Fertilizing Strawberries

[fregienewbee]

My wife has a small strawberry patch in the back yard.What fertilizer should I use? When do I apply it? They are starting to blossom. How much do I need--it's probably around 50 square feet.

Larry in Michigan

 

[keh]

Not a strawberry grower, but I think you should have already fertilized. A small amount of nitrogen now, being sure the plants get enough water MIGHT help.

My neighbors who have a commercial pick your own strawberry patch also have 3 turkey barns and use generous amounts of turkey litter. I'll try to remember to ask about their fertilizing schedule. They have large amounts of big strawberrys. They also have irrigation capabilities and deer fences. Fences have sloping posts and look to be five feet high with electric wires.

KEH

 

[Anonymous-0]

Have the soil tested. (County AG extention office?) To know what to use, you need to know what the soil NEEDS. Tell 'em what you're growing and they'll make specific recommendations to suit needs

 

[Harvesterguy]

I grow strawberries on plastic and have been picking for about 1 1/2 weeks. I usually put down 50 lbs/a of NPK in the fall and begin applying 10 lbs/a per week of 9-15-30 soluble through the drip line starting at blossom. Be careful shooting them with much nitrogen this time of year, as they will get very large, but hollow and/or split. Don't ask how I know, but I was an expensive mistake.

 

[John B.]

You may burn the plants or set them back if you fertilize now. It really should of been done a month ago before they were actively growing.

Some miracle grow wouldn't hurt but don't get any on the leaves, it may burn them (turn them brown).

But yes have your soil tested to see if it actually need any boost or not.

 

[Oldmax]

We use Chicken Dropings.

 

[john in la]

It is a little hard for me to state times as months because we have been picking berries since new years day and the plants are about played out now because of the heat but here goes.........

Strawberries need a soil PH of 5.2 to 6.0
On average soil you would put down 8 to 10 lbs of 13-13-13 per 100 ft of row (100 plants) a month before planting. Water it in good or wait for a rain then apply plastic.
Side dress plants with 1 lb of 33-0-0 (ammonium nitrate) per 100 ft of row when picking first berries. If plants are on plastic a good way to get the fertilizer in the correct area is to take a broom stick and punch a hole on the shoulder of the row between each plant. The hole should be 1 1/2 to 2" deep and 6 to 8" from the plants. Put 1/2 teaspoon fertilizer in each hole.
A second side dressing may be needed two months later if plants are pale green and look like they need some fertilizer.

You really need a soil test to find out where your ph is at and if you have average soil.