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Processing raspberries with ammonia strengthens the immune system of the plant and serves as a prevention of ailments. In this case, it is necessary to remember the toxicity of ammonia and follow the rules for using the product.
Why spray raspberries with ammonia
Ammonia, or ammonia solution, contains easily digestible nitrogen. This substance is necessary for plants for the rapid development of green mass and is of particular importance in the spring. In addition, ammonia vapors are poisonous to harmful insects. You can use the product to prepare an affordable and effective insecticide.
It is allowed to use a pharmacy solution of ammonia 10% from a pharmacy for root dressing of raspberries and spraying. With proper use of the drug:
- accelerates the development of shrubs;
- promotes the rapid growth of shoots and young green leaves;
- improves photosynthesis processes;
- strengthens the immunity of raspberries;
- repels insect pests and serves as an insecticidal agent.
The use of ammonia for raspberries allows you to abandon stronger and more expensive fertilizers, such as saltpeter or mullein.
Advantages and disadvantages
Ammonia for processing raspberries has both advantages and disadvantages. The benefits of the solution include:
- good digestibility of nitrogen present in the composition – top dressing almost immediately has a positive effect on raspberries;
- availability – you can buy the product in the right amount for little money at any pharmacy;
- harmlessness – subject to the rules for preparing the working preparation, ammonia does not cause any damage to plants;
- antiparasitic action – when using ammonia, top dressing can be combined with insect treatment.
However, ammonia has some disadvantages. Among them are:
- volatility of the solution – ammonia evaporates quickly, and you need to use it immediately after preparing the drug;
- medium efficiency – as an insecticide, ammonia is effective only with a weak pest attack;
- toxicity to beneficial insects – if spring spraying is carried out too late, fruiting of raspberries may worsen due to insufficient pollination;
- danger to humans – if the solution is prepared in violation of the rules, it will cause burns to the mucous membranes of the eyes and the respiratory system.
It is best to use ammonia for spring feeding of raspberry bushes and for preventive treatment from insects.
When to process raspberries with ammonia in the spring
Spraying raspberries with ammonia in the spring can be carried out as early as possible. It is necessary to wait only for the air to warm up to a temperature of 10 ° C, otherwise the shrub will not be able to absorb nitrogen well.
It is necessary to carry out top dressing before the beginning of flowering of raspberries. It is usually recommended to water and spray in April, immediately after the warm weather sets in. In this case, ammonia will not only have a stimulating effect on raspberries, but will also help destroy most pest larvae that wake up after wintering in the ground and under the bark.
Ways of processing
There are several ways to process raspberries with ammonia. In any form, the solution benefits the shrub, but for maximum effect, it is recommended to combine several methods. Usually ammonia is used:
- For spraying. Ammonia is recommended to be diluted in water with the addition of tar or laundry soap. The last component will not only serve as an additional antiseptic, but also add stickiness to the finished mixture. The ammonia solution will be able to stay on the leaves and shoots longer, the nitrogen will evaporate more slowly.
- For irrigation. Ammonia is diluted according to the instructions and brought under the raspberry bush using a watering can with a large sieve. Immediately after this, the plant is abundantly watered with clean water to prevent a possible root burn.
- For rainfall. A solution of ammonia can be added to a device for irrigating raspberry bushes. In this case, the useful agent will fall both on the leaves of the plant and on the soil around.
How to dilute ammonia for raspberries
The rules and proportions of the dilution of ammonia depend on the purpose for which the solution is to be used. Usually, a more concentrated agent is prepared for insecticidal treatment, and a liquid with small amounts of ammonia in the composition is used for fertilizer.
Ammonia for raspberries from pests
Ammonia vapor released by ammonia leads to paralysis of the respiratory organs in insects and to their death. You can prepare a good insecticidal agent at home that helps with the invasion of aphids and weevil beetles using the following algorithm:
- About 10 ml of ammonia are dissolved in 25 liters of slightly warm water.
- Thoroughly mix the product.
- Pour the solution into a garden watering can with a large sieve.
- Water the shrub under the root and along the lower leaves.
One bucket of the product should be enough to process 4-5 plants. It is not necessary to insist the ammonia solution after preparation, on the contrary, it is better to use it as soon as possible.
Feeding raspberries with ammonia in the spring
A video about feeding raspberries with ammonia offers to carry out the procedure twice in the spring. The first time the solution is used in April after the establishment of stable heat. A useful remedy for raspberry bushes is prepared as follows:
- Two large spoons of the pharmaceutical preparation are dissolved in a bucket of water.
- How to mix the product.
- If desired, 100 g of liquid or laundry soap, crushed to a state of shavings, is added to the solution.
- Re-stir the product.
Immediately after this, foliar feeding of raspberries with ammonia is carried out and the solution is added to the soil – 5 liters for each bush. Ammonia stimulates the development of shoots and destroys parasites that have waited out the winter in the soil under the plant.
The second spring treatment of raspberry bushes is carried out shortly before flowering in late May or June. The drug stimulates the formation of buds and promotes the formation of a large number of ovaries. The working solution is prepared as follows:
- Dilute in 10 liters of settled water about 45 ml of a pharmacy.
- Mix properly.
- The bush is sprayed over the leaf, trying to process the raspberries as evenly as possible.
When caring for a plant, ammonia can be combined with other useful products. For example, it is allowed to add a little iodine to the working solution. The substance also has insecticidal and strengthening properties and increases the hardiness of the shrub. The proportions when feeding raspberries with ammonia and iodine are kept small – no more than 10 ml of an antiseptic is added per 5 liters of solution.
Before flowering, watering or spraying with ammonia is carried out no later than ten days before the buds open. Ammonia must have time to erode, otherwise its vapors will scare away not only pests from the shrub, but also beneficial insects involved in pollination processes.
Ammonia for raspberries in summer is usually used closer to autumn, after harvest. The third top dressing helps to restore the strength of the bush after fruiting and prevents infection by pests, many of which are re-activated in August. But at a later date it is no longer possible to use ammonia, since in this case nitrogen will negatively affect the frost resistance of the plant.
Rules for the use of ammonia for raspberries
When feeding raspberries with ammonia, certain rules must be observed that guarantee the safety of the shrub and the gardener:
- When preparing the working solution, follow the instructions exactly and adhere to the proportions of adding ammonia. Too concentrated a preparation will harm the plant and impair its health and fruiting.
- Before carrying out root dressing, the earth is abundantly moistened. At the end of the procedure, the bush is again watered with clean water. It is impossible to use only ammonia solution for soil application – it will burn dry roots and damage the plant.
- It is necessary to work with ammonia in compliance with safety precautions. Wear rubber gloves, a respirator and goggles. Toxic ammonia fumes can cause damage not only to insects, but also to humans, in particular, cause burns to the mucous membranes of the respiratory organs.
- When spraying and watering raspberries in a greenhouse, it is necessary to open windows and doors for the duration of work. The preparation itself should be prepared outdoors.
If ammonia gets on the skin, immediately treat the affected area with plenty of soap and water. In case of damage to the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose and mouth, it is also necessary to perform urgent washing and consult a doctor to prevent dangerous consequences.
Conclusion
Processing raspberries with ammonia helps to feed the shrub with nitrogen and protect it from pests. Subject to the basic rules and proportions, ammonia remains completely safe for the plant and does not harm its health.