Is a plant's fruit the best compost for itself

[newspud9]

I had a bumper crop of raspberries - and then a second one...and still they come. Ive used, stored given everything away that I can.  If i leave them where they are and let them drop, would i need to add anything else to the soil.

Also, I was too late with my tomatoes (dont have a greenhouse to try to get them to ripen and just simply hasnt been enough sun).  Ive got about 20 plants but no fruits - what would be their best use in terms of a compost for next year's veg crop .

many thanks for all the responses.

[newspud9]

[goodlife]

Raspberry fruit itself don't have fertilizing value to the ground as such..what ever may transfer into ground after they've rotted is so minimal that it is next to nothing...so don't rely left over fruit as 'soil improver'....however..birds and other creatures who eat the fruits, their droppings will return nutrients into ground..but it won't be directly to your raspberry plants..more likely anywhere else on your plot.  So..if you do have to add goodness into your soil for raspberry plants..you do need to bring something else there for them.

what would be their best use in terms of a compost for next year's veg crop .

Did you mean with that, how to reuse the existing compost that your tomatoes are growing in now? ...you can reuse the compost more and less anything you wish..but before you do so, you need to add some fertilizer back in as all the nutrients will be used up by the toms. Alternatively, you can spread the compost into ground and make the soil better that way...it maybe better in ground anyway as containers often harbour unwanted creepy crawlies, but in ground there is plenty of predator for the about so you don't get troubles for your crops from pests.

[Crystalmoon]

Wow Newspud lucky you having so many raspberries I only got a handful this year as storms destroyed most of the blossoms. I never leave any fruit to rot on the plant....not sure why exactly but I just think it may introduce the risk of diseases to the plants

Tomatoes are greedy feeders so I would only use the compost they were grown in to sow lettuces xjane 

[newspud9]

Many thanks for these responses.  re the tomatoes - actaully I was referring to the tomato plants themselves (not the soil they were growing in) as didnt know how much value in the plant material itself.

Thanks again

[goodlife]

Code Select Expand

actaully I was referring to the tomato plants themselves (not the soil they were growing in) as didnt know how much value in the plant material itself.
Plants themselves you can chop straigt into ground or compost bin and they will feed the little creatures in the soil...they don't have much actual nutritional value..but like any other plant matter will be good little addition and turn into valuable humus.

[sunloving]

I give my raspberries a big covering of manure about once every three years. It really helps to keep the soil moist which they prefer. Its free from the local stables and i stack it for 6 months or so before i use it.

I agree with goodlife, the old plants don't have much nutritional value and are mostly tough to digest cellulose and so don't contribute much to the soil. but of course you can compost them for next year. Tomatoes need fresh compost each year in the spring i put pelleted chicken manure into the pots to stimulate the growth of the plant then water with tomato food as they set the fruit. I also feed the greenhouse beds with manure and home grown compost each year in the late winter early spring to plant the main crop.
x sunloving