hay, manure, straw, compost

[Le-y]

All the things I really want to have for my allotment?

My soil seems pretty rubbish and lots of weeds to be kept on top of, is there anything else anyone can suggest for me to have for the plot?

plus anyone recommend best place to get it all from? my council doesn't provide/sell any i've asked on freecycle (or freegle as it is now) and no joy.

I've started making my own compost but its still pretty slushy and stinky.

also do i just lay this stuff down and let the soil/weather do the rest or do i need to dig it in?

Ellie

[Le-y]

[manicscousers]

we've just dug out our runner bean pits, as we grow them around 'wigwams', Ray digs out a hole a spades depth, we throw all our kitchen and allotment waste, grass cuttings, old newspaper etc in the bottom, cover it over with the soil again and plant into it  ;D
we also dig pits for the squash, but they get a bucketfull of muck buried for them...collect all the leaves you can get, we used to put them in black bin bags to rot down..even the weeds can be rotted down like this so you can use the compost they make..hope that helps  :)

[ajb]

you could check for manure / compost near your postcode on Ebay, sometimes people list manure free to collect, or even topsoil.

[pookienoodle]

have you tried green manure,that may help a little and should suppress those pesky weeds.

[Old bird]

Hi Ellie

I would be careful of using hay as the grass seed which will have been collected in will just set further grass and weeds for you.  Straw - if it is added thickly enough will suppress most weeds but it - to me - looks awkward and I would not be too happy growing seeds through it.  I have seen it around larger plants ie blackcurrants and the like and I would think then this would be useful to use as a mulch.

It does depend as to whether you have already dug your plot as to whether you just lay the compost/mulch on the top.  If you have already dug then I would just lay it over the top and let the worms do the work of pulling it down.

Otherwise I would dig it in.  Where do you live?  Are there any stables/farms around.  The recycling centre where you live should be composting their green stuff that they take in find out who is in charge of that - how much for a couple of tons or however much you would want and whether they deliver.  Are you near the sea - seaweed is free and there is generally loads of it!

Also you say of the weeds on top of your allotment - why don't you chop them off with a hoe and just either leave them on the surface of put them in your compost bin to make more of it?  Put some shredded paper from offices where you work or friends do onto your compost heap.  Not too thickly but a bit at a time. 

Why don't you also - if you are having to dig - put some shredded paper into the spit before you turn the next spadeful in.  You will find that the paper will have rotted into the earth after a few months and will have added some nutrients and make the earth more absorbent.

Have you other people that live round you that don't recycle their - lawn mowings - compost from the kitchen etc. - I collect coffee from a local coffee shop.  I collect about 3 bucketfuls a week.  This is a good source of nitrogen and encourages worms.

Loads of stuff can be done - but you have to be brave and ask people (ie coffee shop/neighbours) without worrying that you are looking foolish!  It works for me - although I don't hear what people say behind my back!!!!

O B

[cornykev]

If your bins wet and stinky then it needs shredded paper or just rip up news paper and mix it in until it drys out a bit, keep turning it over to get some air in there, I put all my loo roll, kitchen roll and toothpaste holders in the bin to act as air pockets.    ;D ;D ;D