Properly donefertilization in springhas a huge impact on the he alth and condition of garden plants, as well as on the quality and size of the crop in the orchard and vegetable garden. The supply of nitrogen during this period is of particular importance. But nitrogen is not the only element that plants need at the beginning of their growing season. See how to fertilize plants in spring, what fertilizers are used in spring and how to dose them.
Fertilizing plants in spring
What fertilizers are used in spring?
Organic fertilization is of great importance in the cultivation of plants on the plot, as it increases the humus content and improves the physicochemical properties of the soil. Organic fertilizers include: manure, green fertilizers, biohumus and compost, which improve the structure of the soil, enrich it with microelements and microorganisms that bind heavy metals and toxic substances. Organic fertilization is also supplemented with mineral fertilizers. In the case of amateur crops, it is worth using loose and liquid multi-component fertilizers, intended for horticultural crops, because they allow to minimize the dose of mineral fertilization and facilitate the proper dosage of individual nutrients.
Fertilizing vegetables and fruit plants in spring
In the case of vegetable and fruit crops, the main deadline for soil fertilization works is in the fall. Autumn is the optimal time for the application of organic fertilizers (manure and compost), as well as most mineral fertilizers.
" If you remember to dig the manure, lime the designated part of the plot, and apply phosphorus and potassium fertilizers during the autumn fertilization period, you can safely think about the upcoming season and start pre-vegetative nitrogen fertilization.Nitrogen fertilizers are used mainly in spring, because in winter they would be easily rinsed out. The remaining fertilizers are applied in autumn to avoid over-fertilization in spring and to ensure better digestibility of these fertilizers (in winter they will be better absorbed into the soil). "
If appropriate treatments are abandoned in the fall and you decide to use mineral fertilization in the spring, to avoid excessive concentration of fertilizers in the soil, mix them with the soil at least 2 to 3 weeks before sowing. If the soil has been dug in autumn, this treatment does not need to be repeated in spring. However, if you are only now using potassium and phosphorus fertilizers, it is necessary to mix them with the substrate to a depth of 10 cm.
Approximate doses of fertilizers in pre-vegetative fertilization of vegetables in the soil are presented in the table below.
In the case of spring organic fertilization, you can apply fully mature compost (60 to 100 kg / m² of surface), remembering to mix it with the top layer of the earth with a rake.Manure can also be used, but only very well distributed (preferably composted). Manure is used in the amount of 30 to 40 kg / 10m².
Fertilizing the ornamental garden in spring
In the case of ornamental gardens with trees, shrubs and perennials,spring fertilizationis used after removing winter covers from plants. To fertilize trees and shrubs, you can use multi-component fertilizers for individual groups of plants (e.g. fertilizers for conifers, fertilizers for rhododendrons, fertilizers for roses, etc.). You can also choose from a number of slow-acting fertilizers that you only need to apply once at the beginning of the growing season.
Perennials respond most favorably to organic fertilization, which, however, had to be done in autumn. In spring, before planting, only nitrogen fertilization with ammonium nitrate (0.25 kg / 10m²) is required.
Fertilize the bulbs as soon as they appear in spring and after another 2 to 3 weeks. We use calcium nitrate (0.3 kg / 10 m2) or calcium ammonium nitrate (0.20 kg / 10 m2).
In the case of annual plants, regardless of whether we sow them directly into the ground or cultivate them from seedlings, pre-vegetative nitrogen fertilization with ammonium nitrate (0.16 kg / 10m²) is necessary. We use potassium and phosphorus fertilizers, just like in the case of vegetables, only if we stopped fertilizing in the autumn period. Such fertilization should be made no later than 2 to 3 weeks before sowing or planting plants. Granular triple superphosphate (0.12 kg / 10m²) and potassium s alt (0.30 kg / 10m²) are used here.
