Every autumn, with the end of the summer cottage season, life in the garden does not stop. Preparing plants for the winter cold becomes the main concern of gardeners. However, many gardeners use this favorable time also for planting fruit trees and shrubs. Today I will talk about the advantages of planting in autumn, as well as advise which berry plants are best to plant at this time of year.
Autumn or spring?
When is the best time to plant berry bushes: autumn or spring? Each garden owner makes this decision independently. For me, the advantages of autumn planting are obvious:
- The earth and air are filled with moisture, which favorably affects the fastest rooting of seedlings.
- The air temperature drops, and all dangerous pests decrease their activity.
- The seedlings are harder and stronger after the warm summer season.
- With the onset of spring, the plants planted and taken root in the fall are actively going into healthy growth.
In addition, you significantly save time at the beginning of the summer season and can distribute your work more rationally.
What plants can be planted in autumn
Depending on the climatic zone, you can choose berry bushes for autumn planting. In warm southern regions, almost all shrubs are more likely to take root. In the middle lane and in the northern regions, cultivated crops should be frost-resistant. The bushes of raspberries, blackberries, gooseberries, currants, and black chokeberries planted in autumn will grow perfectly. On the other hand, stone fruits such as apricots or cherries are less resistant to cold weather. And with their planting, I recommend to wait until spring.
General rules for autumn planting
- The seedlings planted in the fall must harden in the soil, otherwise they will not tolerate cold weather and frosty wind. Therefore, I advise planting to be carried out no later than 3-4 weeks before stable frosts. The optimal time for berry crops is late September - early October.
- When choosing planting material, you should carefully examine the plant and use only healthy and strong seedlings. For planting in the fall, it is best to purchase bushes 1-2 years old. Closed root plants are preferred.
- A correctly chosen place for a berry bush and a well-prepared soil will allow the plantings to take root faster. With the onset of cold weather, young seedlings need additional mulching and shelter.
Autumn planting of currants and gooseberries
It is necessary to choose the most suitable winter-hardy varieties of these berry crops. The optimal planting dates are in late September - mid-October. Currants and gooseberries feel great in the bright areas of the garden. In the planting pit 40-45 cm deep and 50-55 cm wide, we put phosphorus-potassium fertilizers on the bottom. Buried and watered seedlings should be mulched with hay, straw or humus.
Autumn planting of raspberries and blackberries
2-3 weeks before the onset of frost, when the temperature during the day does not drop below 10 degrees, it is time to plant raspberries and blackberries. I choose a place for these berry bushes that is light, warm, and free from drafts. Raspberries and blackberries prefer moderately acidic soils. A planting pit 30-45 cm deep (depending on the size of the rhizome) is first covered with mineral fertilizers: superphosphate and potassium salt. A seedling placed in a hole is sprinkled with earth and watered abundantly. I recommend mulching blackberries and raspberries with low-lying peat or humus.
In general, the general rules for the autumn planting of different berry bushes are similar to each other and are not particularly difficult. And the efforts made in the fall will allow young seedlings to grow healthy with the arrival of spring and, possibly, give the owner the first harvest.
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