Spring Strawberry Care Starts Right After the Snow Melts
Spring strawberry care tips for a bountiful harvest this season
The season's first maintenance—sanitary cleanup, soil loosening, disease protection, and initial fertilization—begins as soon as the snow recedes, according to expert advice from Rosselkhoztsentr (Russia's Federal Agrarian Center).
Step-by-Step Work Plan
Clearing the Beds
- Remove winter mulch (spruce branches, agrofabric) and old mulch layers, which may harbor pests and fungal spores.
- Perform a sanitary pruning: trim all dry, blackened, or spotted leaves, as well as last year's runners.
Soil Preparation
- Loosening: Gently cultivate the soil between rows and around plants to a depth of 3–5 cm to improve oxygen flow to the roots.
- Hilling up: If roots have become exposed over winter, cover them with soil. If the crown (the plant's central bud) is buried, clear away excess soil to prevent rot.
Early Disease and Pest Control
- When temperatures reach 3…+5°C, spray plants with copper-based fungicides to prevent leaf spot and rot.
- Before flowering begins, apply targeted treatments to protect against mites and weevils.
First Fertilization
- Apply the first feeding when soil warms to 8…10°C and new leaves start to grow, focusing on nitrogen-rich formulas.
- Mineral options: Use a urea solution (1 tbsp per 10 L of water) or ammonium nitrate, applying 0.5 L per plant.
- Organic alternatives: Diluted cow manure infusion (1:10) or poultry droppings (1:20).
- Homemade remedies: A weak ammonia solution (household ammonia) provides a quick nitrogen boost.
Watering Tips
- In dry springs, water only after the topsoil dries out, using lukewarm water to avoid shocking the plants.
