The Complete Compost Gardening Guide by Barbara Pleasant & DEBORAH L. MARTIN

Author:Barbara Pleasant & DEBORAH L. MARTIN
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC
Published: 2008-03-25T16:00:00+00:00

PERFECT MATCH

Raspberries

Raspberries are packed with healthful antioxidants, and they taste great, too. Most summer-bearing red raspberries (Rubus idaeus) propagate themselves by seed, by tip rooting of long branches, and by sprouting from root buds every chance they get. New plants often pop up several feet (meters) from the parent, where the soil may be in desperate need of an upgrade. Comforter Composting is an excellent way to improve soil conditions for these plants, and it smothers competing weeds and grasses. Simply rough up surrounding soil with a sharp hoe, and then layer on chopped or weathered leaves, partially rotted compost, and grass clippings. In addition to nurturing the new plants, this method can trigger the emergence of more nearby raspberry root sprouts, which often appear after the soil’s surface is disturbed.

Fall-bearing raspberries don’t sucker as freely as those that bear in summer, but ‘Heritage’ and other fall-bearing varieties are still great subjects for Comforter Composting. In fall, spread layers of compostable materials around the plants, but wait until late winter to cut back the old canes. To help the soil to warm promptly in spring, rake the weathered compost to the sides of the row when new cane tips appear.

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