Apricot feeding in spring

When growing apricots, special attention is paid to caring for the crop. To get a good harvest, it is important to feed apricots in the spring. Organic or mineral substances are chosen for processing. Fertilizing is carried out in several stages: after the snow melts, during flowering and the formation of ovaries.

Goals and importance of feeding apricot in spring

In spring, plants begin their growing season. At this time, it is necessary to provide the orchard with useful substances. Apricots need nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

Goals of spring feeding:

  • saturate the soil with useful substances;
  • activate tree growth;
  • increase the immunity of the culture;
  • increase productivity.

Over time, the soil becomes depleted, from which the crop takes many components.With a deficiency of minerals, the leaves turn pale or deformed and the ovaries fall off. As a result, the tree’s resistance to diseases and pests decreases, its development slows down and fruiting decreases.

What feeding methods exist, and which one should you prefer?

Liquid or dry fertilizers are used to fertilize crops. In the first case, the components are dissolved in water, after which the trees are watered at the root.

It is allowed to use substances without dissolution in water. Then they are brought into the tree trunk circle. Since liquid preparations are better absorbed by plants, the soil must first be watered abundantly. In dry form, organic matter is more often used: compost, humus, wood ash.

You can fertilize apricots in spring using one of the following methods:

  1. Kornev. The substances are embedded in the soil or the soil is watered with a solution. Nutrients enter the soil and are absorbed by tree roots.
  2. Foliar. The solution is sprayed on the bark and shoots.

Plants quickly absorb substances introduced through the leaves. Foliar treatment is suitable for weakened trees. Spraying is carried out in cold weather, since the root system absorbs fertilizers more slowly at low temperatures.

When obtaining a solution, it is important to normalize the content of components. If the concentration of fertilizer is high, the leaves and shoots will get burned. Typically, the content of substances is reduced by 3-4 times compared to root feeding.

Types of fertilizing and their effects

The main types of fertilizers for fruit crops:

  1. Organic. Obtained through natural processes from natural ingredients. This includes manure, chicken droppings, humus, peat, wood ash and compost.Organics do not contain harmful impurities, however, when using them it is difficult to determine the dosage of individual microelements.
  2. Mineral. Includes industrial products: superphosphate, potassium salts, ammonium nitrate. Such fertilizers contain phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen, which are necessary for the growth and fruiting of trees. When working with mineral substances, follow safety and dosage rules.
  3. Complex. They contain several useful components. The most popular complex preparations are ammophoska and nitroammofoska.

Both mineral components and organic matter are suitable for processing. The best results are shown by alternating different types of fertilizers.

How to feed apricots when planting

When planting a crop, applying fertilizer is one of the mandatory steps. Nutrients help seedlings adapt to new conditions and develop over the next 2-3 years.

What fertilizers to apply when planting apricots:

  • humus - 2 buckets;
  • superphosphate – 0.5 kg;
  • wood ash – 2 kg.

The components are mixed with fertile soil and poured into the planting hole. Humus can be replaced with peat or compost.

How to feed apricots in the spring before flowering

The first fertilizing is done after the snow melts and the soil warms up. Before sap flow begins, trees are sprayed with a urea solution. Add 50 g of the substance to a 10-liter bucket of water. Treatment also protects the crop from pests.

Before the buds open, a solution based on nitrogen and potassium is prepared for the culture. Add 4 tbsp to a 20-liter bucket of water. l. urea and 2 tbsp. l. potassium salt. A furrow is made along the perimeter of the tree crown into which the solution is applied.

How to fertilize apricot during flowering

To stimulate the formation of ovaries, it is important to feed the apricot during flowering. Treatment is carried out in mid-April - late May, depending on the growing region.

For feeding, choose the same fertilizers as for the first treatment. Instead of minerals, you can use organic matter. A 10-liter bucket of water requires 0.5 liters of chicken manure. Fertilizer is used to water the soil in the tree trunk circle.

After 5 days, 1 liter of ash is added to the moistened soil. As a result, soil acidification is prevented.

Apricot feeding after flowering

To form a harvest, it is necessary to feed the apricot after flowering. For processing, prepare a complex solution containing potassium and phosphorus.

Composition of the nutrient solution for a large bucket of water:

  • 2 tbsp. l. potassium sulfate and superphosphate;
  • 3 tbsp. l. urea.

The resulting fertilizer is used to water the soil in the tree trunk circle. After a week, wood ash is re-introduced into the soil.

Some secrets of spring apricot care

Spring feeding is of great importance for fruit trees. Apricots need nutrients for development and fruiting. Proper work in the garden is the key to a high and high-quality harvest.

How to feed apricots so that the ovaries do not fall off

One of the reasons for the fall of ovaries is excess nitrogen. When the ovaries form, apricots are fed with complex fertilizers containing potassium and phosphorus.

To prepare the fertilizer, take 30 g of superphosphate and potassium sulfate per 10 liters of water. The solution is watered at the root of the tree. Wood ash is used as a natural substance, which is added to the water before watering.

How to fertilize apricots in spring to increase yield

To increase productivity, the crop is fed with a mineral complex. The tree will receive a full range of nutrients necessary for the formation of ovaries and fruits.

A solution of the following components will help to feed apricots in the spring for a good harvest:

  • 10 g urea;
  • 5 g potassium sulfate;
  • 25 g superphosphate;
  • 10 liters of water.

Organic crops have a positive effect on the ripening of crops. Wood ash or compost is added to the soil.

For abundant fruiting, boric acid is used. Boron is involved in nitrogen synthesis, accelerates metabolism and increases plant productivity.

For processing, prepare a 1% solution of boric acid. The crop is sprayed when buds form and flowers bloom. Boric acid is diluted in a small amount of warm water. Then water at room temperature is added to obtain the required concentration.

Apricot feeding depending on the age of the tree

At different ages, trees require a certain concentration of nutrients. Therefore, the order of feeding apricots is changed taking into account the stage of their development.

How and what to feed young apricot seedlings

Fertilizing of the crop begins at 1-2 years of age. If fertilizers were used during planting, the seedling will have enough nutrients for 2-3 years.

Young trees need nitrogen to grow shoots. An organic solution is prepared for seedlings. Add 0.3 kg of chicken manure to 20 liters of water. The solution is watered onto the soil in the tree trunk circle.

How to fertilize an apricot that is 3 years old

A fruit tree at the age of 3 years is preparing to bear fruit. Usually the first harvest is taken 4-5 years after planting the crop.

Fertilizing apricots in the spring before flowering is carried out on the basis of a solution:

  • 2 tbsp. l. potassium sulfate;
  • 4 tbsp. l. urea;
  • 20 liters of water.

The solution is poured into a round furrow that corresponds to the perimeter of the crown. The treatment is repeated after flowering.

How to feed young apricots in spring

Young trees respond positively to complex additives. To feed apricot during the flowering period, prepare a nutrient mixture:

  • compost – 4 kg;
  • superphosphate – 12 g;
  • potassium salt – 10 g;
  • urea – 8 g.

Substances are introduced in dry form into the tree trunk circle. First, water the soil abundantly.

How to feed an old apricot
Trees older than 6 years require more organic matter. 10-20 kg of compost is added to the soil. The concentration of mineral components is also increased.

Fertilizer for trees aged 6-8 years:

  • ammonium nitrate – 20 g;
  • superphosphate – 30 g;
  • potassium sulfate - 20 g.

To feed trees older than 9 years, use:

  • compost or humus – 70 kg;
  • superphosphate – 900 g;
  • ammonium nitrate – 400 g;
  • potassium salt – 300 g.

How to avoid mistakes when feeding apricots

Rules for spring feeding of apricot:

  • observe the terms of use of fertilizers;
  • stick to the dosage;
  • normalize the amount of components containing nitrogen;
  • refuse deep loosening of the soil;
  • do not use chlorine-containing preparations;
  • moisten the soil before adding substances;
  • alternate different types of treatments;
  • do not water the trunk;
  • apply the solution in the morning or evening;
  • spray in cloudy, dry weather.

Conclusion

Feeding apricots in the spring is necessary to obtain a high yield. Fertilizers are selected taking into account the stage of vegetation and the age of the tree. When using useful substances, follow their dosage and safety rules.

Comments
  1. Very useful information for a gardener. We somehow didn’t fertilize the apricots very well with mineral fertilizers, now we’ve planted young ones and I’m learning how to properly care for them. Thank you very much for the detailed explanations!!!

    05/19/2022 at 03:05
    Tatyana Tigasheva
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