Contents
Raspberries are very demanding on soil fertility, because each year they grow a large number of root offspring, which consume a lot of nutrients (1). Therefore, it must be well fed.
The best time for spring feeding is mid-April. At this time, nitrogen or complex fertilizers are applied under raspberries. Nitrogen is responsible for the active growth of shoots, and the stronger and stronger the shoots, the higher the yield.
How to feed raspberries in spring for a big harvest
Raspberries respond equally well to both mineral and organic fertilizers. There are different feeding schemes, they are all suitable, and which one to choose depends on your capabilities.
There are 3 options for feeding raspberries with mineral fertilizers:
- ammonium nitrate – 1 tbsp. spoon per 1 sq. m, spread the fertilizer evenly over the surface of the soil and close it with a rake;
- urea – 1 tbsp. spoon per 1 sq. m, apply in the same way as ammonium nitrate;
- kemira – 3 tbsp. spoons per 10 liters of water – 1 liter under a bush.
You can choose any of these. They are good because mineral fertilizers can be bought at any garden center and they are inexpensive. In addition, they are effective and act immediately.
Together with mineral fertilizers, it is useful to add ash under raspberries – 1 glass per bush. After making the ash, the berries become sweeter and more aromatic.
Feeding Options
In addition to mineral fertilizers, raspberries can be fed with organic matter. There are also 3 options here:
- mullein infusion, diluted 1:10 – 5 liters per 1 sq. m;
- infusion of chicken manure 1:20 – 5 liters per 1 sq. m;
- humus – 3 – 5 kg per 1 sq. m (2).
These fertilizers are even better than mineral fertilizers, because they do not adversely affect the soil. But there is a problem – getting them is not easy.
Humus, by the way, can be applied not only in spring, but also in autumn, at the end of October. He will begin to give nitrogen to raspberries in the spring, but in winter he will do another service – he will protect the roots from freezing, especially if the winter is frosty and snowless.
Rating of the top 5 best fertilizers for raspberries according to KP
Now on sale you can find specialized fertilizers intended for berry bushes, including raspberries. These are complex fertilizers, in which nutrients are balanced, taking into account the needs of these crops.
1. Fertilizer Gumi-Omi berry
Organo-mineral fertilizer with trace elements based on chicken manure compost, specially developed for berry crops.
Fertilizer is applied in the spring and during the summer:
- when landing in a pit – 3 tbsp. spoons per bush;
- for watering – 6 tbsp. spoons per 10 liters of water, 5 liters per bush every 2 weeks.
Features
| Fertilizer composition | compost – 20% sodium humates – 0,4 – 0,6% nitrogen – 3,6% phosphorus – 4,5% potassium – 3,9% boron – 100 – 150 mg / kg copper – 50 – 60 mg / kg |
| pre-packing | 700 g |
| Manufacturer | NVP BashInkom, Our Country |
Advantages and disadvantages
Pros. Contains a full set of macroelements and microelements, contains organic matter – compost and humates, which increase soil fertility, does not contain chlorine, increases the yield of raspberries, improves the taste of berries, is inexpensive
Cons. There are no obvious cons
2. Fertilizer Zdraven turbo for strawberries and raspberries
This is a complex organo-mineral fertilizer with a complete set of macro- and microelements.
Fertilizer can be used at different times as a top dressing:
- in spring, before raspberries bloom – 15 g per 10 liters of water, 1 bucket per 1 linear meter. m (in this case, it is useful to add urea – 2 teaspoons per 10 liters of water);
- after harvesting – 15 g per 10 liters of water, 1 bucket per 1 linear meter. m as a foliar top dressing (here it is useful to add 1 teaspoon of potassium sulfate per 10 liters of water).
Features
| Fertilizer composition | nitrogen – 12% phosphorus – 12% potassium – 29% magnesium – 1,5% brown – 0,03% manganese – 0,04% zinc – 0,02% copper – 0,02% molybdenum – 0,005% sodium humate – 2% |
| pre-packing | 15 g, 30 g, 150 g, 300 g |
| Manufacturer | Your farm, Our Country |
Advantages and disadvantages
Pros. Contains a full set of macro- and microelements necessary for raspberries, increases yield, berries grow larger and ripen earlier, improves the taste of berries – they become sweeter, increases plant resistance to adverse weather factors and increases frost resistance, does not contain chlorine harmful to plants, is available in different in terms of packaging volume – you can choose the optimal one for your site, it is inexpensive.
Минусы. With any application, whether it be spring or summer, the manufacturer suggests adding additional mineral components to this fertilizer – urea and potassium sulfate, and these are extra costs and labor costs.
3. Fertilizer for strawberries and berries Organic mix
This is a complex, completely organic fertilizer – it contains only natural ingredients. It is produced in the form of granules, which are evenly scattered over the surface of the soil, after which the site is watered. Its action is prolonged – if applied in the spring, raspberries will receive nutrients for 100 days. Application rate – 100 g per bush.
Features
| Fertilizer composition | fermented soy flour rapeseed cake sunflower cake alfalfa flour feather flour bone flour wheat stillage molasses – molasses, which is obtained during the production of sugar algae corn gluten beer pellet дрожжи |
| pre-packing | 200 g and 800 g |
| Manufacturer | Organic Mix, Our Country |
Advantages and disadvantages
Pros. Increases productivity – more berries are formed, they are larger, sweeter and more aromatic, improves soil fertility.
Минусы. Very high price.
4. Fertilizer Bona Forte berry
Complex mineral granular fertilizer with trace elements, intended for the main application and top dressing of berry bushes, including raspberries.
Fertilizer can be applied in spring and summer:
- in April – 3 tbsp. spoons per 1 sq. m, evenly scatter over the surface of the soil and close up with a rake;
- during the season – 2 tbsp. spoons per 10 liters of water, water at the rate of a bucket per 1 sq. m.
Features
| Fertilizer composition | nitrogen – 17% phosphorus – 6% potassium – 14% sulfur – 13% trace elements – boron, zinc, copper, molybdenum, iron, manganese |
| pre-packing | 2,5 kg |
| Manufacturer | Bona Forte, Our Country |
Advantages and disadvantages
Pros. Contains a complete set of macro- and microelements, all nutrients are enclosed in one granule – this is not a mixed fertilizer, which means that all useful substances are evenly distributed in the soil, contains iron in a chelate form – it is easily absorbed by plants, dissolves well in water – it is convenient for dressings.
Минусы. A fully mineral fertilizer, which means it can harm the soil if applied incorrectly.
5. Fertilizer Agricola for berries
A complex mineral fertilizer that can be used as top dressing for irrigation and for foliar top dressing – on the leaves.
Fertilizer is used throughout the season:
- in spring – 25 g (half a package) per 10 liters of water, 5 liters per bush (when watering under the root) and 1,5 – 2 liters per bush (when spraying on the leaves);
- further – every 14 days, in the same doses.
Features
| Fertilizer composition | nitrogen – 15% phosphorus – 17% potassium – 28% magnesium – 0,5% |
| pre-packing | 50 g |
| Manufacturer | Technoexport, Our Country |
Advantages and disadvantages
Pros. Increases yield by 30 – 40%, accelerates the ripening of berries, improves the taste and benefits of fruits – they accumulate more sugar and vitamins.
Минусы. All mineral fertilizer, and all mineral fertilizers can harm the soil if applied incorrectly.
Popular questions and answers
We talked about feeding raspberries with agronomist-breeder Svetlana Mikhailova.
How to prepare raspberries before fertilizing?
Then you need to cut out all the shoots older than 2 years – they give little harvest, but require a lot of food.
And it is also useful to loosen the soil to a depth of 5 cm so that fertilizers penetrate better to the roots.
How to apply dry fertilizers?
After applying dry fertilizers, the soil must be watered so that they begin to dissolve and get to the roots. Plants will not be able to extract nutrients from dry granules.
How to apply liquid fertilizer correctly?
And you can’t water raspberries with liquid fertilizers on dry soil – you can burn the roots. First, the plants must be watered with clean water, and the next day – fertilized.
Sources of
- Emelyanov F.A., Kruglova A.P., Kulikov V.A., Sazhin N.S., Gryazev N.D., Kinkovskaya N.I., Berkut O.D., Molchanov A.I., Khramov P .BUT. Fruit and berry garden and vineyard // Saratov, Saratov book publishing house, 1955 – 472 p.
- Romanov V.V., Ganichkina O.A., Akimov A.A., Uvarov E.V. In the garden and in the garden // Yaroslavl, Upper Volga book publishing house, 1989 – 288 p.