Raspberries are very humble plants. They also thrive on nutrient-poor soils. With a favorable location and timely fertilizer application, however, you can increase the yield. How to properly fertilize your raspberries

Fertilize when planting raspberries

You can already ensure a good supply of nutrients when planting the raspberries in your garden.

Never place new raspberries on a spot where other berry bushes, such as blackberries, have previously stood. These soils are very depleted and need time to recover.

Prepare the ground well. Loosen the soil deeply and mix it with mature compost, rotted farm soil or peat.

Fertilize during growth

During the growing season, fertilize your raspberries twice.

The first fertilization takes place in spring. This ensures that the shrubs receive enough nutrients to produce many fruits. After the harvest, a second application of fertilizer takes place. It serves to strengthen the plants for the coming year.

Avoid fertilizing your summer raspberries just before harvest in July or your fall raspberries in August. Some fertilizers affect the flavor of the fruit and make it watery.

Natural fertilizer for raspberries

The following natural fertilizers are suitable for raspberries:

  • compost
  • stable dung
  • peat
  • horn shavings
  • nettle manure

Raspberries do not tolerate fertilizers containing lime or chloride. It is therefore better to rely on natural nutrient offers. You can make many of these organic fertilizers yourself.

Mulching instead of fertilizing

Mulching the raspberries has several benefits. The soil remains weed-free. This serves to protect the summer raspberries from cane disease.

The mulch layer is a natural protection that prevents the soil from drying out. Raspberries love an evenly moist environment without waterlogging. With a mulch layer you create an ideal growth climate.

The mulch material decomposes over time, releasing many nutrients. They penetrate the soil and act as a natural fertilizer.

Suitable materials for mulching

  • bark mulch
  • leaves
  • lawn clippings
  • peat

If you use lawn clippings, make sure that the grass is chopped up finely. The grasses must not yet have formed any inflorescences. Otherwise there is a risk that a lawn will form under your raspberries.

Only use healthy foliage as a mulch layer. Leaves with pests or fungal diseases should be discarded entirely and not used in the garden.

Fertilize raspberries in the pot

You have to fertilize raspberries in pots more frequently, as the soil in them leaches out quickly. You should change the entire soil every two years so that the plants receive enough nutrients.

tips and tricks

Since raspberries are very frugal plants, a special raspberry fertilizer is not necessary. A raspberry fertilizer can only be given if the soil is already very depleted. However, it is often better to choose a new location for the raspberries.

Category:

Vegetable garden