Content
- 1 Do I need to feed radishes?
- 2 When to fertilize radishes
- 3 Types of fertilizers for radishes
- 4 How to fertilize radishes during planting
- 5 How to feed radishes in the spring during active growth
- 6 Features of feeding radishes in open ground and in a greenhouse
- 7 Traditional methods of fertilizing radishes
- 8 Conclusion
Experienced gardeners know how to feed radishes to be the first to open the season of fresh vegetables. Radishes are a fast-ripening vegetable; you need to carefully monitor the growth phase. Fertilizers for radishes are applied in strict compliance with the timing and consumption standards. Otherwise, the fruits will be empty, rough, and bitter.
Do I need to feed radishes?
The culture prefers slightly acidic or neutral light soils. If the balance is upset in one direction or another, the soil must be enriched before sowing. Radishes, which are grown in open ground and greenhouses, need nutrition at the planting stage and during the period of active growth.
In what cases does radish need feeding?
If the area for planting radishes has been prepared in the fall, the soil does not need to be enriched in the spring.It is easy to determine the type of fertilizers that radishes especially urgently need by the appearance of the plant:
- too pale color of the tops, their lifelessness, indicates a lack of nitrogen in the soil;
- the massive vegetative part and small fruits indicate an excess of nitrogen and the need for phosphorus.
If you follow the rules of crop rotation and grow on rich soils in a moderately rainy season, there is no need to feed radishes in the spring.
When to fertilize radishes
The ideal option for fertilizing the soil for radishes is to apply fertilizer to the area in the fall. The bed is dug up and a nutrient mixture is added to the soil.
The first fertilizing is carried out at the time of sowing the seeds. To do this, the fertilizer is placed directly on the bottom of the furrow or the crop is soaked in a nutrient solution for 12 hours. The second feeding is carried out during the active growing season of the seedlings, 10-12 days after sowing at the stage of appearance of 2-3 leaves. If the soil is sandy-clayey and very poor, radishes are fertilized twice during the period of active growth - on days 4-6 and 15 after sowing.
Types of fertilizers for radishes
Each farmer independently chooses what type of fertilizer to feed early radishes. Gardeners living in the countryside prefer natural fertilizers. City dwellers are accustomed to feeding garden crops with ready-made agronomic mixtures.
The following types of fertilizers for feeding are available to any gardener:
- organic - humus, chicken, rabbit droppings;
- mineral - urea, ammonium nitrate, superphosphate;
- herbal infusions from fresh grass hay.
A separate category is represented by wood ash - a natural mineral fertilizer rich in nitrogen. It is prohibited to pour ash into excessively alkaline soils.
According to the type of fertilizer application, mixtures are distinguished:
- for root feeding through application into the soil;
- for vegetative feeding by spraying leaves.
How to fertilize radishes during planting
The best natural fertilizer for radishes in spring is a thin layer of ash at the bottom of the seed furrow. Experienced gardeners use another proven method.
For 1 sq. m of land will be needed:
- 10 g urea;
- 40 g double superphosphate;
- 1 cup wood ash;
- 5 kg of humus or compost.
Fertilizer is applied as follows:
- Determine the bed for planting.
- Dig up the area to a depth of 20 cm.
- Spread the mixture evenly.
- Sprinkle a layer of soil on top.
Seeds are sown immediately after adding the mixture to the soil, watered and compacted to retain moisture.
To awaken the seeds, it is customary to soak them in growth stimulants for 12 hours. This could be Novofert, Regoplan, Potassium Humate, Epin.
How to feed radishes in the spring during active growth
There are several proven recipes for feeding radishes. The type of fertilizer is selected in accordance with the age of the plant and the quality of the soil.
How to feed radishes after germination
The first radish shoots appear 4-5 days after sowing. During this period, the sprout begins to actively absorb fertilizers through the root system and accumulate nitrates in the fruits.It is optimal to introduce organic fertilizers these days. Nutrient mixtures are applied during the next watering at the root, preferably in the evening.
There are several gardener-tested recipes based on chicken manure:
- A liter jar of litter is diluted in 2 buckets of water and left for 10-12 hours.
- 1 bucket of litter is filled with 3 buckets of water and mixed, the concentrate is again diluted with water in a ratio of 1:4.
- 1 bucket of litter is diluted with 3 buckets of water, left for 3 days, add 4 tbsp. spoons of "Baikal".
Chicken droppings are replaced with rabbit droppings and diluted in the same proportions. The droppings of small animals contain all the necessary substances to obtain juicy, tasty radishes. The prepared mixtures contain phosphorus, nitrogen, potassium, and magnesium.
An alternative to droppings would be to foliarly fertilize radishes with “Aidar” or fertilize radishes with urea through spraying. The recipe for the finished mixture is 1 liter of fertilizer per 10 liters of water. The solution is used exclusively for foliar feeding during the growing season.
How to fertilize radishes in spring for a better harvest
Excessive leaf growth and small root crops indicate a lack of potassium and phosphorus. The following composition will help correct the situation:
- 40 g superphosphate;
- 20 g sulfuric acid;
- 1 glass of ash.
Feeding is carried out as follows:
- Dry ingredients are mixed in a separate container.
- Dilute the powder in 10 liters of warm water.
- Mix the solution thoroughly and leave for 20-25 minutes.
- Water between the rows, avoiding getting on the leaves.
How to feed radishes for rapid growth
A delay in the growth of tops indicates a nitrogen deficiency.It is quite easy to replenish it with the help of urea. The nutritional composition is prepared immediately before use. To prepare the solution, 1 matchbox of urea is diluted in 1 bucket of warm water. Leafy rosettes are sprayed or watered between rows.
Features of feeding radishes in open ground and in a greenhouse
Beds with early spring, summer and autumn plantings in open ground are fertilized according to the same principle. It is preferable to introduce nutritional compounds during autumn digging. Mandatory seed stimulation is carried out before sowing. Fertilizing during the growth period is carried out taking into account the fertility of the soil, observing the appearance of the leaves. Foliar spraying of radishes for the purpose of applying fertilizers is carried out in the early morning or late evening, when the sun is on the horizon. Watering with a nutrient composition is carried out between the rows, and not on the leaf rosette.
The ripened crop is harvested in the greenhouse throughout the year. The soil in the greenhouse is enriched with mineral and organic fertilizers. If radishes in a greenhouse are sown in rich soil mixtures, dusting with ash during the period when the first leaves appear is sufficient.
Traditional methods of fertilizing radishes
Not all gardeners recognize industrial mineral fertilizers for radishes. Many people use natural infusions of rotting weeds or medicinal herbs. Such compositions have a number of advantages:
- environmental cleanliness and safety for the soil;
- accelerated absorption by cultivated plants;
- rich mineral composition.
To prepare folk remedies for feeding vegetables, improvised means are used, so material costs are minimal.
Infusions made from freshly picked nettles have become the most popular among gardeners. Ingredients recipe:
- Prepare a large container, such as a garden barrel.
- Fill it 2/3 with chopped nettles.
- Fill with warm water and expose to the sun.
- Leave for 7-10 days, stir daily.
The finished concentrate is diluted at the rate of 1 liter of green slurry per 10 liters of water for inter-row irrigation, and 1 liter of slurry per 20 liters of water for foliar spraying.
A solution based on a multicomponent powder of garden herbs - comfrey, rapeseed, tansy, horsetail and chamomile - has proven itself well. The nutritional composition of this infusion is rich in potassium, nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus. The solution is prepared according to an identical recipe from nettles.
Many gardeners experiment and enrich the composition with onion peels, garlic arrows, and chicken droppings. Such ingredients must be added with caution so as not to burn the vegetative part of the cultivated plant when watering and spraying.
Conclusion
Feeding radishes in a timely manner is the task of any zealous gardener. After timely application, the fruits turn out to be tasty, juicy, and free of bitterness and emptiness. When applying fertilizers, you should follow simple rules:
- Nitrogen is added during the growing season, potassium-phosphorus composition at the time of fruit formation.
- Concentrates must be diluted with water to avoid burns to the leaf rosette.
- Solutions are applied between rows so as not to inhibit the growth of root hairs.
The type and composition of fertilizer is chosen according to the situation, observing the flow and growth phase.
