Have you seen how your neighbors' currant bushes are bursting with berries the size of coins, while your bushes produce small sour fruits?
They are not sorcerers - they just know that in April you need to pour a glass of pharmacy iodine under the root.
Yes, that same bottle that costs pennies and has been gathering dust in the closet for years.
Dilute 10 drops of iodine in 10 liters of water and water the bushes as soon as the buds begin to open.
Iodine will kill kidney mite larvae and activate cell growth.
But the main thing is to add 2 tablespoons of ammonia to the solution. Ammonia will give a nitrogen boost, and iodine will enhance the absorption of microelements.
In a week the bushes will be covered with flowers, and the berries will be so full that the branches will have to be tied up.
Just don't overdo it: more than two treatments per season - and the leaves will turn yellow. And don't tell your neighbors that you know their secret - they'll think you overheard their conversation with the agronomist.
For red currants, add a spoonful of boric acid to the solution - the berries will become transparent, like crystals.
If the bushes are attacked by aphids, spray the leaves with an iodine-soap mixture (20 drops of iodine + 50 g of soap per bucket of water) - the pests will disappear overnight.
And to protect the roots from rot, bury a handful of eggshells under the bush: calcium neutralizes excess acid.
If it rains after watering, sprinkle the ground around it with ash - it will retain the nutrients.
But do not use this method on young bushes under three years old: their roots are still too tender.
And remember: iodine watering works only before flowering. After the buds open, switch to nettle infusion, otherwise the berries will taste bitter.
Author: Elena Shimanovskaya