Spring strawberry care according to all the rules

Recovery after winter

Caring for strawberries in early spring has a number of features - the plants are just starting to wake up and recover after winter. This is the most vulnerable time for berries, the period during which flowering buds are formed and laid - future fruits.

Strawberry care in spring begins immediately after the snow has melted in the beds. In some cases, you can cover the snow with salt or ash so that it melts more quickly.

First of all, the awakened plantation must be removed from organic residues. Last year's foliage, bark, rotted weeds, protective mulch - all this is subject to primary cleaning. The fact is that a huge complex of phytopathogens and pests develops on rich organic soils. In the future, they can develop into various diseases of strawberries, attracting other pests. Of course, it is better to remove unnecessary residues and weakened plants in the fall, so that after the snow melts, you will not find mass lodging of bushes.

Yellowed leaves in rosettes, rotted stolons, unnecessary antennae, unharvested crops must also be removed from the site.

After the snow melts, some parts of the root system of your bushes may become bare - in this case, it is recommended to carefully fill them up. Do this with the utmost care, so as not only not to damage the root system, but also not to crush the young leaves with the rest of the soil. We introduce top dressing, fertilizers for overwintered plants, distributing them evenly over all plantations.

After winter, professional agronomists advise loosening the soil. Loosen the soil to saturate it with oxygen, you must carefully, taking care not to damage the roots. This procedure allows not only to give air to the plants, but also to keep moisture in the roots longer. Loosening usually takes place simultaneously with another, necessary berry, procedure - hilling strawberry bushes. Do this carefully and carefully, walking around the bush from all sides. Try not to crush the central growth axis with lumps of earth.

Pest control

Strawberries: spring care requires the introduction of a variety of pest preparations. Even if you completely remove all plant debris before the plants leave for the winter, there is a possibility of the disease emerging from the spores that persisted in the soil. Also, the pest can come from infected plants surrounding your plantation.

From spring, prepare fungicide solutions for the future growing season. Modern drugs allow you to kill unwanted diseases without injuring or oppressing the plant. Remember that most strawberry diseases are caused by fungi, which means that the first line of defense is recommended against them. Currently, such biological products are actively used to combat fungal invasions such as "Fitosporin", "Phytocide".

If you have a small area, you can use an alternative to some fungicides. Compounds of copper or manganese do a good job in the fight against various fungal diseases, providing a general toxic effect in relation to pests.Bordeaux liquid is also a good remedy - a mixture of copper sulfate and lime.

In addition to fungal diseases, it is worth taking care of the presence of insecticides and acaricides - drugs that will fight unwanted insects and plant mites in your area. Early spring spraying with such products as "Actellik" or "Aktofit" will preserve your harvest. Treatment against insects is also important because it is through these vectors that various harmful viruses can enter plants, which are very difficult to fight.

Top dressing and watering

Fertilizers that are worth applying can be divided into several groups. Organic fertilizers include those that consist mainly of substances directly of animal or plant origin. These include humus, ash, ash, manure or slurry, bird droppings.

It is recommended to apply organic fertilizers even before flowering in a diluted state, so that the fertilizing feeds your bushes, and not their pests. It is important to remember that horse or cow manure should be diluted in a smaller proportion than bird manure.

Another group of fertilizers is inorganic. These are compounds based on inorganic or synthetic materials - salts and metal bases. It is recommended to apply nitrogen fertilizers in spring to maintain crop growth. Phosphoric plants are confined to the middle of summer so that strawberries gain weight for the winter and become more resistant to frost.

How to care for strawberries in spring? Provide her with proper watering. Watering plays a key role in the development of a young plant, in its transition to an active state. The first spring watering must be of sufficient intensity and on top of already loosened soil. Thus, it is possible to maintain soil moisture, while eliminating the problem of drip moisture in the soil.

Given that strawberries are an unpretentious crop and grow on different types of soil, it is worth understanding their ability to retain water and not overflow the crop. The soil should be well moistened with moisture, not overdried. You can check if watering is normal in this way: squeeze a piece of soil in your fist. If it does not crumble and sticks a little to the palms, everything is in order. If it crumbles and falls apart, the olive must be increased.

Video "Spring strawberry care"

This video will show you how to get the right care for your strawberries in the spring.