How to fertilize strawberries in spring to get a good harvest

Strawberries are grown in garden plots to provide a delicious, vitamin-rich summer treat and to make flavorful preserves for the winter. A good harvest is the result of hard work, so caring for the berries requires certain necessary measures.

One of them is fertilizing in the spring, as the foundation for a regular, high-quality harvest is laid in the spring. Properly applied fertilizer will help develop a strong, healthy strawberry plant with large, sweet berries.

Preparatory work

In spring, after the snow melts and the topsoil dries, prepare the strawberry plantings for all the necessary work. First, remove the winter cover and any remaining dry leaves, then loosen the soil, and remove weeds and plant roots.

Be sure to visually inspect each bush - trim off dry leaves and tops, the neck of the strawberry should be 4-5 mm above the soil level (burying it too deep can lead to root rot).

When to apply fertilizer

Throughout the season, mandatory fertilizing is carried out during the following periods:

• April – first days of May – application of fertilizers stimulates the growth of shoots and leaves;
• July, end of fruiting – fertilizers are necessary for the formation of new roots and promote the formation of flower buds;
• mid-September – nutrients will help the plant gain strength before winter.

Spring fertilization

In spring, when plants awaken, they begin actively growing foliage, and fertilizing promotes the formation of large, healthy leaves and strong, dense stems. These, in turn, are key to a harvest of large, high-quality fruit.

Nitrogen is essential for the growth of the above-ground part of the plant, and can be found in humus, bird droppings, cow manure, and mineral fertilizers. Along with nitrogen, micronutrients are essential for plant nutrition, helping plants cope with drought, prolonged rains, and low temperatures, as well as resist infection. Their presence accelerates growth, bud formation, and the ripening of fruits with good flavor.

When to apply fertilizer:

• When you first visit your garden plot, when the snow has not yet melted, sprinkle mineral fertilizers and ash directly on the snow - they will dissolve with the melt water and go into the ground;
• If the first visit occurred later, when the soil has dried out, add mineral fertilizers to the soil while loosening, then water the plantings (you can immediately use liquid fertilizers);
• In cases where the soil is dry and there is little water in the area, foliar feeding is carried out or fertilizers are applied before rain.

Natural fertilizers

Fertilizers based on natural compounds without the use of chemicals are very popular due to their availability and low financial costs.

Top dressing with cow manure

Two types of cow manure can replace chemical fertilizers with nitrogen:

• a mixture of clean manure with straw or peat (bedding cow dung), rich in potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen;
• clean manure (cow manure without bedding), which contains 50-70% nitrogen.

Pure manure is preferable due to its high nitrogen content. An infusion is prepared using it: a bucket is filled 1/3 full with cow manure and topped with water. The infusion is fermented, covered (in a warm place), for 5-7 days.

The infusion must be used in a solution (1 liter of infusion + 10 liters of water), pouring 500 ml of liquid onto one bush.

Watering from above (from a watering can, sprayer) helps protect against fungal infections (powdery mildew, spotting).

Feeding with chicken manure

Chicken manure contains 3-4 times more nutrients than other natural fertilizers. A solution made from it is a fast-acting organic fertilizer that promotes the growth of essential microorganisms in the soil.

You can prepare an infusion of fresh chicken manure in the same way as mullein, but use a smaller amount of the infusion—500 ml. Pour 500 ml of the solution per plant. Failure to apply the fertilizer correctly may result in the death of the plant.

When using litter purchased in a store in dried form, follow the instructions provided.

Top dressing with humus

Humus is manure that has been aged for 1-2 years. Compost, well-rotted poultry bedding, and rotted leaves can also be considered humus. Humus contains large amounts of nitrogen, so it is essential for spring fertilization.

Humus should be spread along the bed between strawberry bushes, covering any exposed roots. This fertilizer is especially effective for strawberries aged 2-3 years, when the bushes are above the soil surface, like mounds.

Feeding with wood ash

Wood ash contains micro- and macroelements essential for strawberry growth, but it lacks nitrogen. Therefore, spring ash applications should be combined with nitrogen-rich fertilizers (mullein, manure, ammonium nitrate, urea).

In this case, one nuance must be taken into account: when ash, which is an alkali, and nitrogen fertilizers are added simultaneously, a reaction occurs whereby nitrogen is converted into ammonia, which is a volatile compound.

How to feed with ash:

• stir 1 glass of ash into 10 liters of water and, before it settles to the bottom, water the strawberry bush at the root (500 ml);
• Water the leaves with a watering can, then immediately spray the ash through a sieve onto the leaves - some of the ash will be absorbed, and some will fall onto the ground and end up in the soil.

Fertilizers based on pharmaceutical preparations

At home, you can always find products and preparations that can be used to prepare effective and safe fertilizers for strawberries.

Fertilizer with ammonia

Ammonia is an excellent fertilizer containing nitrogen compounds (ammonia). Furthermore, its distinctive odor is repellent to strawberry pests (strawberry weevils, cockchafer larvae, and aphids), and its disinfectant properties help combat fungal infections.

To prepare a fertilizer solution, dilute 2-3 tablespoons of 10% ammonia in 10 liters of water. This solution is suitable for watering the soil around the bushes and for treating the above-ground parts of the plant.

Iodine-based fertilizer

Iodine is essential for the vital functions of all living organisms on Earth. It's also essential for strawberries—it participates in nitrogen metabolism and, as an antiseptic, helps fight disease.

In practice, gardeners have tested various iodine-based solutions: 3 drops per 1/2 teaspoon per 10 liters of water. Each solution is beneficial for strawberries when used to prevent fungal infections.

Traditional methods for preparing fertilizers for strawberries

Among gardeners, there are recipes for fertilizers that have been successfully used for decades and produce good results.

Fertilizer with sour milk

Strawberries prefer moderately acidic soil, and to achieve the desired acidity balance, you can add sour milk to the soil. The amount of milk depends on the soil pH, but a 1:2 ratio is most commonly used.

A solution of sour milk is either added to the soil at a distance of 7-10 cm from the plant, or the strawberry bush is sprayed with it.

Yeast fertilizer

Using yeast is an easy and simple way to improve soil structure without the use of chemicals. When introduced into the soil, these single-celled organisms make organic matter more accessible, promoting its rapid decomposition. The soil becomes richer in amino acids, microelements, organic iron, nitrogen, and phosphorus. Yeast nutrition also promotes root growth, which is essential for plant life.

Preparation of fertilizer from yeast:

• In a 3-liter jar, place 12 g of dry yeast or 25 g of raw yeast, add 4-5 tbsp of sugar and pour warm water up to the shoulders;
• Mix the ingredients well, put the jar in a warm place;
• when foam appears, pour the wort into a bucket (10 l) and add warm water to fill the volume;
• The watering rate for one bush (under the root) is 0.5-1 l.

When applying yeast fertilizers, you need to follow the rules:

• Yeast does not multiply at low temperatures, therefore it is recommended to apply fertilizers with yeast at a soil temperature of at least +20°C;
• The fermentation process removes potassium and calcium from the soil, so it is essential to add ash to the soil after fertilizing with yeast.

Bread-based fertilizer

Yeast fungi contained in bread acidify the soil, helping the strawberry root system to strengthen and receive sufficient nutrition.

The bread should be soaked in water for 6-8 days, then a 1:10 solution should be prepared. Use as a yeast fertilizer.

Infusion of nettle and weeds

Any garden weeds are suitable for making this fertilizer: nettle, sow thistle, clover, dandelion, couch grass, etc. Place the weeds in a container and fill with warm water. Let them steep for 7-14 days, stirring daily. The fermentation process will cause foam to form on the surface of the liquid. When the liquid has acquired a rich dark color and there is no foam on the surface, the infusion is ready.

For watering, use a strong infusion in a 1:10 solution; for spraying, use a 1:20 solution.

An infusion of nettles alone is prepared in a similar manner.

Fertilizing strawberries with mineral fertilizers

Mineral fertilizers differ in the rate at which they absorb nutrients into the soil:

• highly mobile – phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, nitrogen;
• low mobility – boron, iron, manganese, copper.

Spring application of mineral fertilizers influences the increase in yield:

1. Use a mixture of ammophoska and ammonium nitrate (2:1) in liquid form at 15g per 1m².
2. Nitroammophoska is effective on clay soils (use according to instructions).
3. Complex fertilizers Kemira Lux, Ryazanochka.
4. Urea contains 46% more nitrogen than other fertilizers. When exposed to air, it converts to ammonia, a volatile compound. Therefore, it can be used dry, scattered and incorporated into the soil, or as a solution (1 tablespoon per 10 liters). It can be used on any soil composition, as the fertilizer is slightly acidic.
5. Ammonium nitrate (35% nitrogen) is used as a solution, prepared according to the instructions, for fertilization and to kill soil infections. The fertilizer increases soil acidity, so it should be used in combination with dolomite flour.
6. Nitroammophoska (nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus) is applied in the spring if superphosphate and potassium salt were not applied in the fall.

When using mineral fertilizers, it's important to remember that excess nitrogen in the soil can accumulate in plants and fruits as nitrates. When ingested, nitrates can, in some cases, convert to nitrites, which are toxic compounds. Therefore, proper dosage is essential when preparing mineral fertilizers.

Fertilizing young strawberries

Young strawberry plantings planted in the fall do not require fertilization in the spring. However, if desired, you can apply a fertilizer solution of 0.5 liters of mullein infusion (chicken manure) and 1 tablespoon of sodium sulfate per 10 liters of water. The recommended dosage per plant is 1 liter.

Spring fertilizers for mature strawberry bushes

Strawberries that have been growing in a plot for several years require nutrients, since the soil becomes depleted without fertilizer, and their deficiency affects the quality and quantity of the harvest.

Fertilizer options:

1. In spring, adult bushes can be fed with the same fertilizer as young plants, adding 2 cups of ash per 1 m² when loosening the soil before watering.
2. Spraying the bushes with nettle infusion during the growth period gives a good effect.
3. One solution: a solution of mullein and water (1:5), a superphosphate solution (60g per 10l), and an ash solution (100-150g per 10l) poured into furrows 4-5cm deep dug around the bush. Then cover the furrows with soil and water. The fertilizer application rate is one bucket per 3-4m of length.
4. Ammonium nitrate is suitable for feeding two-year-old strawberries - 100 g per 10 m².
5. For three-year-old bushes, use a mixture of superphosphate (100 g), potassium chloride (100 g) and ammonium nitrate (150 g) per 10 m².

Before flowering begins, in the evening, spray the bushes with a solution of boric acid (2 g), ash (1 tbsp.), manganese (2 g), iodine (1 tbsp.) in 10 liters of hot water.

Using various strawberry fertilizers wisely in spring will lay the foundation for a good harvest. It's important to remember to apply any fertilizers according to the recommended dosage to avoid potential health risks.