When buying strawberries, most people tend to choose large fruits with bright colors and regular shapes. As a result, large strawberries generally fetch higher prices and sell well, while smaller ones are priced lower and often harder to sell. Nowadays, many farmers, in their pursuit of large, sweet strawberries, start indiscriminately applying fertilizers as soon as the strawberries enter the flowering and fruiting stage. In fact, since strawberry growth varies from one plant to another, the choice of fertilizer application should also differ accordingly. It’s not true that the more potassium you apply, the better—it can actually hinder the strawberry’s absorption of nitrogen, prolong the fruit-expansion phase, and lead to “stiff” or malformed fruits, seriously affecting both the quality and yield of the strawberries. So, how should we apply fertilizers during the fruit-expansion stage of strawberries?

As the saying goes, “No nitrogen, no growth; no potassium, no sweetness.” This means that, in addition to potassium, nitrogen fertilizer is also crucial during the fruit-swelling stage of strawberries. During their growth, potassium helps coordinate nitrogen utilization, promotes fruit ripening, increases fruit sugar content, improves fruit quality, and enhances the plant’s stress resistance. Moreover, nitrogen fertilizer plays a remarkably significant role in increasing the individual fruit weight of strawberries.

According to research, during the fruit enlargement stage of strawberries, the absorption ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium is 100:37:172. Moreover, strawberries have a high demand for calcium fertilizer. Therefore, we should apply fertilizers according to the strawberry’s nutrient requirements. If fertilization practices are unreasonable—leading to deficiencies or excesses of certain elements—strawberries’ physiological functions will be impaired, resulting in nutrient deficiencies and causing physiological problems such as yellowing leaves and premature aging. Thus, during the fruit enlargement stage of strawberries, we recommend using Zhuanggu Hu organic-inorganic fully water-soluble fertilizer (technical parameters: organic matter ≥15%, humic acid ≥8%, water-soluble calcium ≥10%, nitrate nitrogen ≥8%, viable bacterial count ≥100 million/g, N 10% + P2O5 6% + K2O 20% ≥36%). This fertilizer contains granular water-soluble calcium that dissolves within three minutes and shows visible effects within three days. It also specifically includes functional microbial inoculants that can inhibit and reduce the occurrence of various crop diseases, particularly those caused by calcium deficiency. Furthermore, it significantly promotes root growth, enhances fruit enlargement, ensures robust strawberry development with high sweetness, reduces strawberry diseases, and improves both yield and quality.

During the fruit-swelling stage of strawberries, fertilization should be applied in small doses but frequently. Especially during winter, given the low soil temperature, it’s advisable not to use plain water for irrigation. Instead, simply incorporate some organic fertilizer into the watering routine—this will help stimulate root development, raise soil temperature, and improve both the quality and yield of strawberries. Finally, during the fruit-expansion phase, it’s crucial not only to apply fertilizer appropriately but also to take a comprehensive approach by considering other measures, such as increasing light exposure, properly managing temperature, and selectively thinning out excess fruits, all of which can further promote fruit enlargement.

If you don’t know how to farm—or if your farming isn’t going well—turn to Black Tiger! Let’s make farming easier for farmers all over the world and ensure that everyone can enjoy safe, high-quality agricultural products! Jiangxi Ruibote Biotechnology Co., Ltd. has been dedicated for 17 years to soil restoration and the research and promotion of ecological farming technologies! If you’d like to learn more about crop fertilization solutions, please contact our online customer service or call our service hotline at 400-600-8531. You can also add us on WeChat at 19179470903, and a technical expert will be happy to assist you!