The best way to feed gooseberries, how to water them properly in summer and autumn

Gooseberries are valued for their taste and beneficial properties of the fruit. Proper care of the bush promotes long-term fruiting: one bush can produce a stable harvest for 20 years. Those who grow fruit and berry crops are well aware that gooseberries need regular feeding.

The importance of fertilizing when growing gooseberries

Feeding is especially necessary for “northern grapes” due to their long growth in one place. The soil under the bushes is not completely renewed, so a lack of additional nutrients can negatively affect the growth of the bush and its further fruiting.

The absence of additional fertilizer leads to noticeable consequences:

• fruit shrinkage;
• decrease in frost resistance indicators;
• wilting of leaves;
• drying out of the ovaries.

In addition, stable growth exhausts the plant; to restore its strength, it needs a supply of auxiliary products.

Fertilizer application methods

According to the options for applying fertilizers to the soil, they are divided into several types:

• basic (includes nutrition before planting, digging and loosening);
• pre-sowing (produced during direct planting, buried together with the seedling or spilled after compacting the soil);
• regular (root and foliar, during the growing season).

Foliar

Methods of introducing nutrients using spray guns and special devices. Such methods allow you to quickly deliver auxiliary products to the bush. They are recommended for problems with the root system.

Main advantages:

• helps to increase fruiting rates;
• leads to the development of leaves and the appearance of ovaries;
• The success of foliar feeding increases under unfavorable weather conditions.

The main disadvantage is considered to be the low level of nutrient concentration in the treatment solution.

Under the root

Root fertilization is the main option used by summer residents and gardeners.It includes the use of liquid and dry forms of fertilizers.

Advantages:

• improving soil quality;
• sufficient concentration of nutrients;
• supply of nutrition to the root system;
• simple procedure.

Root feeding is suitable for shrubs with a developed and intact root system.

Attention! An overdose of fertilizers during root feeding can burn the roots.

How to fertilize gooseberries and rules of application

Gooseberry bushes are fed with mineral or organic fertilizers. Traditional methods are suitable that allow you to expand the list of nutrients.

Nitrogen

Among mineral supplements, nitrogen-containing complexes are in first place. They are especially necessary in the spring, when the bush is actively growing and gaining color. Nitrogen affects the normalization of certain processes:

• increase in green mass;
• thickness of stems and leaf blades.

To saturate the soil with nitrogen use:

• Ammonium sulfate. Helps increase the protective forces of shrubs, affects the growth of green mass. Fertilizer is produced in granular or liquid form. Its advantages are considered to be rapid dilution with water, short absorption times and noticeable performance indicators.

Important! Ammonium sulfate increases soil acidity.

• Ammonium nitrate. Performs 2 functions simultaneously: saturates the soil and affects the growth of the bush. It is easy to dilute, process, and is non-toxic. There is a danger of leaf burn in case of overdose.
• Urea or urea. The fertilizer is universal. It is used to improve soil performance, improve bush health and during pest control.

Phosphorus

Phosphorus is added to the soil in spring and autumn. Phosphorus is necessary for the plant to form the trunk and develop the root system. It can be used in the following form:

• phosphate rock;
• superphosphates;
• double acting superphosphates.

Phosphorite flour is a crumb obtained by grinding rocks of a certain type. For absorption, it is mixed with the soil along with other acidic fertilizers. This method is used once every 5 years.

Superphosphates are the most common fertilizers for gooseberries; they are applied to the soil at any time during the growing season. They can be mixed with humus or added separately.

Double superphosphates are produced granulated. When applied, they are mixed with substances that increase digestibility.

Potash

Gooseberries especially need potassium. It is added at the onset of the period of active development of buds, flowering and formation of berries.

The most popular drugs:

• potassium sulfate;
• potassium salt.

Potassium sulfate contains impurities of other useful minerals: potassium and magnesium. The fertilizer is sold in the form of a friable white powder; it is applied to the soil dry or as part of a solution.

Often the need to use potassium supplements is dictated by an analysis of the appearance of gooseberry bushes; a lack of potassium is indicated by:

• yellowing of leaves;
• the appearance of brown spots on leaf blades;
• dry areas along the edges of the plates;

Complex

Unlike single-component ones, complex complexes can solve several problems at once. Gooseberries require comprehensive feeding during the ripening of the berries, as well as during the period when the bush comes out of the sleep phase.

Complexes that gooseberries love:

1. Nitrophoska. Contains essential minerals: nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus.
2. Ammophos. Contains phosphorus and nitrogen, suitable for soils that have lost nutrients.

Organic

Organic refers to fertilizers of natural origin. These include:

• compost;
• manure;
• humus;
• bird droppings.

Organic matter contains a variety of minerals and improves soil quality. For 1 gooseberry bush, 10 liters of organic matter is enough.

Solutions are prepared according to general formulas:

• manure: 1 kilogram per 7 liters of water;
• compost: 1 kilogram per 4 liters of water;
• humus: 1 kilogram per 5 liters of water;
• litter: 1 kilogram per 12 liters of water.

Folk remedies for feeding bushes

Many gardeners believe that chemicals harm plants and feed gooseberries with compounds they prepare themselves.

1. Infusion of potato peelings. 1 kilogram of peelings is infused in 10 liters of boiling water for 3 days.
2. Banana infusion. 5 bananas are cut into pieces and infused in 10 liters of boiling water. This mixture helps replenish potassium reserves.
3. Ash. The bushes are sprayed with a solution of wood ash in the spring; it protects the bushes from insect parasites. This is the most effective of the folk methods.
4. Egg shells. The shells are crushed, and the resulting powder is mixed with the soil before watering. For one bush, 50 grams of powder is enough. The powder helps reduce soil acidity and makes its structure lighter.
5. Yeast. Raw yeast, 1 kilogram in volume, is diluted in 5 liters of warm water. Shrubs are watered with this solution. Yeast fertilizing is usually combined with soil treatment with wood ash. This is done in order to return potassium washed away by yeast to the soil.
6. Green infusion. Nettle is used for it. 5 kilograms of nettle are poured with 10 liters of water and infused for a week. Add 10 parts of clean water to the resulting infusion and treat the bush with a sprayer.

How to feed gooseberries: monthly feeding scheme

The introduction of auxiliary products is directly dependent on the time of year.Each period of vegetation development has its own characteristics.

in spring

The spring period is characterized by intensive growth, so nitrogen is an essential component of fertilizers.

In summer

Gooseberries are preparing to bear fruit and need potassium and phosphorus.

in autumn

The autumn period is characterized by the fact that the bush needs additional minerals to restore strength. They are introduced according to a certain scheme.

Nuances of feeding bushes

In order to grow a strong shrub capable of consistently bearing fruit, it is recommended to provide additional nutrition with nutrients not only during flowering and fruiting, but also when planting a seedling. For this purpose complex mixtures are used.

When planting shrubs

The prepared pit is fertilized with a mixture based on:

• peat;
• superphosphate;
• potassium sulfate;
• wood ash;
• humus.

The mixture is thoroughly mixed with the main soil, then a hole is made and the seedling is placed.

During flowering and fruiting

During flowering and fruit set, additional procedures are carried out. Only root feeding is used; foliar treatment during the ripening period for gooseberries is excluded. Manure is dissolved in water in a ratio of 1:10, and furrows are carefully poured around the bush.

A solution of whey or kefir is used as a folk remedy.

How to water gooseberries correctly for a good harvest

Watering is important for gooseberries. It is watered at the root so that the water fills the hole. After watering the next day, the soil is carefully loosened.

Regularity and rate of irrigation

Its general condition depends on how often the gooseberry is watered. The shrub needs regular, but not abundant, irrigation.

in spring

The spring period of active growth is characterized by an increased need for watering.

In summer

For the formation of ovaries, flowering, and the formation of berries, the shrub needs increased watering.

Watering rules can be adjusted down or up when hot, dry summers occur or when there is heavy rainfall.

in autumn

The end of September, the beginning of October is the time for moisture-hardening irrigation. The period when the temperature is within +2, +1 degrees is suitable for it. This irrigation is used as a procedure for hardening gooseberries before wintering. A trench is dug around the bushes and filled with water. For 1 adult bush, 20-30 liters of cool water is enough.

If you care for gooseberries correctly and control the condition of the soil in which they grow, you can expect stable fruiting for many years.