Content
Spring care for strawberries: common mistakes of many gardeners
19.02.2024 15:10
Growing tasty and aromatic berries on your plot is quite difficult, and you should start caring for them in early spring, when the snow melts and the first spring rays of sunshine appear.
If you neglect these tasks, you can’t even think about a good harvest; it won’t happen.
As a rule, the beginning of processing is considered to be the second half of March, and in the northern regions, mid-April, says Anastasia Kovrizhnykh .
Before you begin care, you need to remove the covering material.
Film, straw, mulch, etc., everything must be removed without leaving any residue, otherwise overwintering pests can damage the future harvest.
In this case, you can use a metal tool and not be afraid of slight damage to the berry bush.
In addition, removing weak and diseased plants will only bring benefits. Fallen leaves, if any, should also be removed. Before further processing, the beds should remain clean.
Soil preparation
While the foliage is not afraid of mechanical damage, the root system should be handled much more carefully.
Therefore, the soil should be loosened carefully, and directly next to the strawberry bush, this should be done manually with a wooden tool. The soil in the bed should have good aeration. But at the same time, the bush should not be covered with soil from above.
During this procedure, you need to monitor the position of the bush's growth point. If it is below ground level, it should be raised, but if the roots are exposed, it needs to be hilled.
It is important to understand that groundwater disappears after the snow melts, and the crop needs constant watering.
Warm water is used in the morning and evening hours. With moderate precipitation, watering is carried out at least once a week. The number of waterings is determined by the degree of drying of the soil.
Strawberry fertilizing
In order for the plant to receive the necessary amount of nutrients for full growth, it is necessary to add the necessary microelements to the soil. Usually, in the spring, fertilizing is done several times. The first approach is carried out when fresh foliage appears.
The second time is fed immediately before flowering. And finally, when the ovaries are formed, the third feeding is done.
At each of the three stages, a corresponding composition of fertilizers is introduced. The main ones are nitrogen fertilizers, which serve for the growth of the green mass of the crop.
In addition, mineral fertilizers such as chicken manure, mullein, ash, etc. are used.
Pest control
The fight against diseases and pests begins in early spring by treating plants with Bordeaux mixture after removing the mulch material.
Then all infected parts of the bushes are mechanically removed. Then fungicides are sprayed to prevent the formation of fungal diseases.
Earlier we wrote about which plants should be planted next to peppers .
