantage Complex mineral fertilizers Nitrogen 14%, Phosphorus 7%, Potassium 27%, Magnesium 0.5%. These fertilizers prevent various diseases of strawberries.
Nitrogen is for the berries to grow large, red and tasty. Nitrogen is contained in urea. For a 10-liter bucket you need one tablespoon of urea. Fertilize strawberries for the first time in early spring, after cleaning the bush from last year's debris. Water each bush with 0.5 liters of solution. An excess leads to a loss of sugar in the berry.
Potassium - Victoria has brown leaf edges (this is a lack of potassium). The source of potassium is potassium nitrate, wood ash, potassium chloride, potassium sulfate. Phosphorus and potassium fertilizers should be applied to berry bushes in the spring.
Strawberries are fertilized in early spring - fertilize them with either organic (natural) or mineral fertilizers. The second feeding period begins after harvest. Apply nitrogen fertilizers according to the principle: clay soils - in the fall, light soils - in the spring. During fruiting and flowering, Victoria does not need to be fertilized.
How to grow a crop of large strawberries (victoria).
For strong roots and a good harvest next year, apply fertilizer in the fall (mid-September). In 10 liters of water, dilute a glass of wood ash, two tablespoons of nitrophoska, 20-30 grams of potash fertilizers. Annual autumn fertilizer bushes, has a good effect on the next harvest.
We grow three kilograms of Victoria per bush
Irina Lebedeva, an accountant by profession and a gardener by vocation, has been growing Victoria for 40 years. But even with such experience, it is recognized that the results are different and depend on weather conditions, seedlings or seeds. That is why he does not like to experiment and plants exclusively early varieties. She inherited a plot of 12 acres in the village of Krasnoye from her parents. There she and her husband Sergei Vladimirovich spend every summer. During this time, up to 3 kg of berries are collected from one bush. Moreover, the berries are large in size – about the size of a child’s fist. “Victoria, or, scientifically speaking, large-fruited garden strawberries, is one of my favorite berries,” says Irina Alexandrovna. – Despite the fact that there is not so much space on the plot, I allocated 3 beds for her, so that there would be enough not only for fresh food, but also for making preparations for the winter.
When and where to plant
Irina Lebedeva:
– I usually plant in early May. I believe that the earlier it is planted, the better it develops. I plant it in the evening so that the strawberries can acclimatize overnight.
Expert Vyacheslav Dolgovykh:
– It’s better to prepare the beds in the fall, and start planting immediately in the spring. Strawberries love sunshine open place. It is advisable to direct the garden bed from south to north. It is in this arrangement that she makes the most of solar energy. Try not to plant it under an apple or cherry tree. Soil moisture is another important factor. If groundwater close, then the bed needs to be raised to 30-35 cm to prevent root rotting. In dry places, the beds are low - 8-10 cm.
Plant seedlings grown using Frigo technology better in spring(read more about it on our website). Grown by tendrils or seeds, if the plant's roots are strong, it can be planted now so that the plant is ready for the drop in temperature in September.
Now planted plants need to be fed with microelements for berry crops, for example, “Gumi-omi”. You can treat the beds with special chemicals to prevent diseases and pests, for example “Fufanon”, “Ordan”, “Abiga-Pik”.
How to plant
Irina Lebedeva:
– I make the distance between the rows 60 cm, and between the plants in the row – 20 cm. I make the depth of the hole along the entire length of the root. I dip the root of the plant in a solution of mullein or humus with soil. I add 1 tbsp to the hole. l. "Agrovit-Kora" or a pinch of "Kemira-Universal". I plant it so that the growing point is at soil level. Shallow or, conversely, deep planting leads to the death of plants or to their poor development. After planting, I water with water - 250 ml per plant as the soil dries.
Expert Vyacheslav Dolgovykh:
– First of all, we note that the deposit big harvest– high quality, healthy planting material. In our case this means developed root system at least 15 cm and a small rosette of leaves. The distance between plants should be a little larger than Irina does: between rows - 70 cm, and between plants in a row - 30 cm. When it is planted less often, it gets sick less often, produces more crops, and the distance promotes ventilation and good lighting.
In the garden bed, they first get rid of the weeds, then level them and make holes depending on the size of the root, that is, along its entire length. Then compost (a couple of scoops), ash (half matchbox per hole) and some earth. This whole mass is mixed, watered and only then the strawberries are planted. Then they are covered with soil and watered again.
Before landing on summer cottage, it is necessary to draw up a plan and observe crop rotation. That is, alternate certain crops in the beds. Strawberries can be planted after any predecessors, except nightshades (potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, petunia, tobacco). But you can’t plant it next to raspberries, because they have the same pests. Before the formation of flower stalks, you need to water from a watering can, and after they appear, use a ladle under the root.
The maximum yield of strawberries is the first two years, and then the yield declines, and the risk of pests increases. You can plant strawberries in the same bed where they grew after 2 seasons. Before that, you can plant garlic or mustard, which will improve the health of the soil. You can also grow strawberries where legumes were planted the previous season.
How to prepare for winter?
Irina Lebedeva:
– In the fall, when the temperature reaches 2-5C, I cover the bed with “Agrotex” (covering material). And in the spring, when the snow melts, I take it off.
Expert Vyacheslav Dolgovykh:
– Each summer resident has his own way of mulching (coating the soil with a protective layer) of strawberries – mowed lawn grass, sawdust deciduous trees, hay. But one of the tools that will save the gardener from unnecessary trouble is Kostravit-M1 mulch. It protects the soil from overheating, retains moisture longer, protects from pests and suppresses the growth of weeds. Mulch will also save strawberries from freezing in winter. The recommended thickness of the mulch layer is 1.5-2 cm in spring, and 3 cm before winter.
Which varieties to choose?
This year Irina Alexandrovna did not have many berries, but they were all very large, about 8 cm in length. The owner believes that this is the merit of the variety, which has not let her down for the 2nd season. Despite the dimensions, the taste does not become worse. The main varieties that Irina Aleksandrovna uses are “Gigantella” and “Festivalnaya”.
Expert Vyacheslav Dolgovykh:
All varieties are divided into 4 groups: early, middle, late date maturation and remontant. It all depends on the preference of the summer resident, what kind of strawberries he wants to see on his plot.
Early varieties ripen at the end of June - these are “Kimberly”, “Corona”, “Olvia”. The berries are sweet, large, bright red, winter-hardy.
The middle ones ripen in early July - “Rusich”, “Black Swong”, “Vima-Zanta”, “Zenga-Zengana”. Berries from 20 g, sweet and sour taste, average winter hardiness.
Late – in mid-July – “Vima Tarda”, “Vikoda”, “Charlotte”. The berries are medium size, sweet and sour taste, good winter hardiness.
Remontant garden strawberry. She gives berries a little at a time, but all summer long. Also, their peculiarity is that the berries are larger and sweeter than those of ordinary varieties. Blooms from May to October: “Vima-Rina”, “Geneva”, “Moscow delicacy”, “Brighton”, “Queen Elizabeth II”.
How to reproduce?
Irina Aleksandrovna propagates strawberries with mustaches. Just now I transplanted it to the bed where the onions grew.
Expert Vyacheslav Dolgovykh:
– This method has many disadvantages, although it is easy to use. After 3 generations, the berry begins to lose its properties. They become smaller, the taste deteriorates, productivity declines, and susceptibility to disease increases. The next disadvantage is the transfer of diseases from bed to bed. The strawberries on which gardeners leave tendrils spend their energy not on laying fruit buds, but on feeding their young shoots.
To avoid these problems, it is necessary to update the planting material, that is, take seedlings of the first reproduction. They give maximum yield. Seedlings of this class can be found today. Sellers must have varietal certificates confirming this.
There is one more modern way – new technology frigo (translated as “cold”). Throughout the summer, farmers grow strawberries in nurseries open ground. During this time, she is not allowed to give away the harvest, and her mustache is removed. Then the strawberries are dug up, the leaves are cut off, and the seedlings are stored in the refrigerator. And in this state it is stored until the moment when it needs to be planted. To us, in Udmurtia, frozen roots are brought from a Dutch nursery in the spring. After planting it, gardeners receive a guaranteed harvest within two months. You can make an application for the purchase of seedlings of 1 reproduction using Frigo technology by calling the Agricultural Academy 55-02-07 (average price - 25-35 rubles per seedling).
How to care?
Twice a season, Irina Aleksandrovna makes liquid fertilizer for strawberries. The first time is in May, before flowering, and the second time is in early July, after harvesting.
Irina Lebedeva:
– For liquid feeding of strawberries, I use fresh chicken manure. I water the beds well a few hours before fertilizing. Then, in 10 liters of water, I carefully stir a portion of fresh chicken manure at a rate of 1:10 and water it evenly from a watering can. After harvesting, I remove all the weeds, loosen the soil around all the bushes and cover them with a small layer of cow manure to fertilize the soil. I don't use any chemicals.
Expert Vyacheslav Dolgovykh:
– Experts advise feeding strawberries in the spring with nitrogen fertilizers in accordance with the instructions on the packaging (for example, AFK 16-16-16, 10 grams per square meter). But don't overdo it. They also recommend regularly adding a complex of microelements for berry crops, for example “Gumi-omi”. After harvesting, the harvest can be treated with special chemicals to prevent diseases and pests, for example “Fufanon”, “Ordan”, “Abiga Peak”.
How to get rid of pests
Irina Aleksandrovna is sure that pests do not touch Victoria, because every three years she transplants it to a new place.
Expert Vyacheslav Dolgovykh:
The main pests of strawberries are larvae chafer(Khrushchi). When digging the beds, you need to remove the larvae manually. Another method of control is to cover the beds during the flight of beetles in May with covering material, film or roofing felt.
Another enemy of strawberries is nematodes - small worms. It is very difficult to fight them. The main way is to observe crop rotation. Eliminate the bed after 3-4 years of fruiting and burn the remains of the plants. You can get rid of them with a folk remedy - pour a decoction of marigolds or plant marigolds in a future garden bed for several months. Before planting, when preparing the bed, you can plant it, for example, with mustard, it heals the soil. In a month, you can dig everything up and plant strawberry seedlings.
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 content of nutrients in the soil decreases. 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 and sprinkled with a thin layer of soil on top. 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 we analyze each stage of feeding in detail, let’s dwell on an important question: 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.
Mineral fertilizers have disadvantages:
- They must be used carefully and strictly follow the instructions, since an excess of 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
Flaws 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, foliar feeding is carried out. 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 organic matter, an excellent option would 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 care and timely fertilizing are 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 supply of nutrients to the plant roots.
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. You need to prepare a nutrient solution like this: use 1 tbsp for 10 liters of water. 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, you need to use not only root dressings, but also to 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.
Using organic matter in early spring to fertilize 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
IN Lately Many gardeners began 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.
Using yeast fertilizers, gardeners note excellent bush growth, good fruiting, and strawberry plantations are 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 with warm water, 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 good large berries grow in slightly 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 temperate climates, 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.
In spring, liquid fertilizer made from chicken manure is also used. 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. 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. As a fertilizer, it is advisable to use wood ash with mullein - half a glass of ash per bucket of cow manure (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 rich black soil on their plot. 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 the 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. 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 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.
In place dead plants it's worth planting others. 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. The prepared solution must 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. Last feeding should help in the formation of plant 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. Conduct this event stands on a windless, fine day, preferably in the evening.
You can also spray the berries with fertilizers. Mineral mixtures of high mobility and low mobility types are known. 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 organic matter?
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.
Victoria is one of the chic varieties garden strawberries characterized by a unique aroma and sweet taste. In the spring, intensive active growth of the plant begins. Spring is the time when the foundation for a good harvest of nutritious berries is laid.
Preparatory work
Before fertilizing around the plant, the soil and bushes are treated as soon as the snow melts and the soil dries well. The antennae are carefully cut off, but are assembled manually yellow leaves. If necessary, cut off damaged areas of the bush. Then the area around it is cleared with a rake.
After cleaning the bushes in the spring (May), treatment is carried out against numerous diseases. To do this, throw potassium permanganate into a bucket of cool water so that the color turns out rich pink. 5 g of boric acid and 8 g of iodine are also sent there. Mix well and water the bushes with this solution (2 cups each). In a week you can start feeding Victoria.
How to fertilize strawberries after winter
When spring comes, the first feeding is carried out before the formation of buds. First you just need to care for it, cleaning out the foliage and dry shoots. The first time you should fertilize with well-saturated mullein, prepared from fresh manure:
The benefits of mullein include its saturation with phosphorus and nitrogen. The latter promotes the growth of the fruit plant, and phosphorus helps the ovaries to form.
Rules for spring feeding of berries
During the flowering period, Victoria strawberries can be fed as follows:
- a glass of wood ash is poured into a bucket and the product is poured with two liters of boiling water. After good stirring, the mixture is left to infuse, and then 3 g of boric acid and potassium permanganate are added. Add a spoonful of iodine to the solution. You need to water the strawberries with this mixture, bringing the amount of water to 10 liters;
- Stir the mixture again until smooth;
- For dilution, you should use rainwater or settled water.
You can spray leaves, ovaries and flowers with this solution. A glass of the mixture is poured under each bush to guarantee an excellent harvest.
Iodine
In order to treat young shoots in the spring, it is worth preparing a product from two powerful components:
- potassium iodide;
- potassium permanganate.
A solution using these components gets rid of pests and beetles, spotting and gray rot. In addition, the mixture with iodine saturates the berry with microelements.
You can prepare the solution from a bucket of water, a tablespoon of iodine and several granules of potassium permanganate. It is advisable to water bushes that have been previously sprinkled with fertilizer and ash with this solution.
Boric acid
Before you properly feed Victoria strawberries, first loosen the soil with a garden fork by about 10 cm. To improve the effect and protect the plant, the row spacing should be sprinkled with straw. After this, the strawberries are poured with herbal infusion. It is a brown liquid, easy to prepare:
- 1/3 of the container is filled with nettles, filled with water and infused for 2 - 3 days in a warm place;
- Without dilution, carefully water the berries with the solution and then with boric acid (10 g per 3 buckets of water);
- the plant is watered again.
Boric acid helps form ovaries. Before flowering, it is necessary to fertilize strawberries, and after fertilizing, treatment is carried out against weevils and mites.
Yeast
Amateur gardeners started fertilizing Victoria strawberries with yeast relatively recently. However, the results from the product are impressive. The yeast remedy is used 2-3 times during the season. In the spring, to enhance vegetative development (somewhere in May), in the summer - during the active formation of fruits and after fruiting during the recovery period. As a rule, 5 liters of solution is enough for 10 berry bushes.
It's easy to prepare. Fresh and dry yeast can be used. In normal plastic bottle The solution is diluted and shaken thoroughly. The cooking recipe is as follows:
- If you use dry yeast: take 100 g, dilute it in two liters of warm water and add 3 tablespoons of sugar.
- If you use fresh yeast, the most rational ratio is 1 kg of yeast per 5 liters of water.
- Then the mixture is poured into a bucket of water and liquid is added until it is full. The mixture is left in a warm place for 4 hours. At the end of the time, a bucket of solution is poured into a 200-liter barrel.
- The bush should be watered at the root (at least 0.5 liters).
Ash
This product is popular for its potassium content.. In addition to it, the ash contains calcium, phosphorus and magnesium. The rapid solubility of the product allows it to be used in dry form or as part of solutions in the spring.
Wood ash is considered the best for feeding Victoria strawberries, and to prepare the solution you need:
Foliar spring feeding
Every gardener knows that strawberries are a product rich in iron, zinc and manganese. That is why it is important to correctly carry out foliar feeding, which consists of 3 stages:
- Spraying young leaves.
- It is carried out during the flowering of the plant.
- Processing of green berries.
The key advantage of foliar feeding is that all the necessary micro- and macroelements reach the plant in the required form and volume. All these components penetrate immediately into the foliage, which is acceptable during periods of demand for useful substances.
The optimal period is cloudless and sunny weather. Good results can be achieved by watering with a solution of boric acid, as well as with a product containing a sufficient amount of nitrogen.
Timely and high-quality care of Victoria strawberries will bring you a rich harvest of healthy berries. Strawberries help increase productivity, improve immune function, promote hematopoiesis and are indispensable for diabetes.
Spring application of organic and mineral fertilizers for strawberries is the key to healthy bushes and a large harvest. For Victoria, there are a lot of supplements that can significantly extend the fruiting period.
Article outline
Features of Victoria
The variety with the same name actually does not exist. Victoria in Russia is the name given to massive strawberry bushes with wide green leaves and large, aromatic berries. Another quality of this crop can be called unpretentiousness: the bushes bear fruit equally well in different climatic conditions.
Compliance simple rules cultivation will provide resistance to diseases and temperature changes. Victoria should be planted in light and windless areas of the garden; the soil should not be soggy. Swampy soil will cause the berries to be small and tasteless. Strawberries are immersed in the holes, after adding fertilizer to them. The main types of care include watering, loosening the soil and regularly weeding.
Young plants are replanted every four years. During this time, strawberries suck out all the beneficial substances from the soil and become obsolete on their own. The bush, along with a lump of earth, is transferred to a new, fertile place. The hole is first well watered, after which strawberries are planted. The bush is covered with earth. The bed must be mulched with any organic substances or special film.
Caring for Victoria in the spring involves removing last year's dried leaves, loosening the soil and hilling up the strawberry bushes. When hilling, it is important not to press down the central growth axis with soil. Treatment of bushes against pests and diseases cannot be excluded from the to-do list. Modern insecticides and fungicides mix well and do not harm vegetable and garden crops.
- The main types of work in summer time are weeding and watering. The beds should be irrigated once every two weeks, and during hot periods, watering should be increased to once a week.
- During fruiting, ripened berries should be collected in a timely manner. The fruits remaining on the bushes will rot, attracting fungi and insects. Bushes are regularly inspected for diseases and fungi.
- For a comfortable wintering, strawberries need to be trimmed with tendrils and leaves immediately after fruiting. Before the end of the season, new leaves will still have time to grow, and the plant itself will get stronger and withstand the cold well. Before the onset of cold weather, the beds should be covered with lutrasil or well mulched.
Strawberries are responsive to the addition of nutrients. During the season, the bushes are processed three times: in early spring, during flowering and after picking berries. Fertilizers can be combined with the application of insecticides, fungicides or growth stimulants. Feeding Victoria in the spring is the most important event for the entire season. It depends on what condition the bushes will remain in all summer.
Fertilizers needed in spring
In the first season after transplantation, fertilizing is not required, since the roots have enough fertilizer that is already in the hole. In subsequent years, it is advisable to combine the addition of fertilizers with pruning dry foliage, so as not to disturb or injure the strawberries again.
The fertilizer is applied under the bushes, which are then carefully sprinkled with a few centimeters of soil. Foliar application of nutrients to young foliage is allowed. Fertilizers must contain nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and organic components. A deficiency of these substances will affect the taste of the berry.
In addition to well-known complex fertilizers, you can use folk remedies for feeding. They are always at hand, and the effect of use will not keep you waiting. Recipes have been known since ancient times.
Wood ash
An excellent replacement for phosphorus-potassium fertilizers. It contains potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, sulfur, calcium, boron. Clear signs of phosphorus deficiency are brown and darkened leaves. After adding ash, the strawberries will become strong and healthy. Only wood ash is suitable for work: coal ash contains unnecessary elements.
In the spring, such fertilizer is placed under the bushes or spilled with ash infusion. To do this, pour the product into a liter hot water and leave to infuse for a day. Then this paste is diluted in ten liters of water. One square of bed will require a liter of working fluid. Application to the soil repels slugs and snails, as well as ants, wireworms and whiteweed.
Ash should not be mixed with urea, saltpeter and manure: the fertilizers will lose their effect. The introduction of ash is completely safe for humans: it does not leave burns on the skin, does not emit strong odors, and does not provoke poisoning if ingested.
Wood ash can be stored for a long time, but will completely lose its properties if moisture gets into it.
Urea
Modern mineral fertilizer in the form of granules, with a high nitrogen content. This feeding allows you to increase Victoria’s yield by 40%. Under the influence of enzymes from soil bacteria, urea is converted into ammonium carbonate, which is so necessary for the root system. Fertilizing with urea involves placing granules under the bushes. 50 g of the substance is applied to 10 squares. After this, the soil is thoroughly watered with water from a watering can. Do not mix urea with chalk, dolomite, lime and superphosphate.
It is worth noting that the soil may become more acidic after fertilizing. It is necessary to add a deoxidizing agent immediately after fruiting of the crop. Treatment with urea solution and copper sulfate in early spring it will rid strawberries of pests for the entire season. Urea has proven itself well in all types of soils.
An excess of nitrogen content will lead to abundant formation of green mass. there will be few inflorescences on the bushes, and accordingly, there will be few berries in the future. Failure to comply with fertilizing consumption rates will result in strawberries that are pale and unsweetened.
Boric acid solution
Victoria needs boron, especially in April-May. It increases the chlorophyll content in foliage. The lack of this substance can be noticed by the curved edges of the leaves. Boric acid is the simplest and most accessible boron compound. It helps to increase the amount of ovary on strawberries, stimulates the formation of new growth points, and increases the sugar content in the berries.
In the spring, the beds are watered with a solution of boric acid, and potassium manganese is added to it if desired. One gram of the substance is diluted in ten liters of hot water. The substance is poorly soluble. Pre-spilling the plants with water will protect Victoria from root burn. Do not allow liquid to come into contact with the green mass. Processing is carried out in the evening, on a warm cloudy day.
Ammonia
Ammonia will not only saturate the soil with nitrogen, but will also help get rid of most pests in the area. initial stage cultural development. Yellowed leaves on strawberries indicate that it needs to be fertilized. ammonia. A bucket of water requires two tablespoons of ammonia. Fertilizer is applied to damp soil. Fertilizing is quickly absorbed by the root system. The pungent smell of ammonia repels birds, slugs and snails.
You cannot feed strawberries during budding. When diluting the working solution, you must wear a respirator. Concentrated ammonia can make you feel worse and lead to a sharp increase in blood pressure. Mixing with other substances results in reactions that release harmful fumes.
Yeast
Top dressing, which has recently become very popular among summer residents. Single-celled fungi in yeast contain amino acids, proteins and fats. Feeding Victoria with yeast in the spring will provide strawberries with mineral and organic substances. A pack of yeast and a few tablespoons of sugar are diluted in a small amount of water. Strawberry not only gets it all essential microelements, but will also become more resistant to diseases and attacks of harmful insects.
The pulp is poured into water and allowed to ferment for a couple of days. To prepare the working solution you will need 10 liters of water and 0.5 liters of mixture with yeast. Fertilizer is applied under the bush.
Under the influence of yeast, microorganisms in the soil begin to actively process organic matter. There is a powerful production of phosphorus and nitrogen. In addition, growth stimulants contained in the nutrient solution actively influence the development of the root system.
Spring yeast feeding should be applied to well-warmed soil - the active substance does not work in the cold. You should use only fresh product; expired yeast will only cause harm.