How to properly feed gooseberries in spring

In order to get a rich gooseberry harvest every year, it is important to regularly feed the bushes with fertilizers. Organic - for fruit growth, mineral - for the growth of green mass and protection from diseases and pests. During the summer, gooseberries are fed 2-3 times, alternating root and foliar fertilizers. It is important to observe the proportions and timing of adding nutrients. We will tell you in the article what types of fertilizers for gooseberries exist and what to pay attention to when applying fertilizing.

Types of fertilizers suitable for gooseberries

Fertilizers are divided into mineral and organic. There is also a separate classification - folk remedies. For a rich harvest, it is recommended to alternate them with each other.

Organic

Organic fertilizers are attractive because they do not require financial costs. They improve the taste and marketability of fruits, strengthen the plant’s immunity, and stimulate the development of the root system.

The most common type of organic fertilizer is cow manure. It makes the soil breathable and creates the most favorable conditions for growing gooseberries. Amount of fertilizers per 1 sq. m no more than 6 kg of manure. It is applied once every 2 years, otherwise the berries will be saturated with nitrates.

In addition to manure, summer residents use:

1. Compost. Rich in microelements, especially useful for young plants. May contain dangerous microorganisms and larvae insect pests.
2. Sawdust. Experienced gardeners recommend using old sawdust (“fresh” removes nitrogen and moisture from the soil). They are also used as an ingredient for mulch.
3. Bird droppings. Rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, iron. The droppings fertilize the soil and at the same time disinfect it, reducing the risk of developing fungal and viral diseases.

Another suitable fertilizer for gooseberries is ash. The main thing is to follow the dosage (1 bush requires a solution of 2 liters of water and 75 g of dry ash). It is also not recommended to add ash to acidic soils. The fertilizer is rich in calcium and phosphorus, but does not contain nitrogen. Therefore, along with ash fertilizers, it is recommended to add nitrogen-containing fertilizers.

Mineral

Mineral complexes contain micro (iodine, boron, manganese, zinc) and macroelements (nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, iron). Fertilizers are divided into root fertilizers - those applied at the root of the bush, and leaf fertilizers - spraying and watering shoots and leaves.

• From root dressings use a mixture of urea, simple superphosphate and potassium sulfate in a ratio of 15:25:15 g per 1 sq. m. It is applied in early spring before the buds open. During fruit ripening, gardeners use 40 g of potassium sulfate and 60 g of simple superphosphate. The mixture stimulates the ovary and ripening of fruits. Nitrophoska or ammonium nitrate is also used. Fertilizers are applied at a distance of 50 cm from the bush so that the root system does not get burned.
• Foliar (foliar) fertilizers used for preventive purposes. They protect against diseases and pests, accelerate the development of shoots and leaves, and bud formation. In the middle of the ripening period, summer residents prepare a mixture - 20 g of ammonium sulfate is required for 10 liters of water. The bushes are sprayed with a spray bottle at a distance of 40 cm.The best time for the procedure is morning or evening, calm and dry weather. Foliar feeding is stopped 3 weeks before harvest.

Traditional feeding methods

Along with mineral and organic fertilizers, gardeners use folk remedies that are affordable and environmentally friendly. In early spring, gooseberries are fertilized with potato infusion: 1 liter of potato peelings is poured into 1 liter of boiling water and 1 tbsp is added. wood ash. The hot mixture is stirred and poured into the tree trunk circle. Potato root dressing not only strengthens the roots of the shrub, but also awakens the buds after winter. Use fertilizer once per season.

For foliar feeding, prepare an infusion of herbs - chamomile, tansy, calendula, nettle. A bucket of water requires 5 kg of grass, 1 tbsp. ash and 1 tbsp. onion peel. The mixture is poured with water and left in the house for a week. Afterwards, the gooseberries are sprayed with the resulting solution. Herbal infusion increases fruiting and protects against diseases.

Spring feeding of gooseberries for a good harvest

Experienced summer residents know how to feed gooseberries in the spring for a good harvest. They carry out several feedings - at the end of March and in mid-May. The first consists of organic matter and mineral fertilizers: manure, bird droppings, potassium sulfate, superphosphate, ammonium sulfate. Fertilizers stimulate the development of shoots and start the process of gooseberry vegetation. After application, it is recommended to mulch the soil and sprinkle the base of the bush with loose soil.

The second feeding is carried out in May; it has a beneficial effect on flowering and fruit set. It is recommended to prepare a nutrient mixture consisting of organic matter and minerals. Gardeners use the Kemira mineral complex and rotted manure (or compost).The mixture is applied under the roots, watered generously with warm water and mulched. To accelerate the development of buds, the plant is sprayed with a solution of ammonium sulfate.

Attention! If the soil is acidic, it is recommended to lime it before fertilizing. For 1 sq. m requires 200 g of dolomite flour or 500 g of lime.

What to feed in the summer during fruiting

In summer, gooseberries are fertilized around the end of June - beginning of July or mid-August. In June, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers or complex fertilizers - "Ammophos" or "Nitrophoska" - are applied. They improve the taste and marketability of fruits, increase productivity, and the berries grow larger. An organic solution also has a beneficial effect on the development of fruits - 1 kg of manure and 200 g of compost are required for 10 liters of water. The solution is covered with a lid and left to ferment for 10 days. Pour the mixture into the tree trunk circle and mulch it with peat chips on top.

If the gooseberries are late-ripening, then foliar feeding is carried out in August. Spray the bushes with a 0.05% solution of boric acid or urea. Foliar feeding in summer replenishes the lack of minerals; the shrub receives vitamins through the leaves.

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How to fertilize in the fall

In autumn, attention is paid to phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. Summer residents apply 50 g of simple superphosphate under each bush after harvesting or 70 g of phosphate rock. Fertilizers strengthen the gooseberry's immunity and help prepare for winter. Use 5 g of potassium chloride per 1 sq. m or 100 g of potassium salt per bush.Potassium is involved in plant metabolism, promotes the accumulation of sugar in fruits, and they become more tasty.

Spraying is also carried out in the fall - using Bordeaux mixture, solutions of Topaz or Fundazol. They protect gooseberries from powdery mildew and rust, gray rot and anthracnose. The main thing is to remember that fungicides should not be used 3 weeks before harvest.

Attention! A yeast solution is used as a folk fertilizer. Dissolve 1 kg of yeast in 5 liters of warm water and leave for 3 hours. The resulting mixture is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10. Such feeding will not only improve the health of the bush, but will also not harm the environment and health.

Conclusion

Organic and mineral fertilizers, as well as folk remedies, are what you can use to feed gooseberries during the ripening period. Organic matter stimulates the development of leaves and shoots, mineral mixtures improve the taste of fruits, they become larger and heavier. In the spring and summer months, the plant is protected from pests and diseases, and in the fall it is prepared for hibernation. Gardeners use root and leaf methods. Feeding schemes are simple, the main thing is to remember the main ingredients and their proportions.