Not everyone knows that the laying of fruit buds for the next harvest occurs in July, as soon as the fruiting period ends. In this regard, caring for strawberries at this time is not only necessary, but also more important than in the spring. A few useful tips will help increase your future harvest.
Strawberry pruning
First of all, you need to remove weeds and tendrils from the garden bed, and then proceed to the old leaves. Pruning should be done very carefully so that young leaves and hearts are not accidentally damaged. It is very important to complete this procedure on time so that the regrown young foliage does not interfere later. In addition, pests and diseases from old leaves may have time to move to young ones. If young strawberry leaves change their normal shape, this indicates that they are infected with strawberry mites. It is necessary to immediately treat the charged plants with a mite preparation.
Loosening and fertilizing
It is recommended to thoroughly loosen the soil between the rows (depth - about 10 cm). You can’t go deep near the bushes, as you can damage the root system. Simultaneous light hilling of the bushes will ensure the correct location of the growing adventitious roots.
At this time, strawberries that are gaining strength need fertilizing so that there is no shortage of nutrients. It is recommended to apply a special fertilizer containing all the necessary components in a balanced form.Ammophoska containing potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur has proven itself well. It is very good to add humus. In addition to fertilizer, it also improves the structure of the soil.
Watering strawberries
Before applying dry fertilizer, you need to water the plants thoroughly. The soil should remain constantly moist until the end of the season. Surface watering is not considered beneficial. After abundant watering, the soil needs to be loosened and weeds removed if present.
Excessive moisture can harm plants. Therefore, long rainy days are a reason to loosen the soil again after they are over. It would be a good idea to remove the lower leaves of the bushes to improve the evaporation of moisture from the soil.
Treatment against diseases and pests
When working on strawberry beds, excess leaves and debris are not just removed, but destroyed. The leaves must be examined to determine the presence of diseases. If there is a gray coating on them, then most likely it is powdery mildew. Treatment with a solution of colloidal sulfur will help to cope with this problem. A solution of copper oxychloride will get rid of black and gray rot. Insecticides or acaricides are used in pest control.
Rejuvenation of beds
Renewal of strawberry bushes is required every four years. Planting is done in a new place open to sunlight. It’s good if vegetables such as onions, carrots or garlic grew there before. Strawberry rosettes are planted in loose soil fertilized with manure and watered abundantly.
Timely provision of strawberries with the necessary nutrients and proper care will ensure a luxurious harvest of sweet berries next year.
