The Main Secrets of Autumn Strawberry Feeding: How to Prepare Plants for Winter

Autumn feeding plays an important role in strengthening plants before the winter cold and laying the foundation for the future harvest.

Strawberries are a perennial plant, and proper care in the autumn period contributes not only to successful wintering, but also to abundant fruiting the following year.

Autumn feeding helps improve the root system, increase plant immunity and create a supply of essential nutrients.

At this time, it is important to focus on fertilizers that are rich in phosphorus and potassium to strengthen the roots and increase stress resistance, emphasizes the expert of the online publication "BelNovosti", agronomist and landscape designer Anastasia Kovrizhnykh.

Compost is a natural source of nutrients and is ideal for autumn feeding of strawberries. Place a layer of compost about 5 cm thick between the rows of plants or directly under the bushes.

Compost improves soil structure and provides a slow release of nutrients.

Rotted manure enriches the soil with nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and microelements.

It should be used with caution, avoiding contact with leaves and stems to avoid burns. It will be enough to spread the manure around the plants and slightly loosen the soil.

Wood ash is a rich source of potassium and lime, which strengthens plant cell walls and increases their resistance to disease.

Sprinkle about 100 grams of ash per square meter of the bed and spread it carefully with a rake.

In autumn, you can also use mineral complexes, but only if their composition is suitable for the given season.

Pay attention to fertilizers that are practically free of nitrogen. They help improve the root system and promote the formation of flower buds.

One example would be superphosphate, which should be applied at a rate of 40-60 grams per square meter.

Potassium sulfate is a fertilizer that is useful for increasing the winter hardiness of plants. It can be used as an independent agent or as part of complex autumn fertilizers.

Planting green manure in a strawberry bed in autumn can significantly enrich the soil. Legumes such as peas, vetch or lupine are suitable.

Greens, dug into the soil before frost, will become an excellent natural fertilizer, improving the structure and fertility of the soil.

Do not exceed the dosage of fertilizers indicated on the packaging or recommended by agronomists. Excessive nutrients can have a negative effect on plants.

It is better to apply fertilizers in cloudy, but not rainy weather. This promotes uniform distribution of the substance in the soil and prevents them from being washed out of the root zone.

Before fertilizing, remove weeds and loosen the soil. The fertilizer is evenly distributed over the area between the plants and carefully embedded in the ground.

Autumn feeding of strawberries is an important stage in caring for this valuable garden crop. By paying due attention to this process, you can lay the foundation for lush flowering and abundant fruiting in the next season.