After harvesting, it's a crucial period for strawberry plants, so proper management is essential to lay the foundation for high yields next year. So, how should we fertilize strawberries after harvest? Let's find out.
Fertilizing Methods for Strawberries After Harvest
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Application of Compound Fertilizer: Apply compound fertilizer after strawberry harvest, with about 22.5 kilograms per acre. This can effectively promote plant nutrition and flower bud differentiation. Fertilization can be combined with watering. Before the soil freezes, apply decomposed human manure once to improve the plant's wintering ability.
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Application of Organic Fertilizer: After strawberry harvesting, when there are still fruits, apply organic fertilizer such as humic acid fertilizer or seaweed fertilizer combined with high-calcium and high-potassium water-soluble fertilizer 13-6-32+TE (5 kilograms per acre) when the fruit reaches the size of a broad bean. Fertilize every 10-15 days, continuously for 2-3 times. Potassium fertilizer applied during this period can promote fruit enlargement, prolong harvest, and enhance sweetness by facilitating strawberry absorption of light.
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Application of EM Fermented Soybean Liquid: Additionally, after strawberry harvest, apply EM fermented soybean liquid once (100 kilograms per acre) along with balanced water-soluble fertilizer (3-5 kilograms per acre) to promote plant recovery.
Management Practices After Strawberry Harvest
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Removal of Runners: After harvesting, there will be a large number of runners. These runners consume plant nutrients and affect flower bud differentiation. Therefore, it's necessary to remove runners and dead leaves after fruit picking to prevent overcrowding and insufficient light.
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Cultivation and Loosening of Soil: After strawberry harvest, the soil is often compacted due to repeated trampling. Cultivate and loosen the soil to a depth of 3-4 centimeters, removing weeds. Avoid excessive depth to prevent root damage. Cultivation helps loosen the soil, remove weeds, improve ventilation and light conditions, promote vigorous plant growth, and prevent diseases.
These are the methods for fertilizing strawberries after harvest. In addition, proper pest and disease control is crucial during this period. After strawberry harvest is the best time for pest and disease prevention. Spraying the entire garden with pesticides can disinfect and kill bacteria and destroy insect and mite eggs.
