How can you feed a pear in spring, summer and autumn, rules and norms for fertilization
Gardeners are interested in what to feed the pear. Or maybe this is not required? Organic (i.e. natural) farming is in vogue today. And the soil is quite fertile. But in order to get a bountiful harvest, the pear definitely needs food. And it should be introduced according to the rules, observing the norms and terms. Only in this case the tree will delight the owners with delicious fruits.
The main types of fertilizers for feeding pears
For good nutrition, the pear needs two groups of fertilizers: organic and mineral.
Mineral fertilizers
Mineral fertilizers are applied in spring and autumn. Moreover, the number of components varies in weight depending on the season.
Nitrogen
This element is necessary for building up green mass. The pear will not be able to form enough foliage necessary for photosynthesis. Young shoots without nitrogen are formed in insufficient quantities. But an excess of an element is as harmful as its deficiency. A pear overfed with nitrogen becomes a tasty prey for aphids: its juice is especially sweet because of the non-decomposed sugars.
And overfed pears are more often affected by fungal diseases. Therefore, when applying fertilizers to the soil, it is necessary to comply with the norms.
Phosphorus
The element is necessary for the full ripening of pear fruits. The main part of the fertilizer is phosphoric anhydride (up to 20% by weight). It is absorbed only with sufficient moisture in the soil.
Potassium
An essential element for making autumn and winter fertilizing pears. Potassium salt (potassium chloride + sodium chloride) is applied in the spring before and during flowering to form a large number of ovaries. Disadvantage: contains chlorine.
Magnesium
Lack of magnesium in the soil causes a slowdown in pear growth. The industry produces water-insoluble fertilizers (vermiculite), which, when applied and subsequent irrigation, enrich the soil with magnesium. Magnesium is part of potash fertilizers... Among gardeners, magnesium sulfate, which is soluble in water, is popular.
Superphosphate
The most popular phosphorus food. Contains calcium sulfate, which is absorbed when there is an excess of water in the soil. Double superphosphate more economical and efficient. It is free of calcium sulfate.
Complex fertilizers
The industry produces complex mineral fertilizers. They contain nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus in the amounts required by plants. Autumn fertilizers do not contain nitrogen (or contain, but in minimal quantities).They are much more convenient to use: you do not need to mix the components, you just need to feed them according to the instructions.
Organic fertilizers
Nature has taken care of plant nutrition. Knowing how to use natural products can significantly reduce the cost of purchasing fertilizers.
Manure and humus
For feeding pears, the manure of herbivores is used: goats, cows, sheep, horses, rabbits. Pig manure is used as a last resort (because of the omnivorous pigs). It is a valuable source of nitrogen in an easily digestible, i.e. chelated, form. But fresh manure cannot be applied under a pear because of the large amount of weed seeds and an aggressive environment.
After purchasing fresh manure, it is recommended:
- lay the raw materials on a sheet of metal or plywood;
- form a cone;
- cover with a film or iron from rain and drying;
- remove the film and turn the manure every six months;
- moisten if necessary.
In this state, manure is aged for 3 years. During this time, the raw material decomposes and turns into humus. It is this that should be brought under the pear.
Bird droppings
This is a very aggressive feeding. Fresh bird droppings introduced under a young pear can burn the root system of a tree. Poultry droppings are collected and dried, then poured into bags and stored in a cool dry place.
Before use, a glass of dry raw materials is stirred in a bucket of water and infused for a week. Then, before use, a liter of infusion is combined with 10 liters of water and the trees are fed.
Wood ash
It is an affordable and effective pear fertilizer. Ash contains: potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese. But it should be borne in mind: feeding, when combined with water, gives an alkaline reaction. Therefore, some gardeners use ash to deoxidize the soil.
It is recommended to use sifted furnace ash to fertilize the pear. Application rate: 1 liter can for 1 adult plant. It is important to remember: ash reduces the effectiveness of nitrogen fertilizers, so you should not feed the pear at the same time.
Bone flour
Bone flour - the main source of phosphorus for pears. Additional components of fertilizer are:
- iron;
- manganese;
- magnesium;
- zinc;
- iodine;
- cobalt;
- potassium;
- calcium.
The advantage of the fertilizer is the chelating (availability for pears) of the components and low cost.
Urea
Nitrogen source for pear. Main advantages:
- chelating (plant availability);
- ready solubility in water;
- excellent result of foliar dressing.
It is important to remember: spraying in early spring with a high-concentration urea solution not only nourishes, but also protects the plant from pests and delays flowering.
How and what to feed a pear in the spring?
In the spring, the pear needs to be fed in order to replenish the nutrients and prepare the plant for the fruiting period. It is recommended to consistently carry out a complex of dressings.
Before flowering
Immediately after waking up, it is recommended to water the tree with a solution of nitrate: 2 tablespoons of powder per 10 liters of water. It is important to remember: the air temperature must be above +5 degrees Celsius.
During flowering
During this period, it is useful to give a liquid top dressing. Fertilize the pear well with a urea solution: half a glass per 10 liters of water. It is useful to combine liquid dressing with watering: first, properly moisten the near-stem circle, then add the solution.
After flowering
During this period, nitroammofosk is applied under the trees once. 100 g of dry fertilizer is diluted in 20 liters of water. During fruit setting, it is required to make phosphorus-potassium fertilizers... Without this, the fruits will crumble and shrink.
Foliar dressing
It is useful to give it to young trees that have not yet grown a powerful root system. Fertilizers (nitrogen, phosphorus, potash) are diluted in water and sprayed over the leaves of the pear.
It is important to remember: spraying should be carried out in dry, cloudy (or after sunset), calm weather. If it rains within 3 days after feeding, it should be repeated.
Summer feeding of fruit trees
In the summer, feeding must be continued. They are carried out during the fruiting period, ending with the moment of harvesting the fruits.
In June, the pear stops flowering. At this time, it is useful to feed it on the sheet with a solution of nitrogen fertilizers: urea, green fertilizer... The color of the infusion should be light, like weakly brewed tea. In July, fruits begin to set. Spraying with a solution of phosphorus and potassium should be added to leaf dressing.
In August, 2 weeks after the last foliar dressing, it is recommended to apply a mixture of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers to the soil. Loosen the soil in the trunk circle. To prevent the fruits from crumbling, it is recommended to fertilize with a solution of phosphorus-potassium fertilizers every 2-3 weeks. Such nutrition is necessary for the pear for the ripening of high-quality fruits.
It is recommended to stop any feeding 3 weeks before the expected harvest. This is necessary to obtain environmentally friendly fruits.
Basic rules for autumn dressing
In the fall, after harvesting, the tree requires replenishment of nutrients. Fertilizers should be composed of phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen. But phosphorus and potassium make up 1 part, and nitrogen - ¼ part by weight.
All components are mixed in dry form and scattered around the perimeter of the trunk circle. Moreover, the main amount should be located along the circumference, which is the projection of the crown onto the ground. After that, the soil is loosened to a depth of 7-10 cm.
How to fertilize a pear tree before winter
Caring for a pear involves winter feeding. Without it, the tree will hardly endure the winter. The purpose of fertilization is to nourish the plant, but prevent the growth of green mass. The shoots will not have time to ripen and die, and the tree will spend energy on their growth. Fertilizers should be applied in late September - early October. A composition of phosphorus and potassium with the addition of calcium and magnesium is applied along the perimeter of the trunk circle. Then the earth is dug up.
Top dressing after planting
A simple, but laborious event will help the young pear to take root well and start bearing fruit sooner. And the gardener will be exempt from feeding the tree for the next 3 years.
It is recommended to make a landing pit before planting. When placed as planned in the spring, it is prepared in the fall. If the summer resident wants to plant a pear in the fall, the pit needs to be prepared in the spring. How to proceed:
- Dig a hole 70 x 70 x 70 cm in size.Place mature compost or humus on the bottom with a layer of 10-15 cm.
- Mix the removed soil with phosphorus, potassium (1: 1), manganese, calcium. Fill the pit with this mixture.
- Level and compact the soil. Put a sheet of plywood or linoleum on top (to prevent soil erosion).
Before planting, dig a hole of such a size that the root system of the pear fits. Then a peg for tying is dug in and the seedlings are lowered into it. The soil around is compacted, a groove is formed for water flow and the plantings are watered.
Tips for beginner gardeners
Novice gardeners should remember the basic rules for pear feeding:
- it is impossible to grow a good harvest without top dressing;
- Failure to fertilize is just as dangerous as over-fertilization;
- it is important for a plant to receive a full complex: mineral fertilizers and organic matter;
- micro and macro elements should not be neglected;
- to obtain stable yields, it is important to give the tree foliar feeding;
- the amount of fertilizer depends on the age of the pear.
Subject to the rules of top dressing, the gardener will always receive a stable yield of tasty fruits.
