Topic: Mushroom fertilizer --- chicken manure

[keejaay]

Hi everyone

Was told this morning by a friendly OAP that when he had an allotment he never used anything else except Mushroom fertilizer / chicken manure and always got good results .

Is he correct or should i continue with Horse manure

[goodlife]

Mushroom compost, horse and chiken manure are all good..and although they all provide nutrients for plant growth, they provide very different quantities/strenght if compaired to each other.
There is nothing wrong with horse manure and if you have easy access to it..carry on, but on it own it maybe lacking with certain things that your friendly OAP's 'mixture' will provide.
Manure will do good for soil structure, but you may need to adjust the acidity of the soil with lime between crops and give some additional fertilizer.

[sheddie]

Just to echo goodlife - whatever you can gets your hands on will help. The more good organic matter you can get into the soil the better.

Horse manure is a good start and you can get some fairly well priced chicken manure pellets if you shop around. Someone on Ebay does them at a pretty good rate (well its a good rate compared to my local supplies, but you may see cheaper of course) if you don't mind buying in fairly large quantities: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/poultry-chicken-manure-pellets-20KG-BAGGED-15-extra-free-23kg-total-/200708577399?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Garden_Plants_Fertiliser_CV&hash=item2ebb29d877.

Add some of your own well rotted compost, leaf mould, comfrey etc and you should be well on your way.

sheddie