Two significant attributes point to the perfect nutritional status of gooseberries. The fruit bush is flat-rooted and heavy feeder at the same time. Find out here how and when to fertilize for a bountiful harvest and carefree enjoyment.
Organic mulching and fertilizing go hand in hand
Gooseberries thrive in nutrient-rich soil. At the same time, supplies of nutrients are occasionally required during the vegetation period because the shallow-rooted plants have quickly used up the available supplies. Since mineral-chemical preparations no longer come through the garden door of the environmentally and health-conscious hobby gardener, organic fertilizers dominate. How to do it right:
- Rake a portion of compost with horn shavings (€32.93) superficially into the soil in early spring
- alternatively fertilize with rotted stable manure, algae or rock dust
- then mulch with comfrey leaves, fern or nettles
- Fertilize organically once more after flowering
- administer diluted nettle manure every 2 weeks during the entire growth phase
- Fertilize one last time immediately after harvest
The mulch layer fulfills several tasks on the gooseberries. It keeps the soil moist longer, releases nutrients and suppresses weeds. This has the advantage that you rarely have to rake. The shallow roots are less likely to be damaged.
Useful alternatives to compost
A garden does not always have enough space for a compost heap. This does not mean that you have to do without organic fertilization of your gooseberries. There is a space-saving alternative called vermicompost. In a close community of compost worms and other microorganisms, kitchen waste is composted using a clever system. The special worm box is constructed like this:
- the floor below serves as a habitat for the compost worms
- the following floor supplies the mature vermicompost
- on the lower floor is the collection tank for worm tea, an organic liquid fertilizer
Anyone with a little manual skill can build such a worm farm themselves. With proper management, there is always a sufficient amount of organic fertilizer available for the gooseberries and other crops.
tips and tricks
Tired of scratched hands after the gooseberry harvest? Then you grow the variety 'Larell', because here the thorns are missing. The rich red fruits are sugar-sweet and particularly bursting. Due to the medium-strong growth, it also thrives excellently in a bucket on the balcony.
GTH