It is probably difficult to find a person who would not like a juicy, fragrant and sweet berry - strawberries. They cultivate this miracle in the most diverse climatic zones, on different soils, while applying various agrotechnical techniques.
However, few know what should be the fertilizer for strawberries, made in the spring.
When spring strawberry feeding begins
During the summer season strawberries are fed three times:
- in the spring;
- after harvesting;
- before preparing for the winter.
The first strawberry fertilizer is carried out after spring loosening, at the very beginning of the summer season, when warm weather sets in (April-May), and the first leaves appear on the plant. In this case, all actions are aimed at stimulating the growth of leaves and shoots, so fertilizers should contain nitrogen (it is best to prepare organic matter).Feeding strawberries with iodine is also very effective, which is particularly relevant in the spring.
The second time strawberries are fed after tying the berries. At this time, new roots are formed and buds are laid for the next season, so fertilizers should contain potassium and useful trace elements. Most often, at this stage of growing a plant, a mullein is used, and to saturate the soil with potash fertilizers, ash is introduced into the soil.
Did you know? Strawberries have a lot of useful properties. For example, the content of vitamin C is ahead of only currants, and there is more folic acid in strawberries than in raspberries and grapes.During flowering plants, to increase the yield, it is recommended to spray the bushes with a solution of zinc sulphate or boric acid. During spraying, beneficial substances are immediately absorbed into the foliage. Carry out this procedure in the evening, in windless and dry weather.
How to fertilize strawberries in the spring
According to experienced gardeners, spring dressing of strawberries in early spring will provide an opportunity to collect a decent crop of this fragrant berries. But what kind of fertilizer is better to use in order not to harm health?
Organic fertilizer
What would not invent fertilizers in chemical laboratories, the best fertilizer for strawberries is manure and humus.
- Manure (mullein) - litter from rooms with domestic animals, mixed with their excrement. It is actively used to fertilize the soil. Manure is also the best option for fertilizer, if you are looking for, than to feed strawberries in spring before flowering.
For 10 liters of water, dilute 2 glasses of manure and add a tablespoon of sodium sulfate. All this is thoroughly mixed to a kasheobraznogo state, after which the resulting composition is watered the ground under each bush (1 l). You can also scatter the manure under the roots of strawberries, and cover the top with a layer of earth (2-3 cm).
- Humus - completely decomposed manure. It is considered the best fertilizer for strawberries in the spring, because it provides the maximum concentration of nutrients in a form that is best absorbed by cultivated plants.
- Chicken droppings. It is a rich source of nitrogen. For strawberries use a weak (per part of the manure 20 parts of water) solution of this organic compound. Infusion stand for 3 days and fertilized with 0.5 liters of the mixture under each bush. After it, the plant grows strongly and pleases with large fruits.
Important! Manure is used only in the reversed form, since the fresh material contains a lot of weed seeds ready to germinate on the fertilized soil.
The people know many more methods of strawberry feeding and we are ready to share some of them with everyone who is interested in the question "What else is to fertilize strawberries?".
- Dairy products. They are successfully used for feeding, as the strawberry loves slightly acidic soil. In addition, milk contains calcium, sulfur, phosphorus, nitrogen, amino acids and other minerals. It is best to add sour milk in humus, manure or ash. In addition, diluted milk will help get rid of the tick.
- Bread. Many gardeners claim that it is better than yeast that there is no means to feed strawberries in May. Yeast fungus contains amino acids, proteins, minerals, perfectly acidifies the soil. Strawberry roots are strengthened, the berry gets good nutrition and grows large.
To do this, the bread is soaked in water for 6-10 days, after which the resulting solution is diluted in water in a ratio of 1:10. You can also use live culinary yeast: 200 g of yeast diluted in 0.5 liters of warm water and leave for 20 minutes. Then dissolve the mixture in 9 liters of water and pour plenty of water on each bush.
- Weeds. This dressing does not harm either strawberries or people. To prepare the fertilizer, weeds remaining after weeding are collected and poured with water. A week later, the resulting solution is poured over strawberries. This dressing will help increase the number of fruits, positively affect the taste of berries and protect your strawberries from some pests.
- Ash. Spring ash for strawberries is a very effective fertilizer. It can be used as root and foliar feeding. You can sprinkle dry ashes in the aisle before watering or rain, and can be used in a solution. To do this, a glass of ash is diluted in 1 liter of hot water, then the mixture is diluted in 9 liters of water and watered at the rate of 1 liter per 1 m².
Thanks to the feeding of strawberries in spring with folk remedies, the fruits are juicy and large.
Did you know? Daily consumption of strawberries strengthens the walls of blood vessels and immunity. Help these berries and fight insomnia, as well as protect against viral diseases. With enough strawberries in the diet, you can refuse iodized food.
Top dressing strawberries with mineral compounds
Mineral fertilizers are of two types:
- highly mobile - differ in the rate of absorption (phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, nitrogen);
- low mobility - act much slower (boron, iron, copper, manganese).
- ammonium phosphate mixed with ammonium nitrate (2: 1) in a liquid solution, the norm is 15 g per 1 m²;
- nitroammofosku - plants growing on clay soils are especially in need of this fertilizer;
- ready complex fertilizers, which include potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, nitrogen ("Chemira Lux", "Ryazanochka").
Mineral fertilizers play an important role in obtaining a good harvest: when there is a shortage of nitrogen, the fruits grow small, lose their taste, and their foliage becomes too pale.To get sugar fruits, strawberries need potassium. In addition, with its deficiency, the plant gradually fades, and by the fall it may disappear.
Important! It is not recommended to feed strawberries with urea in the spring period, because urobacteria are still at rest and fertilizer is not digested.
What is the best mineral fertilizer or organic
It is impossible to unequivocally answer that it is better to choose strawberries - organic or mineral fertilizers, since both of them have a positive effect on growth and fruiting.
Mineral fertilizers, for example, they are quite effective and do not affect the size and taste of strawberries well: the berries grow large, sweet and beautiful. But they must be applied carefully, strictly adhering to the instructions. Overdose adversely affect not only the harvest, but also on human health. In addition, mineral fertilizers are not recommended to be used later than 2 weeks before the fruit ripens.
Organic fertilizer They will not provide large berries, but they are absolutely safe for people. In addition, organic matter can be applied in almost any quantity, since plants take as many nutrients as they need. 
Important! Any dressing should be maintained in the recommended ratio and prepared from quality ingredients - with an excess of fertilizers, strawberries will begin to grow rapidly, and the flowers and fruits will be frail and late.
Features feeding strawberries in spring
Top dressing strawberries in the spring is a mandatory procedure, but not everyone knows how to feed the young and adult strawberries in the spring.
How to feed young plants
Young strawberries planted in the fall, in the spring, you can not feed at all, or use the following solution: on a bucket of water take 0.5 liters of manure or chicken manure, add 1 tbsp. spoon of sodium sulfate and pour the mixture under each bush for 1 liter. This norm cannot be exceeded.
Top dressing of adult bushes of strawberry
Strawberries, growing not the first year, also require special care, because the soil is depleted, and the plant has no place to take useful substances. 
How to feed adult strawberries in spring? For its fertilizer, you can use the same solution as for young plants, just before feeding, when loosening the soil, sprinkle ashes on the ground (2 cups per 1 m²).
Experienced gardeners use another method: a bucket of nettle pour water and insist 3-7 days. This solution is an excellent bio-fertilizer. They are sprinkled with strawberries at the beginning of the formation of the bush and after harvest.
You can also feed solution mullein (1 part), water (5 parts), superphosphate (60 g per bucket) and ash (100-150 g per bucket). The resulting solution is poured into the grooves made along the beds with a depth of 4-5 cm. The norm is a bucket of fertilizers 3-4 meters. After the procedure, the grooves covered with earth and poured water.
In the second year, you can feed the soil ammonium nitrate (100 g per 1 m²), and in the third year of life strawberry is fed with a mixture superphosphate (100 g), potassium chloride (100 g) and ammonium nitrate (150 g). This mixture is sufficient for 1 m².
Before flowering, strawberries are fed with microelements: In a bucket of hot water stir 2 g of boric acid, a glass of ash, 2 g of potassium permanganate, a tablespoon of iodine. After the mixture is infused, it is sprayed with strawberry bushes (in the evening). 
Spring dressing of strawberries plays an important role in obtaining the harvest - it will help the plant to recover faster after winter and form the ovary.
