How to feed raspberry ash in summer: instructions

The general condition of the plant and its yield directly depend on the quality of nutrition of the bush. Gardeners began to feed raspberries with ashes many years ago. It is an organic fertilizer with a good composition of nutrients. But, despite this, ash can do harm. Therefore, it is important to know how to properly feed raspberries, and to determine that the plant needs ash fertilization.

Is it possible to feed raspberries with ash

The root system of raspberries grows up to 2 m and over several years depletes even the most fertile soil, so regular feeding is necessary. Mostly raspberries are fertilized in the spring, but summer procedures are also required. Especially during the period of flowering and fruiting, when the plant needs nutrients for the full set of berries. The required amount of these minerals is achieved through organic fertilizers, namely ash.

For reference. Last year's shrubs, planted in nutrient soil, do not require feeding.

Summer feeding falls on the period of flowering and fruiting. Usually this is the last decade of May - the first decade of June. Shallow trenches are dug around the bushes and fertilized.

Why ash is useful for raspberries

Ash has been used as fertilizer for a long time. It is formed during the combustion of various organic matter and contains many nutritious easily digestible elements:

• calcium carbonate (~ 17%);
• calcium silicate (16%);
• calcium sulfate (14%);
• calcium chloride (11%);
• potassium orthophosphate (13%);
• sodium orthophosphate (15%);
• sodium chloride (0.5%);
• magnesium carbonate, silicate and sulfate (~ 4%).

The chemical composition may vary depending on the type of burned out substances. For example, raw materials from tops, herbaceous plants contain about 40% potassium, burned deciduous wood contains a large amount of calcium, and the ash of coniferous crops contains phosphorus.

For reference. The combustion product of peat and coal contains significantly less nutrients. Slag can also occur, which is unsafe for raspberries.

Knowing what ash consists of, it is possible to easily compensate for the deficiency of minerals without the additional use of potash and phosphorus fertilizers. The combustion product has significant benefits for the soil and plants, namely:

• loosens the fertile layer of the earth;
• enhances soil air exchange;
• improves the quality of the soil;
• suppresses the development of pathogenic microflora;
• destroys and repels pests;
• deacidifies the soil;
• makes the plant immune to disease;
• accelerates photosynthesis;
• improves metabolism and energy metabolism.

Better to use fresh ash. You can also last year, but subject to proper storage. If it was kept in a place with high humidity, very few nutrients remained in it, and there was no alkaline reaction at all.

Advantages and disadvantages of using

In addition to the good mineral composition, the naturalness of the product and the low price are also distinguished among the advantages.

Disadvantages:

1. It is impossible to determine a clear dosage, the composition of the burned out substance may be different.
2. Lack of nitrogen, which makes the supplement extra (especially in the spring).
3. Not recommended for use on saline soils.
4. Do not allow direct contact between ash and the root system, this will lead to burns.

Ash must not be added after nitrogen addition. The alkali contained in the ash and nitrogen combine to form ammonia. As a result, the ash will lose its ability to deoxidize the soil, and some of the nitrogen will simply evaporate.

How to determine if raspberries need such feeding

To determine whether it is necessary to feed raspberries with ash in summer, it is enough to carefully examine the plant. If he does not have enough top dressing, the bush weakens, bears fruit poorly. Basically, there is a lack of 2-3 minerals:

1. Drying of the top, yellowing of the foliage, but the appearance of green veins on it indicates an iron deficiency.
2. Yellow, subsequently white streaks indicate a lack of sulfur.
3. Potassium deficiency manifests itself in the twisting of the tops of the shoots and the edges of the leafy plates.
4. Lack of phosphorus can be detected by the bluish tint of the branches and too dark leaves.
5. If the leaves are too light, small, and the branches are thin and bend easily, there is a nitrogen deficiency.

But there are other reasons why the raspberry tree needs top dressing: the plant suffered during a period of drought or in a harsh winter.

Terms of the procedure

Depending on from raspberry varieties and the region of growth, the timing may vary. The plant is fertilized twice a season: when the buds swell or during the period of leaf appearance and after fruiting or preparing the raspberry for wintering.

If the soil is sandy and loamy, in order to get a significant harvest from the bushes, be sure to apply top dressing in early June.

For reference... Repaired varieties often require fertilization due to almost continuous fruiting.

It is better to feed raspberries in spring (late April - early May), when the topsoil dries up, before foliage appears. Fertilization in the summer is more necessary to increase yields and restore the vitality of the plant. Organic fertilizers are replaced with mineral or complex fertilizers ("Ideal", "Kristalon").

Feeding scheme

The feeding scheme can be divided into 3 periods.

After harvesting, siderates, for example, mustard, are sown in the raspberry field. Before the onset of cold weather, it is cut off, crushed, dug up together with the soil to a depth of 20 cm.

How to properly prepare top dressing

Fertilizer can be obtained independently by preparing it in the autumn. Almost any plant residues (branches, dry leaves, tops, etc.) are suitable for mineral fertilizing, but ash from deciduous species is the safest for plants.

Raw materials obtained from conifers contain a large amount of resins and volatile substances, which will adversely affect the development of the raspberry tree. The use of the combustion product of coal or peat is not considered. There are very few useful elements in coal and peat. Burnt plastic particles are categorically contraindicated for any plants.

If there are doubts about self-prepared fertilizer, there is always the opportunity to buy a ready-made top dressing.

Ash use options

For foliar or root watering, you can use any method:

• scattering of dry product when loosening before watering during active growing season, as well as during fruiting;
• spraying an aqueous solution onto the sheet plates;
• watering at the root with a decoction based on ash.

Fertilizer can be applied to any soil, with the exception of carbonate soil, which is already saturated with alkali.

Instructions and proportions

For adult berry bushes, 0.6 kg of dry matter is needed per plant. At the flowering stage, you can use liquid ash top dressing.

Proportions for dry product: 150 g per 1 m² when digging, when using liquid fertilizer - 0.5 liters per bush.

For foliar dressing and watering, ash and uterine infusions are used:

1. To prepare an ash solution, 200-250 g of powder is diluted in 10 liters of cold water. Shake well before use.
2. To obtain the mother broth, mix 1 kg of combustion product and 10 liters of water, boil for 15-20 minutes. The broth is used after cooling completely.
3. To prepare the infusion, ⅓ buckets are filled with ash, filled to the brim with hot water and insisted for 48 hours. Strain before use.

To make the dressing better adhere to the leaves, you can add 50 g of laundry soap.

Top dressing rules

Ash fertilization does not require strict rules. In order not to harm the plant, observe the correct dosage:

• 1 tsp contains 2 g of ash;
• 1 tbsp. l. - 6 g;
• 1 matchbox - 10 g;
• 1 tbsp. (200 ml) - 100 g;
• 1 liter can - 500 g.

Is it possible to just pour ash under the raspberries

It is possible, but it is preferable to use it in the form of solutions and infusions. The plant assimilates fertilizer in liquid form better. Dry ash is used when digging bushes and loosening the soil. Also, when applying top dressing in this form, part of the nutrients is lost, therefore it is recommended to increase the concentration in comparison with liquid fertilizer.

In every landing pit raspberries add 1-2 kg of dry ash. The number of such dressings is up to 4 times a year.

For quick adaptation of young seedlings and better development of their root system, 100-150 g of ash per 1 m² is enough. Fertilizer is applied to a depth of 8-10 cm.

Tips & Tricks

The recommendations of experienced gardeners will improve the condition of the plant and the quality of the crop:

1. Combustion products should not be added together with nitrogenous substances. It is good to fertilize the raspberry tree at different times of the year: apply one fertilizer in the spring, the second - in late autumn.
2. Superphosphates are incompatible with ash, since a neutral or slightly acidic medium is needed to assimilate phosphorus supplements. Ash fertilizers create an alkaline environment and phosphorus is not absorbed.
3. There is no ammonia in the ready-made and finished fermentation infusions of mullein, so you can add ash. You cannot mix them if the infusion with manure has not yet ripened.
4. Ashes obtained from small twigs or thin brushwood are much more nutritious than ashes from old and large trees.
5. To obtain ash, you cannot use treated or painted wood - it can emit toxic substances.

It is interesting:

What are the most productive varieties of raspberries

Benefits and features of early raspberries

The best varieties of remontant raspberries

Conclusion

Ash dressings are relevant due to their naturalness, availability and ability to create a healthy nutrient medium for the plant.

Useful minerals remain in the soil for up to 3-4 years, saturating raspberries with essential elements for it, improving the quality of the crop and protecting against diseases and pests.