Preparations and timing of feeding plums in autumn
A balanced and regular diet plays an important role in the plum garden. It is especially important to enter it correctly and on time before the onset of cold weather. Consider how to feed the plum in the fall, and in what time frame is it better to do it?
Preparations and timing of feeding plums in autumn
What is autumn feeding for?
During the season, trees spend a lot of energy on growth, development and fruiting, as a result, they become weakened.
To increase frost resistance, immunity against diseases, pests, they should be fed correctly and on time. Balanced autumn nutrition will ensure good productivity next year.
After harvesting, each plant begins to lay flower buds, in early spring fruit ovaries will form on them. Organic and mineral fertilizers protect the eyes from freezing and death.
Terms of work
You can feed the plum with different components, but the timing of the work depends on the region and the age of the tree.
- In the first three years after planting, seedlings that are planted in fertile land do not need nutrition.
- In the fourth year of life, useful funds are introduced at the end of summer, a month before the onset of stable autumn cold weather, so that the root system has time to assimilate all the necessary substances. Due to this, the frost resistance and winter hardiness of plums will increase.
Fertilization dates in October are as follows:
- in the southern zone and central zone - the second half of the month;
- northern regions - the first decade.
Foliar nutrition of the crown with a solution of copper, iron sulfate or Bordeaux liquid is carried out immediately after harvesting the fruits, and preferably before the foliage falls off. The best time for this is evening hours. It is important that the day is dry and warm.
Fertilizers
Autumn feeding of plums provides for the introduction of a complex composition - organics and minerals.
Rotted manure or compost
Both components have two important advantages for the tree - they nourish the root system, the aerial part, and improve the structure of the soil. It becomes lighter, looser, moisture and air permeable. Consumption per plant - 1 bucket. After their introduction into the near-trunk zone, deep digging is required.
If the soil is acidified, add a complex composition of rotted manure (10 kg) and 0.5 kg of slaked lime. The mixture is scattered under the crown of a tree, then loosening and abundant watering is carried out.
It is worth remembering that it is forbidden to fertilize a plum garden with fresh manure in the fall. This product gives off gases, heat, which can damage the root system.
Urea
The second food option is spilling with urea solution. Dissolve 30 g of the substance in 10 l of water. Introduce no later than 1.5 months before the onset of the first stable cold weather.
Horse manure
Manure is used after one year's exposure. 1.5 kg of the substance is dissolved in a bucket of water, insisted for three days. Then the concentrate is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10.Water the near-trunk zone of the tree at the rate of 10 liters per copy.
Wood ash
It is a nutritious and available substance that is formed as a result of the combustion of wood. Ash is rich in microelements (contains 17 items). They provide full growth, development and high-quality fruiting of the tree.
The choice of fertilizer depends on the age of the tree.
The second advantage of this fertilizer is the ability to deoxidize the soil, which is important for a plum garden. One adult plant is given 300 g of ash.
In combination with wood ash, the near-trunk zone can be sprinkled with eggshells. It helps to reduce the acidity of the soil, which has a beneficial effect on further growth and fruiting.
Potassium
This trace element helps to remove excess moisture from the wood, as a result of which the frost resistance of the plum increases before wintering. Potassium chloride is considered the best drug - it is brought under the autumn digging with subsequent watering. Consumption of dry matter per tree - 100 g. Can be used in liquid form - dissolve the same amount in 10 liters of water.
Phosphorus
Phosphorus feeding in autumn strengthens the root system, promotes its growth, and also increases the tree's ability to absorb proteins and sugars.
You can feed the plum garden with bone meal at the rate of 50 g per 1 m². Then you need to carry out abundant watering for better absorption of the active substance.
If the plum grows on sandy soil, no phosphate fertilizer is applied.
Superphosphate
These are complex dressings, which include several trace elements - potassium, phosphorus, calcium, sulfur and a small amount of nitrogen. They dissolve well and are quickly absorbed by the tree. One adult plum will need 70 g.
Together with superphosphates, potassium magnesium must be added - 100 g per plant. This component contributes to the rapid growth of young growth in the spring.
Calcium
It is contained in dolomite flour, helps to strengthen, thicken the roots. The trace element stabilizes the level of iron and manganese in the soil, which increase acidity.
Dissolve 25 g of calcium nitrate, chloride or sulfate in 10 liters of water. This amount is based on a 1 m² plot. You can also use 20% calcium nitrate. Introduce dry under each plant - no more than 40 g. Then watered.
To replenish iron in the soil, after leaf fall in the fall, bolts and nuts are dug into the near-trunk zone. Then abundant watering is carried out.
Frequent mistakes
During fertilization in the fall, many gardeners make mistakes that can lead to a decrease in yield, stop the growth and development of a fruit crop:
- Failure to comply with the dosage when feeding. Determination of the amount of constituents by eye can lead to overfeeding or underfeeding, as a result of which winter hardiness and immunity decrease, growth slows down, and productivity indicators fall. Therefore, before each feeding, you must familiarize yourself with the instructions and the nutrition scheme.
- Violation of deadlines. If it is brought in too late (on the eve of the first autumn frosts), the tree will not have time to assimilate them, it easily freezes and dies.
- Application of fertilizers without moisture. The introduction of nutrients in dry form is always combined with abundant irrigation. Otherwise, the fruit crop, especially in dry weather, will not be able to receive the required amount of active substances, therefore, such nutrition will be useless. It is also important to dig deep the garden a day after watering to improve feeding quality.
- Use only root dressings. Without irrigation of the crown with nutritious preparations, the plum becomes weakened, therefore, in the fall, a month before the onset of cold weather, it is necessary to fertilize on the leaf with a solution of iron, copper sulfate or Bordeaux liquid. These components increase resistance not only to cold weather, but also immunity against diseases and pests.
Summing up
A balanced diet of plums in autumn provides good winter hardiness, frost resistance, and with the arrival of spring - active growth and abundant fruiting. To achieve such an effect, it is necessary to strictly observe the timing and dosage of the introduction of nutrients, otherwise you will be left without a crop for the next year, or you will ruin the tree.