Strawberry Secrets: When Fertilizer Timing Makes All the Difference

Pre-plant boost – Apply a balanced fertilizer (10-10-10) about two weeks before planting to prep the soil.

Early spring feeding – As soon as new growth appears, apply a nitrogen-rich fertilizer to support leafy development.

Avoid mid-season overload – Over-fertilizing during peak flowering can lead to more leaves and fewer berries.

Side-dress wisely – After the first big harvest, side-dress with a light dose of nitrogen to encourage continued fruiting.

Time rain right – Apply fertilizer before light rain or water it in manually. This helps nutrients reach the roots faster.

Watch for signs – Yellowing leaves or stunted growth may indicate a need for nutrients—don’t wait too long to act.

Skip late-season nitrogen – Avoid nitrogen after August; it encourages new growth that may not survive winter.

Mulch matters – Use compost mulch to slow-release nutrients over time and reduce the need for synthetic feeding.

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