Hi all... I have always get horse manure from my sons GF horse stable and really worked well.. everything has grown properly and no sign of strange growth from Aminopyralid.... But this is not enough to cover my new lottie with a good dollop..
Today I've found another source of manure and looked for the bean test info.. I have planted some normal beans in a 50/50 mix of manure and soil as I dont have any broad beans.. Is this the correct method?
Also I read somewhere that if there are broad-leafed weeds growing close by it should be ok?
When I went to collect my sample I found a good pile of some newish mixed manure with straw and a few shavings and a lot of good old decomposed muck, almost composted. The whole area surrounding the pile and growing within the pile extremities are a lot of nettles growing really well. So would this be a good indication or not?
That's what I did this spring. I started with seedlings not seed, but it is the same principle. I think any beans are fine. I used peas and broadies, because what I happened to have. Charles Dowding says you can also use salad leaves.
I was still anxious in case some of the manure in my massive heap was contaminated. Obviously the test, even if collected from all over the heap, is only a sample. All my crops have been fine.
Such a nuisance, isn't it? But better safe than sorry.
Morris are you another Charles fan?
Generally if you test half a dozen samples frmo different bits you should be OK. The most likely source of contamination is bought-in hay or possibly straw at the stables. this contamination by it's nature will be widely dispersed into the manure so shoul show up easily.
Broad-leaf weeds nearby are no indication of absence of contamination I'm afraid, I had docks and thistles (both targetted by aminopyralid) growing happily in soil with enough contamination to ruin by beans this year, beans are massively more sensitive to it than other plants really....
A bean test each time your sources get a new batch of hay/straw is all you need to do.... get the feeling I'll have to set up a bit of the GH this winter to use as a manure-testing lab.... I fully intend to put about 8" to a foot of horse manure across my plots and it'll need testing..... I'm not fussed if a few bits turn up contaminated, cabbages and sweetcorn don't care about it much, but beans, potatoes adn tomatoes are all very sensitive
chrisc
Grannyjanny, I certainly am. He is my favourite garden writer.
I don't 100% no-dig, though. I have tall trees and hedges near the veg plot, so deep digging is still required every few years to keep the roots under check.
His gardening advice is excellent.
Quote from: chriscross1966 on October 07, 2011, 12:37:06
I fully intend to put about 8" to a foot of horse manure across my plots
chrisc
You won't need to go to the gym this winter!!
Thanks for all the advice... I'll wait for the beans to grow. Then pile it on the lottie as thick as I can till it runs out - then klet the worms do their thing!!