Content
For normal growth and development, fruit and berry crops require fertile soil containing a sufficient amount of minerals. Raspberry ash is an organic fertilizer that will help replenish the deficiency of useful elements.
Ash fertilizing will help strengthen young shoots
The benefits of ash for raspberries
The ash formed after the combustion of wood contains all the elements that were contained in the original material. The presence of potassium, sulfur, calcium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium and a number of other minerals in a form easily accessible to raspberries makes this organic product a good fertilizer.
Using raspberry ash as fertilizer
- helps replenish the deficiency of minerals in the soil;
- improves the structure of the soil, making it looser;
- reduces the acidity level of the soil by adding alkali to it;
- activates the process of photosynthesis;
- helps regulate the process of budding and fruiting;
- promotes the growth of the root system;
- strengthens raspberry immunity and reduces the likelihood of developing fungal diseases;
- repels harmful insects from raspberry bushes;
For the first time, raspberries are fed with ash at the beginning of summer.
Advantages and disadvantages
The ash that remains after burning wood materials is one of the popular organic fertilizers. To use it correctly, you need to know the advantages and disadvantages of ash.
One of the advantages of this fertilizer is its low cost.
Pros:
- contains a large amount of minerals;
- naturalness and availability of the product;
- ease of use.
Minuses:
- the impossibility of determining the exact dosage of the product due to the fact that the composition of burnt wood may be different;
- lack of nitrogen in the composition, which necessitates the use of additional fertilizers for feeding and eliminates the possibility of using ash in the spring;
- poor efficiency on saline soils;
- the need to be careful when using - direct contact of the fertilizer with the root system can cause burns to the latter;
- It is inappropriate to apply after nitrogen fertilizing; the alkali contained in this fertilizer, when interacting with nitrogen, turns into ammonia, as a result of which it will not be able to reduce the acidity of the soil, and the lion's share of the nitrogen will simply evaporate.
Signs of micronutrient deficiency
The lack of a particular microelement can be determined by the appearance of the vegetative parts of the raspberry:
- If a plant lacks iron, its leaves turn yellow but the veins remain green. This is also indicated by the drying of the tops of the shoots.
- Potassium deficiency is indicated by curling of the leaves and the appearance of a brown border on them.
- With insufficient phosphorus, raspberry leaves turn burgundy-purple and the shoots take on a blue tint.
- When a plant lacks sulfur, the veins on the leaves turn yellow and then turn white.
- If a small yellow spot appears in the middle of the leaf blade, gradually increasing in size, the plant needs magnesium.
All these trace elements are present in the ash formed after burning deciduous trees.
If raspberries are not fed, they may die
When to feed raspberries with ash
For the first time, raspberries are fed with ash during planting. Then this organic matter is included in the nutritional composition placed in the planting hole. This feeding helps the plant adapt to a new place and begin to grow.
The beneficial substances obtained during planting will last the raspberries for two years, so the next time fertilizers are added to the soil in the third year of the plant’s life.
Wood ash for raspberries in spring
The productivity of raspberries largely depends on the state of its vegetative parts. Therefore, in the spring, when the buds just begin to bloom and new shoots grow at the base of the old stems, the plant must be fed.
Applying fertilizers during this period will help strengthen the plant’s immunity, as well as create good conditions for budding and fruiting.
In the spring, you can apply ash to raspberries, but such fertilizing will not bring any benefit. At this time, the plant needs nitrogen, which is not contained in wood ash.For spring feeding, it is better to use other organic fertilizers - cow manure or bird droppings.
Wood ash for raspberries in summer
The summer period is the most important for raspberries, because it is at this time that the crop goes through such important stages of development as budding, ovary formation and fruiting.
Ash for raspberries during flowering is the activation and normal course of all vegetative processes, which will result in a good harvest of healthy sweet berries.
Wood ash for raspberries in autumn
Using ash as a fertilizer for raspberries in the fall will help the plants prepare for winter. The application of this organic fertilizer will help strengthen the root system and activate the process of lignification of young shoots.
At this time, you can use the ash in its pure form or a liquid extract from it.
Fertilizers should be applied to pre-moistened soil.
How much ash does raspberry need?
In order for fertilizing to bring the desired effect, you need to follow the correct dosage of fertilizer. When digging or laying mulch on 1 sq. m will need a glass of dry matter, and when using a liquid extract - 0.5 liters of the finished product for each bush.
How to use ash for raspberries
Raspberry ash can be used in both dry and liquid form. This fertilizer is applied to the soil in the root zone or the so-called leaf feeding is performed, that is, the raspberry bushes are sprayed with a liquid composition.
Dry ash
In dry form, ash can be used as an independent fertilizer or as a separate component in organic mixtures.
In the first case, the dry matter is scattered under the bushes and the soil is dug up shallowly or placed under a layer of mulch. And in the second, they simply add a certain amount of fertilizer to rotted cow manure, compost or humus.
Given the ability of ash to change its chemical formula under the influence of sunlight, this fertilizer must be incorporated into the soil. Otherwise, raspberries simply will not be able to absorb the beneficial substances converted into insoluble compounds. Accordingly, there will be no benefit from such feeding.
Liquid extract from ash
It is generally accepted that fertilizing with a liquid extract is more effective, which is poured under the root or sprayed on the bushes, that is, fertilizer is applied to the leaf.
In the process of preparing such a product, 1 tbsp. dry substance is poured into a bucket (10 liters) of water at room temperature, stirred well and left to infuse for 3-4 days.
For root watering, the solution is diluted in a ratio of 1x2, and for leaf feeding - 1x4.
Unused product can be poured into a glass container and stored covered for two months.
Preparing ash fertilizer is very simple
Conclusion
Ash for raspberries is an affordable organic fertilizer that contains almost all the elements necessary for this plant. Timely fertilizing will help prevent bush diseases and get a good harvest of sweet berries.
