How to fertilize raspberries in the fall for a good harvest

What raspberries need in the fall

Experienced summer residents determine the lack of a particular nutrient by the appearance of the plants .

When there is a deficiency of potassium, phosphorus or nitrogen, microelements are primarily redirected to the upper part of the plant to young shoots. Therefore, the color and shape of the lower tiers of leaves in mid- and late summer will tell you what the plant especially needs.

Lower leaves that have turned yellow ahead of time with edges curled down , and gray coloration of the roots indicate a lack of nitrogen. Another sign is a visible slowdown in plant growth.

Crimson, purple, violet shades of the leaves of the lower tiers , poorly and slowly developing roots indicate the need to apply fertilizers containing phosphorus. The lack of this element leads to a decrease in yield.

If the edges of the leaf blade turn brown and die , it means the plant does not have enough potassium. A slight deficiency of potassium in the soil leads to slower growth of young stems. With an acute shortage, shortening of internodes, stunted growth and even death of shoots occurs.

When at the edges of the leaf and between the veins the green color changes to yellow, red, purple, and the veins themselves remain green, the tips of the leaves bend, wrinkle and gradually die - these are signs of magnesium deficiency. Most often, sandy and sandy loam soddy-podzolic soils are poor in them.

Important! Slower growth and changes in the appearance of the bush are not always associated with a lack of nutrients. The health of the plant can be affected by pest infestation, disease and other unfavorable factors (drought, frost, excess of unnecessary elements, etc.).

Tips for gardeners

Take advantage of practical recommendations from experienced agronomists on growing berry crops:

1. Do not add substances containing chlorine to the soil under raspberries. A garden plant reacts to this element extremely painfully, negatively, even to the point of death.
2. After fertilizing, continue to care for the bushes. Bend and cover for wintering, equip fences to retain snow, trenches to drain excess melt water.
3. Apply organic fertilizers only at the roots. If manure or droppings fall on the leaves and tops of trunks, these areas on the crop will die.
4. Before you start feeding, carefully inspect the berry bushes. The appearance of the plant will indicate a deficiency of certain elements in the soil. Leaves that are yellow in the middle indicate a lack of magnesium; small foliage - nitrogen deficiency; thin, weakened shoots - phosphorus feeding is necessary.
5. Add boron, iron, and copper to the soil when absolutely necessary, when it is clear that these are the elements that raspberries lack for high-quality fruiting.

Timing for applying autumn fertilizing

The health and productivity of plantings next season depends on how correctly and timely the preparatory work for winter is carried out

General rule. Plantings are fed approximately a month before the onset of the rainy season and 2-2.5 months before frost.

Autumn feeding calendar by month:

• Far East: August 20 – September 10;
• Eastern Siberia: September 1-15;
• Western Siberia: September 7-20;
• Ural: September 10-25;
• middle zone, Moscow region: September 15-30;
• Northern Caucasus: September 20 – October 10.

These periods may vary slightly depending on the nuances of weather conditions.

Types of autumn fertilizers for raspberries

Experienced gardeners practice two methods of feeding shrubs : root and foliar.

Root

When root feeding, beneficial substances are applied in spring and/or autumn under raspberry bushes or at some distance from them .

They use mineral fertilizers with microelements and organic matter.

Foliar

For foliar irrigation, the fertilizer is dissolved in water, poured into a sprayer or watering can and sprayed onto the whole raspberry . Young leaves are treated only in summer, at low temperatures, in the evening or early morning hours, in calm weather, no later than two hours before dew or rain falls. To avoid burning the leaves, you should avoid direct sunlight on the wet solution.

Foliar feeding cannot completely replace root feeding . Therefore, root feeding is the main one, and foliar feeding is additional, as needed.

Take note:

The best ways to freeze raspberries for the winter

Choosing a landing site

Requirements for a site for planting raspberries:

• Lighting. Good sun exposure. It is advisable that the sun's rays fall on the site most of the day. You can’t plant raspberries between fruit trees - aeration and lighting deteriorate, and yields drop.
• Relief and humidity. Raspberries are badly affected by drafts and wind, so it is better to plant them closer to the fence, retreating at least a meter. Slopes where the soil can dry out are not suitable for planting. The culture is moisture-loving, but does not tolerate excessive waterlogging - the roots rot. Raspberries should not be planted in lowlands where water stagnates. The groundwater level is at least 1.5 m from the surface.
• Neighborhood. The best neighbors are currants and blackberries. It is undesirable to place a raspberry garden next to competing crops - grapes and sea buckthorn.

When choosing a place for planting, it is necessary to take into account crop rotation:

• The worst predecessors for raspberries are nightshades (eggplants, potatoes, tomatoes) and strawberries (strawberries).
• The best predecessors are pumpkin, zucchini, cucumbers, beans, green manure.

The following video talks about the best place to choose for planting raspberries in the fall:

Raspberries can be replanted in the place of the former raspberry field after 4-5 years.

Types of fertilizers

The basis of autumn feeding is phosphorus and potassium fertilizers . Phosphorus is needed to strengthen the root system, and potassium increases the frost resistance of bushes.

bird droppings, manure, wood ash, compost, bone meal, and straw as organic matter Many people grow green manure.

Important! It is not recommended to use nitrogen-containing fertilizers in the fall, as they have a bad effect on the frost resistance of plantings. Substances containing chlorine should not be used in raspberry fields.

The best fertilizers for raspberries in autumn

Almost any fertilizer for berry gardens is sold ready-made in specialized stores. But many summer residents prefer only natural fertilizers, prepared with their own hands in their own garden plot.

Ready-made products

Monopotassium phosphate, monophosphate, and superphosphate are usually used as combined mineral fertilizers One bush requires 40-60 g of mixture in autumn. Apply fertilizers according to the instructions on the package. Granular mixtures are scattered over the surface, and then the soil is dug up to a depth of 7-10 cm.

A good option is the phosphorus-potassium mineral complex “Osennee” of the “Gera” brand. It is distinguished by its correctly selected composition, versatility of use and low price.

Folk recipes

Complex nutritional mixtures can be prepared independently using different components:

• potassium salt (40 g) + superphosphate (60 g) per bush, dug with soil around the bush;
• zinc sulfate (3 g) + magnesium sulfate (5 g) are diluted in 5 liters of water - enough to water 1 m²;
• wood ash (50 g) + superphosphate (50 g) is dissolved in 1 liter of water and watered over 1 m² of raspberry garden;
• manure (3 kg) + ash (1 glass) + nettle (1 kg) pour 20 liters of water, leave in the sun for one week, dilute the infusion with water in a ratio of 1:10, water at the rate of 1 liter per 1 raspberry bush;
• equal amounts of comfrey and nettle are poured into 10 liters of water and infused for 14 days in the sun, diluting the infusion with water at the rate of 1:10 - 2 liters of fertilizer is enough for a raspberry bush.

Despite the popular belief that there is no such thing as too much organic fertilizer, this is not true. To prevent the plant from getting burnt to the roots due to direct contact with fertilizer , it is important to follow the dosage and feeding rules.

Bird droppings are the most effective organic fertilizer for raspberries . For autumn feeding, fermented droppings are used - in liquid form, diluted with water in a ratio of 1:20. Water around the raspberry bush.

Important! Chicken droppings contain nitrogen, which the bush takes time to process. Therefore, fertilizing should be done at the end of summer, but not in autumn or before winter.

Manure is used as bird droppings, but the water solution for irrigation is made at a rate of 1:40 . A high concentration of active substances in litter and manure can lead to burns of the root system. It is not recommended to exceed the dosage.

Ash is one of the cheapest fertilizers, especially useful for raspberries due to the absence of chlorine. Can replace phosphorus-potassium complex. Used in the form:

• dry feeding - shallow grooves are made around the plants, ash is poured in at the rate of 1 cup per 1 m² of raspberries, sprinkled with earth or dry leaves on top;
• liquid feeding - a glass of ash is diluted in 10 liters of water and left for seven days, watered at the rate of 0.5 buckets per bush.

Compost is evenly scattered over the soil surface at the rate of 5 kg of compost per 1 m² and dug up.

2-3 kg of peat per 1 m² is dug up with soil or mulched on the surface.

Green manure is also used : vetch, clover, oats or mustard, planted in the spring in the soil of a raspberry tree. There is no specific dosage here. After the raspberry harvest at the end of summer, the greens are dug up with soil.

Advice. Experienced gardeners do not recommend using organic and mineral fertilizers in one year. But if you want to properly fertilize the soil, reduce the dosage of each type of fertilizer by half.

How to properly fertilize raspberries in the fall

To prevent the shrub from getting burnt to its roots , the ground must be moist before feeding.

Dry fertilizer is carefully dug into the soil.

In order for the liquid composition to reach the plant faster , dig a groove around the bush with a diameter of 30-35 cm and a depth of 10-15 cm, pour the mixture into it and drop it in.

any granular mineral fertilizer (especially superphosphate) in hot water (but not in boiling water), since granules do not dissolve well in cold water.

About fertilizing other crops:

Effective recipes for feeding in August

How, when and what to feed parsley for growth

Step-by-step instructions for autumn raspberry care

When the harvest has already been harvested, it is recommended:

• pull out weeds, dig up green manure;
• fertilize the soil;
• carry out sanitary pruning: use pruning shears to cut off dry, disease-affected stems - it is not advisable to cut out old strong shoots in the fall, they will help you survive the winter, and in the spring it will be time to remove them;
• treat the bushes against pests and diseases with soda ash (not baking soda) (200 g of soda per bucket of water) or a biological product for protecting plants from diseases “Trichoderma veride” (2 tsp per bucket of water) - spray or water the stems from a watering can;
• water the plantings with water: 50-60 liters per 1 m²;
• mulch with peat, sawdust, compost, straw, branches or pine needles;
• bend the branches and tie them up.

Mulching raspberries is an agrotechnical technique that is aimed at protecting the root system , retaining moisture in the soil and improving the water-air regime.

Features of autumn feeding by region

Features of growing raspberries depend on climatic conditions, soil composition, and plant varieties.

If it is difficult to predict the weather for the upcoming summer period, and each summer resident has his own preferences for varieties, then there are general agrotechnical recommendations for enriching the land .

First of all , you need to know exactly the type of soil in the area where raspberries grow , and then choose the most suitable type of fertilizer.

In the Moscow region, podzolic soils and chernozems predominate, in the Urals - bog-peat and podzolic soils, in Siberia - podzolic and gley soils, in the Volga region - chernozems, solonchaks, and sands.

To cultivate acidic podzolic soil, liming (in small quantities), planting green manure and adding organic matter : peat, manure is useful. Mineral fertilizers are used with caution. Heavy rainfall washes out nitrogen fertilizers from the fertile layer, so they are applied in the form of nitrates. It is better not to use ammonium sulfate, which increases acidity.

Sandy soil is low in organic matter and mineral salts . Therefore, such soil is diluted with manure, humus, rotted leaves, silt or sapropel. Mulching and sowing green manure are also important.

For rational feeding of sandstones with organic matter, the rule works : reduce the volume of fertilizer, increase the frequency of application. Mineral fertilizers (especially those dissolved in water) are used with caution, as they quickly seep through the sand layer and can burn the roots.

In the first years of developing areas with clay soil, it is advisable to apply a lot of organic fertilizers - rotted manure, peat, prefabricated composts, and dig to a depth of no more than 10-12 cm, each year increasing the digging depth by only 1-2 cm. If the soil is heavy, then You can add straw, finely chopped branches, bark, and ash. It will be possible to make the land fertile only after a few years.

Mulch and its features

Any organic materials can be used as mulch: grass chaff, leaves, straw, hay, seed husks and others. But you cannot use tops from vegetable beds or fallen leaves. For mulching, prepare a layer of 10 to 15 cm. Moreover, the mulch also rots and turns into fertilizer. Thus, the autumn feeding of raspberries with mineral fertilizers will begin to take effect. Over the winter, the bush will absorb all the required components, and in the summer you will reap an incredible harvest.

Many gardeners neglect to use mulch, but it is very useful for plants of any type. You protect not only the roots, but also create a future complex of fertilizers. If you have material suitable for mulch, then feel free to add it.

We must not forget that autumn is considered a good time for planting crops. If during the planting process you adhere to the same rules for fertilizing raspberries, then in the spring you can harvest the first harvest of berries. Autumn feeding of raspberries with manure will not be superfluous.

Proper application of compost and humus will create not only a constant flow of microelements to the roots, but also protection of the root zone.

Fertilizing raspberries after planting in the fall

Some gardeners prefer to plant raspberries in the fall . In this case, preparation begins 1.5-2 months before planting.

Per 1 m² of soil, add up to 10 kg of rotted manure or compost , 80-100 g of phosphorus and 40-80 g of potassium fertilizers, 400-800 g of wood ash.

At the site where raspberries are planted, green manure is sown in advance or legumes are grown. After them, the soil becomes rich in nitrogen and minerals.

Before planting, mineral fertilizers are scattered on the ground , organic matter is added on top, the soil is carefully dug up and holes or trenches are made in it for planting seedlings.

Folk remedy - kitchen waste

Feeding with kitchen waste is becoming increasingly popular. Many gardeners save up peelings from vegetables and fruits, and then dig all this stuff under the bushes. Essentially, it creates a small compost pile underground that attracts earthworms and bacteria. With their participation, waste is converted into humus during the season - food available for plants.

Vegetable waste and eggshells are suitable as “long-lasting” fertilizers.

And although humus is rich in nitrogen, cleaning can be done in the fall. In the cool, living microorganisms and worms are already inactive; the “humus factory” should start working only in the spring, with the onset of warmer weather.

You cannot dig pieces of bread under bushes. They will attract mice and other rodents to the raspberry tree. Fats, bones, pickles, broths, and dairy products are also prohibited. Such waste takes a long time to decompose, salts or acidifies the soil, and its smell will become a lure for uninvited guests - dogs.

Video: feeding raspberries in the fall with organic matter, mineral fertilizers and kitchen waste

In autumn, raspberries need phosphorus-potassium fertilizers: superphosphate, potassium salts, wood ash. Organic matter in the form of humus, kitchen waste, green manure can be added at the very end of the season, as a starting reserve for spring. Mineral fertilizers containing nitrogen will be unnecessary and even harmful.

• Author: Marina Volkova
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I live in Siberia. I have my own house and my own plot) In the articles I share my experience, I learn something myself together with you) Rate the article:

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