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If you do not water strawberries in the fall, this will lead to a decrease in yield for the next year. Proper preparation of the plant for hibernation allows you to reduce the amount of work in the spring months.
Do I need to water strawberries in the fall?
One of the mistakes gardeners make is neglecting to care for the bushes after the fruiting period. Although strawberries are an unpretentious crop, they need to be watered, loosened and weeded throughout the summer and autumn.
Strawberries have a poorly developed root system, so the plant is not able to independently extract moisture from the deep layers of the soil
Do I need to water strawberries in the fall in October?
Before winter frosts, moisture-charging irrigation is mandatory. Its purpose is to protect the soil from freezing. For these purposes, it is recommended to water strawberries at the end of September or at the beginning of October.
Timing for autumn watering of strawberries
Throughout September and early October, the soil with the plant should be moistened at least twice a week. It is necessary to water strawberries abundantly in the fall, setting aside time for the procedure in the morning.
What and how to water strawberries after planting in the fall
To moisten the soil, you should use clean water: warm and settled. Various devices can be used as irrigation means.
It is customary to purchase a garden watering can as a classic tool for moistening the soil.
Its main disadvantage is the need to spend additional time and effort for watering. As an alternative, it is possible to use a hose, but then gardeners are faced with the problem of excessive water consumption.
Efficient equipment at the site of the drip irrigation system. This method allows you to deliver water directly to the strawberry roots, which makes it possible to use the tool throughout the growing season.
Advantages of drip irrigation:
- less water consumption;
- the ability to independently determine the dosage of water for irrigation;
- saving physical effort and time.
Most often, gardeners who have not just one bed, but an entire strawberry plantation, seek to organize a drip irrigation system.
It is possible to use the sprinkler method for autumn strawberry care. It consists of installing a mobile or stationary device on the site - a sprinkler for irrigation. Sprinklers are available in circular, rotary, swing or fan types. The volume of area to be irrigated will depend on the device chosen.Expensive models have timers and sensors for ease of use.
The main disadvantage of sprinkler systems is the high fluid consumption
Algorithm for autumn watering of strawberries:
- Water preparation. Its temperature should be + 18-20 °C. You need to use clean, pre-settled water. Wells and pits are not suitable for these purposes, as rot may develop on the bushes, signs of disease may appear, and the yield level may decrease.
- Choosing a watering tool. Drip systems and sprinklers require installation. You can use improvised means - watering cans, buckets.
- Determining the need for fertilizers. Most fertilizers are usually applied during watering. It is not recommended to add substances in dry form; with this application their effectiveness is lower.
- Moisturizing the soil in autumn should be done in the morning so that the sun's rays do not burn the leaves. It is not recommended to carry out the procedure in the evening due to the risk of slugs.
- Loosening the soil at the end of autumn watering.
How often to water strawberries after planting in the fall
The crop needs moisture immediately after planting. Further watering should be carried out taking into account weather conditions. On hot, sunny days every day, in cloudy weather every 3-4 days. During the rainy season, there is no need to moisten the soil.
Last watering of strawberries in autumn
Before the onset of winter frosts during October, strawberries should be moistened once a week. Autumn watering is carried out if there is no rain.
If the soil is moist and regular precipitation is observed, the procedure can be neglected.
To check the condition of the soil, you need to take a handful of earth; if, when compressed, it forms a lump, it means there is a sufficient amount of water in it.If the soil is dry to the touch and crumbles, then irrigation is necessary.
How to water strawberries in the fall after pruning
Feeding and watering are interrelated procedures during autumn crop care. The application of nutrients should be carried out in moist soil.
The best options for feeding after pruning are the following substances:
- compost;
- nettle infusion;
- mullein;
- humus;
- chicken droppings.
Mullein or manure can be spread dry around the bushes and then watered. Chicken manure should be diluted before use. Concentrated fertilizer can harm the plant. To dilute it, you need to dissolve 1 kg of litter in 20 liters of water.
For each bush you need to pour 1 liter of fertilizer
When using nettle, the plant is crushed and transferred to a plastic container, then filled with water. For 1 kg of grass you need 20 liters of water. Close the container with the mixture and leave in a dark, warm place for two weeks. Before use, the fertilizer should be diluted in water in a ratio of 1:10.
It is generally accepted that the fertilizer is ready for use when foam appears on the surface of the mixture.
Conclusion
Strawberries should be watered in a timely and competent manner in the fall. Not only the crop yield for the next year, but also its winter hardiness will depend on the frequency of the procedure and compliance with the rules of agricultural technology. You should focus on generally accepted norms and weather conditions, climate features in a particular region.
