Fertilizing apricots in spring

When growing apricots, special attention is paid to the care of the crop. To get a good harvest, it is important to feed the apricots in the spring. Organic or mineral substances are chosen for processing. Top dressing is carried out in several stages: after the snow melts, during flowering and the formation of ovaries.

Purposes and importance of feeding apricots in spring

In spring, plants begin their growing season. At this time, you need to provide the orchard with useful substances. Apricots need nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

Goals of spring feeding:

• saturate the soil with useful substances;
• activate tree growth;
• increase the immunity of the culture;
• increase yield.

Over time, the soil is depleted, from which the culture takes many components. With a deficiency of minerals, the leaves turn pale or deformed and the ovaries fall off. As a result, the resistance of the tree to diseases and pests decreases, its development slows down and fruiting decreases.

What are the methods of feeding, and which one to give preference to

To feed the crop, liquid or dry fertilizers are used. In the first case, the components are dissolved in water, after which the trees are watered under the root.

It is allowed to use substances without dissolution in water. Then they are brought into the trunk circle. Since liquid preparations are absorbed by plants better, the soil is preliminarily watered abundantly. In dry form, organic matter is more often used: compost, humus, wood ash.

You can fertilize apricots in spring in one of the following ways:

1. Root. Substances are embedded in the ground or watered the soil with a solution. Useful substances enter the soil and are absorbed by the roots of trees.
2. Foliar. The solution is sprayed with bark and shoots.

Plants quickly absorb substances introduced through the leaves. Foliar treatment is suitable for weakened trees. Spraying is carried out in cold weather, since the root system absorbs fertilizers more slowly at low temperatures.

Upon receipt of the solution, it is important to normalize the content of the components. At a high concentration of fertilizer, the leaves and shoots will get burned. Usually the content of substances is reduced by 3-4 times compared to root dressing.

Types of dressings and their impact

The main types of top dressing for fruit crops:

1. Organic. Received as a result of natural processes from natural components. This includes manure, chicken manure, humus, peat, wood ash and compost. Organics do not contain harmful impurities, however, when using them, it is difficult to determine the dosage of individual trace elements.
2. Mineral. They include industrial products: superphosphate, potassium salts, ammonium nitrate. Such fertilizers contain phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen necessary for the growth and fruiting of trees. When working with mineral substances, safety rules and dosages are observed.
3. Complex. They contain several useful components. The most popular complex preparations are ammofoska and nitroammofoska.

For processing, both mineral components and organics are suitable. The best results are shown by the alternation of different types of fertilizers.

How to feed an apricot when planting

When planting a crop, fertilization is one of the mandatory steps. Useful substances help seedlings adapt to new conditions and develop over the next 2-3 years.

What fertilizer to apply when planting apricots:

• humus – 2 buckets;
• superphosphate – 0,5 kg;
• wood ash – 2 kg.

The components are mixed with fertile soil and poured into the planting pit. Humus can be replaced with peat or compost.

How to feed an apricot in the spring before flowering

The first top dressing is carried out after the snow melts and the soil warms up. Before the start of sap flow, the trees are sprayed with a solution of urea. 10 g of the substance is added to a 50-liter bucket of water. Processing also protects the crop from pests.

Before blooming the buds for the culture, a solution based on nitrogen and potassium is prepared. To a 20-liter bucket of water add 4 tbsp. l. urea and 2 tbsp. l. potassium salt. A furrow is made along the perimeter of the crown of the tree, where the solution is introduced.

How to fertilize apricot during flowering

To stimulate the formation of ovaries, it is important to feed the apricot during flowering. Processing is carried out in mid-April – late May, depending on the region of cultivation.

For top dressing, choose the same fertilizer as for the first treatment. Instead of minerals, you can use organic matter. For a 10-liter bucket of water, 0,5 liters of chicken manure is needed. Fertilizer is poured over the soil in the near-stem circle.

After 5 days, 1 liter of ash is added to the moist soil. As a result, acidification of the soil is prevented.

Top dressing apricot after flowering

For the formation of the crop, it is necessary to feed the apricot after flowering. For processing, a complex solution containing potassium and phosphorus is prepared.

The composition of the nutrient solution for a large bucket of water:

• 2 tbsp. l. potassium sulfate and superphosphate;
• 3 Art. l. urea

The resulting fertilizer is watered into the soil in the near-stem circle. A week later, wood ash is re-introduced into the soil.

Some secrets of spring care for apricots

Spring top dressing is of great importance for fruit trees. Useful substances are necessary for apricots for development and fruiting. Competent work in the garden is the key to a high and high-quality harvest.

How to feed an apricot so that the ovaries do not crumble

One of the reasons for the fall of the ovaries is an excess of nitrogen. When forming ovaries, apricots are fed with complex fertilizers containing potassium and phosphorus.

To prepare top dressing for 10 liters of water, 30 g of superphosphate and potassium sulfate are taken. The solution is poured over the tree under the root. From natural substances, wood ash is used, which is added to the water before watering.

How to fertilize an apricot in the spring to increase the yield

To increase the yield, the culture is fed with a mineral complex. The tree will receive a full set of nutrients necessary for the formation of ovaries and fruits.

A solution of the following components will help to feed the apricot in the spring for a good harvest:

• 10 g of urea;
• 5 g of potassium sulfate;
• 25 g superphosphate;
• 10 L of water.

Organic matter has a positive effect on the ripening of the crop. Wood ash or compost is added to the soil.

For abundant fruiting, boric acid is used. Boron is involved in the synthesis of nitrogen, accelerates metabolism and increases plant productivity.

For processing, a 1% solution of boric acid is prepared. The culture is sprayed during the formation of buds and blooming flowers. Boric acid is diluted in a small amount of warm water. Then add water at room temperature to obtain the required concentration.

Apricot top dressing depending on the age of the tree

At different ages, trees require a certain concentration of nutrients. Therefore, the order of feeding apricots is changed taking into account the stage of their development.

How and what to feed young apricot seedlings

Top dressing of culture begins from 1-2 years of age. If fertilizers were used during planting, then the seedling will have enough nutrients for 2-3 years.

Young trees need nitrogen to grow shoots. An organic solution is prepared for seedlings. 20 kg of chicken manure is added to 0,3 liters of water. The solution is poured over the soil in the near-stem circle.

How to fertilize an apricot that is 3 years old

A fruit tree at the age of 3 years is preparing to bear fruit. Usually the first harvest is taken 4-5 years after planting.

Apricot top dressing in spring before flowering is performed on the basis of a solution:

• 2 tbsp. l. potassium sulfate;
• 4 tbsp. l. urea;
• 20 L of water.

The solution is poured into a rounded furrow, which corresponds to the perimeter of the crown. Processing is repeated after flowering.

How to feed a young apricot in spring

Young trees react positively to complex additives. To feed the apricot during the flowering period, prepare a nutrient mixture:

• compost – 4 kg;
• superphosphate – 12 g;
• potassium salt – 10 g;
• urea – 8 g.

Substances are applied in dry form to the near-stem circle. Pre-soil abundantly watered.

How to feed an old apricot

Trees older than 6 years require more organic matter. 10-20 kg of compost are added to the soil. The concentration of mineral components is also increased.

Fertilizer for trees aged 6-8 years:

• ammonium nitrate – 20 g;
• superphosphate – 30 g;
• potassium sulfate – 20 g.

For feeding trees older than 9 years, use:

• compost or humus – 70 kg;
• superphosphate – 900 g;
• ammonium nitrate – 400 g;
• potassium salt – 300 g.

How to avoid mistakes in the process of feeding apricots

Rules for spring feeding apricots:

• comply with the terms of use of fertilizers;
• adhere to the dosage;
• normalize the amount of components containing nitrogen;
• abandon deep loosening of the soil;
• do not use chlorine-containing preparations;
• moisten the soil before applying substances;
• alternate different types of treatments;
• do not water the trunk;
• apply the solution in the morning or evening;
• spraying in cloudy dry weather.

Conclusion

Feeding apricots in the spring is necessary for a high yield. Fertilizers are selected taking into account the stage of vegetation and the age of the tree. When using useful substances, their dosage and safety rules are observed.