Raspberries, Shredded paper in compost, construction tip.

Some more readers’ questions answered and a compost bin construction tip to finish. First replacing old raspberries either with new raspberries or with blueberries, and then a question about using shredded paper in compost.

Maureen writes:

I acquired an allotment in Edinburgh, on which I had a row of very old raspberries and decided to dig them up. I know you can’t plant raspberries in the same place where they used to grow, but how long do I have to leave the soil before I can plant raspberries there again? Can I plant a blueberry bush where raspberries used to grow?
Thank you.

Maureen

My Answer

Congratulations on getting your allotment, that will keep you out of mischief!

The problem with raspberries as they age is that they get debilitating diseases, which reduce the quality and quantity of fruit. These diseases linger in the soil so we need to clear them from the soil before we replant.

Ensure as much of the roots as possible are taken out, leaving them in the soil is just a disease reservoir. Then dig the soil over, breaking up clods with a fork. This will expose as much surface area as possible to frost and sunshine. Sunshine is an excellent sterilant, and it will kill off viruses.

You may remember there was a scare about catching Covid from post and parcels at the start of the pandemic, until a study showed that leaving them in the sun for a few minutes effectively sterilised them. Any old-time dairymaid could have told them that! They realised that just scrubbing their equipment clean didn’t stop milk spoiling organisms from infecting the milk or cheese, but a few hours in the sun did the trick.

Add compost to the soil to replenish the specific nutrients the raspberries have used and re-balance things. Ideally, don’t replant in the same spot for three years.

Blueberries are from a different plant group, so they can go into the same spot that the raspberries were in. However, blueberries like a more acidic soil than raspberries. If you can get a pH around 5.0, they’ll be very happy. See Soil pH and Its Effect on Your Garden there’s also an article on how to grow blueberries here.

Hope that helps!

Shredded Paper in Compost

Rezaeipoor asks if it is good to add shredded paper to compost.

My answer:

Both paper and cardboard can be composted, they’re high in carbon, so very useful as a balancing agent when adding high nitrogen greens or manure. Having said that, I avoid adding glazed, shiny card or paper. I may be wrong, but I read they use a non-biodegradable plastic to make those. However, it turns out that, in most cases, that shiny coating is just kaolin (clay, the same type China is made from). It will disperse as the paper or cardboard is biodegraded.

Plain coloured cardboard, parcel brown, is my favourite. I don’t bother shredding it, but just tear it up into pieces around twice the size of my hand. Corrugated card is very good as it helps to aerate the compost.

Shredded plain paper or just crumpled into a ball will compost well. I line the chicken’s dropping tray with packing paper, which goes into the compost. Newspaper composts well.

There is a problem if you add too much shredded paper. As it gets wet and compressed, it can form a layer that doesn’t break down easily. The answer is to mix the shredded paper with a high nitrogen source. I’ve mentioned chicken droppings, but grass clippings will work very well.

In fact, grass clippings are another ingredient that can compress into a layer, mixing the two – clippings and paper – will compliment each other and help the decomposition process.

So, yes, shredded paper is good to compost, so long as it is the right type of paper and mixed in well to avoid compaction.

See: Using Paper & Cardboard in Compost

Quick Tip

Finally, a quick tip from Simon (thanks!)

Line your pallet compost heap with paving slabs, placed on end. The wettest part is kept away from the wood, so prevents it rotting. It also stops the heap from drying out totally and spilling out as well.