Fertilizing strawberries after fruiting and pruning

Strawberries are the most coveted plant in any garden. Their fruits are widely used in various desserts and winter preserves. However, to ensure they bear fruit and produce a good harvest, they require high-quality and proper care. In our article, we'll explain how to feed strawberries after fruiting and pruning.

To get the desired collection strawberry harvest, the first step is to select and plant the right seedlings. It's best to purchase these seedlings from specialized nurseries, which are in high demand among gardeners. However, strawberry planting should only be done in early spring.

When is the best time to prune strawberries?

Gardeners have a wide range of opinions regarding the best time to prune this crop. Some believe it should be done in the summer after harvesting, while others insist it should be done in the fall, when the plant is preparing for winter.

Professionals generally agree that pruning should be performed both in summer and fall. After harvesting, remove shoots that are unsuitable for seedlings. This helps free the bushes from excess mass and improves growth and subsequent fruiting.

In autumn, pruning is done differently. In this case, damaged parts of the plant are removed, which could lead to disease or pest infestation.

Important! After autumn pruning of strawberries, the bushes must be treated with a special solution containing insecticides.

Caring for strawberries after harvesting

After fruiting and harvesting, strawberry bushes require careful care. Even though the bushes have stopped producing ovaries and fruits, they continue to develop and grow.

Standard care procedure behind the strawberry bushes After harvesting, ensure proper watering. To do this, thoroughly moisten the soil under the bush regularly, at least once a week. This will allow the plant to recover and further develop buds for the next harvest.

When caring for strawberries, it's crucial to loosen the soil beneath the bushes. To do this, after a thorough watering, use a hoe to loosen the soil to a depth of 10 cm. Carefully cultivate the soil beneath the bushes themselves, as this can damage the root system and cause the plant to die.

When loosening the soil, be sure to remove all weeds and grass from the beds where this crop is growing. This will not only keep the beds tidy but will also further improve the yield of the future harvest. To prevent excessive weed growth, after weeding, you can sprinkle sawdust or small debris between the bushes.

Fertilizing strawberries

If you are interested in how to feed strawberries after fruiting and harvesting?We can recommend the following organic fertilizers:

• mullein;
• humus;
• manure;
• chicken droppings.

There are more modern options in the form of mineral fertilizers with the addition of potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen and other minerals. Such fertilizer options allow you to quickly and efficiently feed the plant and prepare it for the next year.

You should not feed strawberries with chlorine-containing fertilizers, as the plant does not tolerate chlorine well and may stop bearing fruit.

The process of fertilizing strawberry bushes occurs as follows:
1. select the type of fertilizer;
2. then the soil is loosened and the strawberry beds are completely weeded;
3. Next, fertilizer is spread under the bushes and around the entire perimeter of the area with planted strawberries;
4. The final stage is watering the plants.

In the future, with each watering, the substance will dissolve, and all the nutrients will go into the soil.
A quicker option for feeding and fertilizing strawberries is a solution based on chicken manure. It's prepared using ordinary water and fresh manure. The solution is then poured under each plant. The fertilizer application rate is calculated as follows: one bucket per 6-8 plants.

To use a ready-made mineral-based fertilizer for strawberries, follow these steps: Take the fertilizer and sprinkle it over the plant beds. Then, using a hoe, mix the fertilizer into the soil. Finally, water the entire treated area.

In conclusion, it's worth noting that when choosing how to feed strawberries after fruiting and harvesting, you should pay attention to options that have been tested by many gardeners. Also, be sure to follow all basic strawberry care guidelines to ensure a bountiful harvest every year.