Raspberries grown in areas with well-enriched soil quickly destroy all valuable food in the soil, which is especially noticeable in the 3-4 years of their cultivation. The fruits have already become noticeably smaller; their amount is also significantly affected by the reduction in nutrients. Without the introduction of additional fertilizers, you can’t count on big, juicy berries. Spring feeding is an important component to successful raspberry growing, but I’ll tell you how to feed the shrubs.
It is best to apply fertilizers with sufficient nitrogen content as a first fertilization. This element is important for increasing the green mass of the bushes and forming a crop. A sufficient supply of nitrogen increases the size of the shoots and leaves, but also the size of the berries.
Raspberries are very fond of organic fertilizers, so rotting manure is an ideal choice. Organic fertilizers improve soil quality and promote rapid berry growth. When I had a pile of manure in the garden, I would add about 1 bucket for every m² of raspberry fields, and it gave excellent results. However, the manure runs out quickly, so this year I’ll be adding hummus from my own compost heap, 1 bucket for every meter of raspberry fields. After this, I evenly sprinkle 2 tablespoons of urea and azofoska per linear meter of raspberries.
After applying fertilizer, I water the raspberries with a watering can. This is a quick and easy way to provide the plantations with phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium, which will be sufficient for both the growing period and the fruiting period of the shrubs. After a week I will add more ash, pouring it evenly, only 1 glass for each m² of planting.
My soil is acidic and clayey. To solve this problem, it is recommended to use ash. Not only will this reduce the acidity of the soil, but it will also provide the plant with the necessary macro and micro elements.
However, before using ash, you should make sure of the acidity of your soil. If it is neutral, then ash can not only be useless, but even harmful to the soil. Therefore, it is best to refuse to use ash in this case.
