How to fertilize strawberries in autumn for the winter?

In the fall, strawberries need favorable conditions for overwintering. Only then can you expect a good harvest in the summer. During the current season, they have absorbed large reserves of nutrients from the soil. Therefore, it's important to know how to properly fertilize strawberries in the fall for the winter.

How and when to feed strawberries?

You'll agree that not everyone can afford to plant berries in rich, fertile soil. Therefore, fertilizing this garden crop is essential if you care about the quantity and quality of your berries.

Make sure the strawberries have stopped producing fruit. After applying fertilizer, the berries will become inedible.

First, remove old leaves. Experienced gardeners know to cut them off with a knife. These leaves can be a source of many plant diseases. Once they're removed, begin fertilizing.

Fertilizers will help prepare your plants for the onset of cold weather. To apply fertilizer to your berries, choose a dry, sunny September day. Kemira fertilizer works well. Of course, it's important to maintain the correct proportions—no more than 50 grams per 2 square meters.

In October, you need to carry out the second autumn feeding of the bushes for the winter - with potassium gutamate.

Types of fertilizers for strawberries

Not every nutrient mix is ​​suitable for this berry. It's important to choose carefully, as your yield will directly depend on your decision.

The first thing you need to know is that all fertilizers can be divided into three large groups: organic, mineral and mixed.

Organic fertilizers are suitable for any garden crop, including strawberries. Feeding them with organic fertilizer in the fall is a great solution. What are these fertilizers? Manure, compost, humus, and wood ash. Applying these natural fertilizers is easy. Ash simply needs to be sprinkled under the bushes, and manure should be diluted with water at a ratio of 1 to 10.

An undeniable advantage of this type of fertilizer is its ability to protect bushes in need of protection from winter cold.

Another type of fertilizer is mineral fertilizer. They contain essential microelements that help plants cope with serious diseases and prevent their occurrence – phosphorus, calcium, potassium, and magnesium.

It's difficult to say which fertilizers are best for strawberries—organic or mineral. For maximum results, both should be used.

Prepare a wonderful fertilizer yourself before the cold weather sets in. In early September, water your bushes thoroughly with a mixture of ash and settled cow manure. The proportions are as follows: for every bucket of manure, use half a cup of ash.

In October, you can make a different mixture. To prepare it, dissolve a cup of ash in a bucket of water. Add a couple more tablespoons of complex mineral fertilizer and 40 grams of potassium to the mixture. Water each bush with this solution.

Surprisingly, everyday products like milk and whey are also perfectly suitable for feeding plants. They're rich in beneficial micronutrients like calcium, phosphorus, nitrogen, and sulfur. These nutrients not only provide essential nutrients but also improve soil structure. Slightly acidic soil is an excellent environment for the growth and development of garden crops. Simply mix dairy products with manure, compost, or ash and water your strawberry plantation.

You can feed your garden plants with dried bread. Soak it in cool water for a week until it begins to ferment. Then, dilute the resulting mixture with water in equal proportions.

Fertilizing strawberries in winter when planting

Some gardeners prefer to plant strawberries in the fall. You can too. In this case, be sure to prepare the soil. It should be thoroughly enriched with humus, superphosphate, and potassium chloride.

Manure is also suitable for fertilization. However, it's important to ensure it doesn't come into contact with the planted bushes, as it can cause burns. Straw or compost can also be spread around the strawberries.

If more than a year has passed since planting, repeat the humus fertilization. Apply 34 kilograms of this substance per square meter of the plot.

If you feed your berries properly during the winter and provide them with all the necessary nutrients, you will enjoy a rich harvest.

You'll find plenty of information online about how to properly prepare strawberries for the cold season in videos about fertilizing strawberries for the winter. The key is to stay focused. If you live in an area with harsh winters, simply fertilizing your strawberries won't be enough. The bushes need to be covered. Non-woven materials work well.