When the raspberries have dropped their last leaves and are preparing for winter hibernation, it’s time to give them a real “royal feast”. It is the November care that determines whether next fall you will collect berries in buckets or be content with a modest handful. The secret is in the right “pillow feeding”, which will warm the roots in winter and feed the bush in spring.
What to put under raspberries in November:
- Ash from a stove or fire (1-liter jar per bush) is a real “elixir” for the sweetness of berries, a source of potassium and phosphorus, which raspberries will slowly absorb all winter;
- Rotted manure (humus) or compost (a bucket for 2-3 bushes): will create a “warm pillow”, protect the roots from frost and provide starting nutrition in the spring;
- Fish waste or fish meal (300-500 g), phosphorus from fish is the key to a powerful root system and a huge number of flower buds.
How to do it correctly:
Carefully loosen the soil under the bushes without disturbing the roots.
Sprinkle the ash evenly.
Spread the humus in a layer of 5-7 cm, retreating 10-15 cm from the base of the bush, so as not to provoke damping off.
Embed fish waste into the ground around the perimeter of the bush, where the most active roots are located.
Mulch the top with fallen leaves or straw.
This “puff pillow” works all winter long. Organic matter slowly decomposes, releasing heat and nutrients. By spring, the bush wakes up well-fed and ready for powerful growth. The result will surprise you: the berries will be larger, sweeter, and the harvest will be so abundant that the branches will need supports.
