I read somewhere that brasiccas don't like recently manured ground, true? Mine aren't going in recently manured ground but I want to net them and to avoid having to keep taking up the net to weed I want to mulch them - can I mulch with manure? if not what is more suitable?
we use our own compost, if it's ready by then :)
Not sure mine will be but is compost (bought) a better option than manure?
I do not mulch mine as I firm the ground and that discourages weeds.
My father used to use grass cuttings very sucessfully. However there was a good application of lime first.
I suppose that the theory is that mulches tend to be acidic.
http://www.allaboutliverpool.com/allaboutallotments1_homepage.html
Mine get planted through a couple of inches of mulch, usually grass cuttings. Decaying mulch produces humic acids, the amount varying according to what it is. Deciduous leaves rot quickly and produce very little, and the resulting soil tends to be neutral to alkaline. Coniferous needles rot more slowly, and produce loads of acid. If you want to change the quality of your soil, plant conifers and leave it for 20 years; the soil type will be quite different, and far less fertile.