If you want the most delicious tasting berries possible, finding the best fertilizer for strawberries is critical.
Strawberries are a fairly hardy plant in general, but using the right fertilizer really lets you concentrate on getting the best possible fruit.
You’re in the right place if you’re searching for fertilizer for your strawberry plants. Let’s learn a bit more about how to grow the best strawberries possible and the fertilizer you need to get there.
What is the Best Fertilizer for Strawberries?
To grow a bountiful harvest of huge, juicy, delicious berries, choosing the right fertilizer for strawberries is important. The correct kind of fertilizer, including the time of year and the age of the plant, actually depends on a few factors.
The soil should be treated with fertilizer with some form of organic element prior to planting. This means that nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus have equivalent components. Work about six inches or so of the fertilizer into the soil so that as soon as they are planted, new plants can have plenty of nutrients.
Keep an eye on them as the strawberries multiply in their first year. Adding any nitrogen fertilizer will help if they are not doing well or if the berries are not ripening. Add some ammonium nitrate fertilizer for help in the cooler months at the end of the summer.
Add another round of fertilizer the next year to help the plants during the growing season. To check the nitrogen content, make sure you get the soil checked. Too many and maybe you could end up with mushy berries.
Another thing to remember is whether you’re using a fertilizer that is granular or liquid. Every one has pros and cons.
It is a little easier to spread granules and is much more accurate than liquid fertilizers. Simply disperse them right over the roots of the plant directly into the soil. In order for them to be successful, granules need to be watered into the soil.
It’s easy to spray liquid fertilizer on your plants and you don’t have to water again after it’s applied. Most liquid fertilizers come in a condensed form, but before you can use them, you will have to mix them with water.
Be very careful to mix the solution carefully in that situation. The fertilizer can burn the leaves of the plants if it’s too hot.
Read, Also 10 Best Lawn Sprinkler Heads – Buying Guide
The Best Fertilizers For Your Strawberry Plants
Using the right fertilizer is important if you want to grow the best, reddest, juiciest strawberries. Here are 8 of the best items that are out there.
1. Winchester Gardens Select Organics Berry Granular Fertilizer
This Winchester Gardens fertilizerWinchester Gardens fertilizerWinchester Gardens fertilizerWinchester Gardens fertilizer is a simple, organic formula that promotes the roots and leaves to grow healthily and encourages berry growth. Since it contains all-natural ingredients, they also get the organic compounds they enjoy from your strawberries.
In order to promote long-term growth, we love that this fertilizer helps increase the growth of micro-organisms in the soil. For outdoor plants, this is a perfect alternative and can also be used prior to planting to prepare the soil. It fits well for containers indoors, too.
The application is clear. They have a spoon to help spread the granules out in the correct amount and efficiently. The producer recommends two tablespoons for every square foot of growing area for outdoor planting. For best results, avoid the stem and leaves, and water it immediately after application.
2. Down To Earth 6-Pound Acid Mix
Natural ingredients such as fishbone meal, kelp meal, cottonseed meal, and langbeinite are used in this six-pound box of fertilizer from Down To EarthDown To EarthDown To EarthDown To Earth. This acidic abnormality is suitable for strawberries that prefer a slightly acidic pH between 5.5 and 6.5.
For 100 square feet of growing area, the manufacturer suggests using five pounds of this fertilizer, so you have a little more in this box than you need. Additional fertilizer can require new plants. Detailed instructions are included, so carefully follow them depending on whether your plants are new or existing.
Do an early spring application and another one when flowers start to appear. For each plant grown, use approximately one cup of fertilizer, watering it well. Fertilize at the end of the summer with half of the volume to plan for the next growing season.
3. Espoma HT18 Holly Tone
This fertilizer from Espomafertilizer from Espomafertilizer from Espomafertilizer from Espoma is another excellent alternative for acid-loving plants such as strawberries. To ensure that the soil gets what it needs to support your plants, it is ideal for organic gardening and uses a special blend of microbes.
The microbes produce long-lasting feed, ensuring that the nutrients are released over time into the soil. This suggests that you don’t need to fertilize as much as you do. Espoma suggests feeding twice a year in the case of berries, once in early spring and then about two months later.
This fertilizer should be spread along the drip line and the stem and leaves should be carefully avoided. To make sure it gets down to the roots, water it well afterward. Since this product comes in a wide 18-pound pack, for larger planting beds, it is a good option and should last you a while.
4. Jobe’s Organics 09727 Berry Granular Plant Food
This formula from Jobe’s OrganicJobe’s OrganicJobe’s OrganicJobe’s Organic is formulated with the microbe Biome with archaea from the company, engineered to break down the nutrients already present in the soil so that they can be more readily absorbed by the plants. Over time, it also helps strengthen the soil.
In order to conserve what you don’t need for later, the compact four-pound bag is resealable. Every four to six weeks, they suggest applying this formula. Detailed instructions on bad soil preparation, fresh plants, and proven growth are available.
This is a perfect choice if you are looking for a fertilizer that’s meant for organic gardening. It does not contain synthetic chemicals and is child-friendly and environmentally safe for children and pets. Plus, in the USA, it’s made.
5. EcoScraps for Organic Gardening Berry Plant Food
In general, something very cool about the EcoScraps brandEcoScraps brandEcoScraps brandEcoScraps brand is that they use recycled waste in their fertilizer blend from the food processing business. So, this company also does something positive for the environment, in addition to being organic.
This solution is granular and Ecoscraps takes great care to make sure that the perfect nutrient balance is found in each particle. It is easy to apply and you can rest assured that every plant gets the same amount of nutrients.
For new and existing outdoor plants as well as those in containers, there are specific instructions for application on the side of the bag. The four-pound bag between applications is a compact size and simple to store.
6. Indian River Organics Hydrolyzed Liquid Fish Fertilizer
Check out this formula from Indian River OrganicsIndian River OrganicsIndian River OrganicsIndian River Organics if you prefer liquid fertilizer. For strong plants and tastier strawberries, they use special cold-processing hydrolysis that preserves the natural nutrients of the ingredients.
This substance is licensed and totally free from arsenic, chlorine, and other heavy metals for use in organic gardening. Mix two to four ounces in a sprayer of water for use. It’s both child-friendly and pet-friendly.
The 100 percent quality guarantee is something we really like about this product. The company guarantees the analysis of nutrients and if you have any doubts or complaints about the substance, they are easy to contact.
7. Greenway Biotech Strawberry Fertilizer
This Greenway Biotech fertilizerGreenway Biotech fertilizerGreenway Biotech fertilizerGreenway Biotech fertilizer has a higher NPK than the other products that we choose. For any strawberry plant, it is a good option, but it is especially suitable for soils low in potassium. There are other trace minerals that are also important, including copper, iron, and zinc.
There are no dangerous additives or heavy metals, and the substance is licensed with the Food and Agriculture Department of California, which has some of the country’s toughest standards.
There’s also a great deal to like about this company. They’re a small business run by a minority dedicated to being honest and promoting their beliefs in the community. Not only that, they contribute 1% of revenue to the Greenway Foundation, a foundation that began teaching basic gardening skills to students.
8. Fruit&Berry Food 4lb
We recommend this berry food from Espomaberry food from Espomaberry food from Espomaberry food from Espoma, finally. It contains microbes that help to break down the nutrients in the soil so that the plant can more easily access them. Bigger berries that are juicier and more delicious are the result.
One of the microbes’ added advantages is that they actually increase the consistency of the soil over time. This means you won’t have to fertilize as much, but the long-term benefits of quality fertilizer can be achieved by your plants.
Twice a year, once in early spring and again about two months later, Espoma suggests that this fertilizer be applied. It’s labeled for organic gardening and comes with a tight seal for safe storage in a compact four-pound bag.
Check here for more products on strawberry plant fertilizerCheck here for more products on strawberry plant fertilizerCheck here for more products on strawberry plant fertilizerCheck here for more products on strawberry plant fertilizerWhen to Fertilize Strawberry Plants?
Strawberries should be fertilized at various times during the year for better results. It is essential to treat the soil before you do some planting, as we said.
Strawberries prefer loamy soil, so consider adding some sand to get the right texture if you start out with clay soil. If the soil has the wrong consistency, the fertilizer may not be successfully absorbed and the plants will not be able to fully absorb the nutrients.
Until planting, the soil should be fertilized to ensure that your strawberry plant has all the nutrients it needs the second it is planted in the garden. This guarantees that leaves are not overproduced by the plants and allows for better berries.
Of course, during the year, your plants will need to be fertilized again, too. There are various kinds of strawberries, and you should know what kind you’re dealing with to fertilize properly. Types contain:
1. June-bearers – Each year, this variety produces one crop of berries, usually in June, as the name indicates. After harvest, the best time to apply additional fertilizer is to support the plant through the dormant season and prepare for the harvest next year.
The most common form of strawberry is June-bearer. June-bearers are several of the strawberries that you find in the grocery store. Over a three week period, they grow a lot of tall, juicy fruits.
2. Day-neutral – This strawberry plant continues to grow berries until they get too cold and the plant is destroyed by frost. They’re annuals, coming back every season to life. Fertilize at the beginning of June, July, and August to ensure they have everything they need.
Generally, these berries don’t yield a lot of fruit. You may be able to step outside and select a handful or two every day, but with this range, the yield is much smaller overall.
3. Ever-bearers – At the beginning of summer and again in early fall, certain plants grow berries. After the first crop is harvested, add more fertilizer. Ever-bearer fruits are usually on the small side, so be sure not to over-fertilize the notion that you’re going to get bigger berries.
Notice that all general recommendations are these suggestions. Follow the directions on the box of the fertilizer you select for the best results. Each type of strawberry and each fertilizer is different, so make sure that you know before applying what you are working with.
Strawberries really like organic compounds in addition to fertilizer, which is why so many of our products are organic. You should leave them in the planting bed to add more organic fertilizer for the roots to absorb when you cut back some of the leaves on the plants.
Some of these items often contain microbe blends that are specially formulated and actually work to boost the soil. In this scenario, since the soil would be better suited to carry the pants for a longer period of time, you do not need to apply the fertilizer as often.
Stop fertilizing strawberries until the beginning of next spring in late August. Never add fertilizer to freezers, too.
How to Fertilize Strawberry Plants?
For every 100 square feet of your planting bed, add approximately two pounds of fertilizer about two weeks before planting. That said, this is a general recommendation. To make sure that you apply it exactly as directed, follow the directions for the product you select.
Keeping in mind that strawberry plants have shallow roots is critical. Only in the top six inches of soil do they expand. If you treat the soil before planting, make sure that the fertilizer is thoroughly mixed for the best results across the top six inches.
Do a second application approximately six to eight weeks later for new plants. Strawberries are typically planted in rows, so apply fertilizer to each row on either side for the second application. Repeat in mid to late August again.
Cut back the leaves for existing plants and remove any plants that are not doing well. To serve as organic fertilizer, you can leave some clippings in the planting bed. Remove the weeds and, as before, add fertilizer.
Also, See The Best 8 Fertilizer for Fruit Trees in 2024 – Buying Guide
Granules
The bulk of these items are granular, which is easier to apply in several respects. Although the instructions on the product bag that you are using should always be followed, there are some general guidelines for the application of granular fertilizer.
Scatter the granules in the sum indicated around the root and stem of the plants. Most of these products suggest adding the granules under the drip zone, while others may recommend spreading them between rows.
Stop having granules from the plant’s leaves. If you do, before watering, make sure you remove them, as they can burn the surface of the leaves.
Water them well after the granules are added. Know, strawberry roots go down about six inches into the soil, so you have to ensure that the fertilizer penetrates deep enough so that it can be absorbed by the roots.
Liquid
It is a little harder to control liquid fertilizer than granules. Having liquid fertilizer exactly where you want it, particularly on a windy day, is not always easy.
One good thing is that after application, you don’t have to think about watering liquid fertilizer, so it saves you a little time.
Mix the concentration as per the instructions on the bottle to add liquid fertilizer. Then apply it using either a simple spray bottle or a larger sprayer, depending on the region you need to reach.
Typically, this form of fertilizer is safe to get on the leaves, but follow the directions for the item you are using.
That said, making sure you mix the concentration correctly is crucial. It could burn them if the solution is too hot and it gets on the leaves, leading to additional problems with your crop.
Read, Also Top 10 Fertilizer for Indoor Plants in 2024
Final Thoughts
The best fertilizer for strawberries is not always easy to find, but it is important if you want the strongest plants that yield the most delicious berries. There are a lot of different variations out there, and it can be difficult to say which one is the right one.
Note that not all strawberry plants are the same, so in order to fertilize properly, it is necessary to know what your plants are.
It is a little easier to add granular fertilizer, but it has to be watered into the soil to be successful. Liquid fertilizers are also fantastic, just make sure that you combine them to the right intensity so that the plants do not burn.
For good and productive strawberry plants, fertilizing the soil before planting is also important. You are setting yourself up for the best possible outcomes by using the correct fertilizer at the right time.
Check out some other good fertilizers available on today’s market:
Also, See
