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If you do not water strawberries in the fall, this will lead to a decrease in yield for next year. Proper preparation of the plant for hibernation allows you to reduce the amount of work in the spring months.
Should strawberries be watered in autumn?
One of the mistakes of gardeners is the neglect of caring for the bushes at the end of the fruiting period. Although strawberries are an unpretentious crop, they need to be watered, loosened and weeded throughout the summer and autumn.
In strawberries, the root system is poorly developed, so the plant is not able to extract moisture from the deep layers of the soil on its own.
Do strawberries need to be watered in autumn in October
Before winter frosts, water-charging irrigation is mandatory. Its purpose is to protect the soil from freezing. Strawberries for these purposes are recommended to be watered in late September or early October.
Terms of autumn watering strawberries
Throughout September and early October, the soil with the plant should be moistened at least twice a week. It is necessary to water the strawberries abundantly in the fall, allocating time for the procedure in the morning.
How and how to water strawberries after planting in the fall
To moisten the soil, clean water should be used: warm and settled. As means for watering, you can use various devices.
As a classic tool for moistening the soil, it is customary to purchase a garden watering can
Its main disadvantage is the need to spend additional time and effort for watering. Alternatively, a hose can be used, but then gardeners face the problem of wasting water.
Rationally equipment at the site of the drip irrigation system. This method allows you to deliver water directly to the roots of strawberries, which makes it possible to use the tool throughout the growing season.
Advantages of drip irrigation:
- lower water consumption;
- the ability to independently determine the dosage of water for irrigation;
- saving physical strength and time.
Most often, gardeners tend to organize a drip irrigation system, on whose plots there is not one garden bed, but a whole plantation of strawberries
It is possible to use the sprinkler method for autumn strawberry care. It consists in the equipment on the site of a mobile or stationary device – a sprinkler for irrigation. Sprinklers are found in circular, rotary, oscillating or fan types. The amount of area to be irrigated will depend on the device chosen. On expensive models, timers and sensors are installed for ease of use.
The main disadvantage of sprinkler systems is the high flow rate.
Algorithm for autumn watering strawberries:
- Water preparation. Its temperature should be + 18-20 ° C. You need to use clean, pre-settled water. Wells and wells are not suitable for these purposes, since rot may develop on the bushes, signs of disease may appear, and yields may decrease.
- The choice of watering tool. Drip systems and sprinklers require installation. You can use improvised means – watering cans, buckets.
- Determining the need for fertilizers. Most top dressings are made at the time of watering. It is not recommended to add substances in a dry form, with this application their effectiveness is lower.
- Moisturizing the soil in autumn should be done in the morning so that the sun’s rays do not burn the leaves. In the evening, the procedure is not recommended due to the risk of slugs.
- Loosening the soil at the end of the autumn watering.
How often to water strawberries after planting in the fall
Culture needs moisture immediately after planting. Further watering should be carried out taking into account weather conditions. On hot, sunny days daily, on cloudy days every 3-4 days. In the rainy season, it is not necessary to moisten the soil.
Last strawberry watering in autumn
Before the onset of winter frosts during October, strawberries should be moistened once a week. Autumn watering is done if there is no rain.
If the soil is moist and regular precipitation is observed, the procedure can be neglected.
To check the condition of the soil, you need to take a handful of earth, if it gathers into a lump when compressed, then there is a sufficient amount of water in it. If the earth is dry to the touch and crumbles, then an irrigation procedure is necessary.
How to water strawberries in autumn after pruning
Top dressing and watering are interrelated procedures during the autumn crop care. The application of nutrients should be carried out in moist soil.
The best options for top dressing after pruning are the following substances:
- compost;
- nettle infusion;
- mullein;
- humus;
- chicken manure.
Mullein or manure can be spread dry around bushes and then shed. Chicken manure should be diluted before use. Concentrated fertilizer can harm the plant. To breed it, you need to dissolve 20 kg of litter in 1 liters of water.
For each bush you need to pour 1 liter of fertilizer
When using nettle, the plant is crushed and transferred to a plastic container, then poured with water. For 1 kg of grass, 20 liters of water are needed. Close the container with the mixture and leave in a dark, warm place for two weeks. Before use, dilute the dressing in water in a ratio of 1: 10.
It is generally accepted that the fertilizer is ready for use when foam appears on the surface of the mixture.
Conclusion
Water strawberries in the fall should be timely and competently. Not only the crop yield for the next year, but also its winter hardiness will depend on the frequency of the procedure and compliance with the rules of agricultural technology. You should focus on generally accepted norms and on weather conditions, climate features in a particular region.
