Topic: Muck Spreading

[Roy Bham UK]

I have been spreading FY Manure today on top on previously tilled soil and was wondering if there is a set amount that should be spread? I don't want to be mean with it also I don't want to waste the stuff unecessarily, plus too much may be bad? or not enough being a waste of time? ???

I have been covering the soil with dollops or fork loads and tilling it in, what's your thang? ;D

[boris]

I just stand by the HEAP with a shovel and fling it everywhere. Don't bother digging it in (too lazy really)  Don't think you can spread too much, though,  the more the merrier.

Seems to work ok.

[Hot_Potato]

I know nothing about muck spreading (altho love to see it when it's done & I like the smell ::))...but Boris - you say

Don't bother digging it in

is it ok then to plant or sow things straight into it??....surely it's all too chunky/lumpy or sticky??.....other than maybe potatoes - surely the ground has to be 'broken down' a bit and have a finer tilth to it?

or does it depend on what's being grown?

[Dan 2]

LOADS!!!!!!

[christine]

Roy, if you want the figures, here they are from J Larkcom -

   on poor soils, at least 5.5 kg per sq m (10 lbs per sq yd)

   on other soils, about 2.75 kg per sq m (5 lbs per sq yd)

Remember to take the scales and a tape measure with you......    :D

[boris]

I know nothing about muck spreading (altho love to see it when it's done & I like the smell ::))...but Boris - you say

Don't bother digging it in

is it ok then to plant or sow things straight into it??....surely it's all too chunky/lumpy or sticky??.....other than maybe potatoes - surely the ground has to be 'broken down' a bit and have a finer tilth to it?

or does it depend on what's being grown?

Mine has been standing around for about 6 months, so it's not too ripe or too chunky.
I like to let the worms do as much of my work as possible.  But you're right, I do give everything a good rake, certainly before sowing seeds directly.
I did dig in a spade full of muck underneath my courgette plants last year and they seemed to enjoy that.

[derbex]

Courgettes are something you can grow straight into it -even fresh(ish). I've grown them and other squash straight in the manure pile that's breaking down for the next year. You can do the same with the compost heap.

Jeremy

[Roy Bham UK]

Christine, just what I needed to know, thanks, ;)  it appears then that I may have been over feeding, :o  I’ve not got my scales and tape measure to hand but my fork dollops I reckon weigh about 4.00kg (8.82lbs) and at a rate of about 6-8 dollops a sq mtr may have been a bit heavy handed. ::)

I wondered why my back ached so much. ;D