After barbecue, there is some ash left from the grill? Don't rush to throw it away, because it is ready "gold" for your raspberries.
The same ash that is considered waste contains potassium, phosphorus and calcium in a form that is ideal for plants.
These elements not only increase the yield, but also make raspberries sweet as honey.
But for ash to work, it must be applied not like a regular fertilizer, but according to a special scheme.
Immediately after the snow melts, scatter the ash around the raspberry bushes (1 cup per plant) and rake it into the soil. This will awaken the roots and protect them from fungi that overwinter in the soil.
When the raspberries begin to bloom, prepare an ash infusion: pour 500 g of ash into 10 liters of hot water, leave for two days, stirring occasionally.
Strain and water the bushes at the roots - this will give an immediate effect. The leaves will become dark green, and the ovaries will increase in size.
The secret is that grill ash is not just wood residue. It contains trace elements from burnt branches, bark, and even fruit pits that were added to the coals for flavor.
This ash works as a prolonged fertilizer, gradually giving nutrition to the roots.
To protect against pests, dust the shoots with dry ash - this will scare away aphids and raspberry beetles. But do not overdo it: excess alkali harms the soil, so do ash fertilizing no more than once a month.
If raspberries grow in acidic soil, ash from the barbecue will be a salvation - it neutralizes the pH, creating ideal conditions for growth.
And to enhance the effect, mix the ash with coffee grounds (1:1) and scatter around the bushes. The coffee will attract earthworms, which loosen the soil, improving oxygen access.
By the way, you can water currants with the same infusion, but for them the ash concentration is reduced by half.
Author: Kurchev Anton