Allotments 4 All

My friend has horses and has bagged up some manure for me to collect today.  She said she dug it from the bottom of the pile but is unsure how long it might have been there!  I know about the smell and texture test but if it isn't quite as well-rotted as it should be - should I just pile it up?  I've only had the plot for a few months and am digging beds frantically ready for spring - I need to put in some fruit bushes this weekend and the next job will be an asparagus bed - if it isn't fresh muck would it be ok to incorportate into the bed ready for my plants to go in when they arrive in March/April?

If you do not want to use it  by all means pile it up, but it will do no harm to use it now, another thing to consider with it is does it contain straw or wood shavings if it is the latter I think that I would advice you to pile it up and let it rot down.

Thank you.  Have just collected it and shifted to plot.....blimey that stuff is heavy!!   :-\  Not sure how I'm typing this as my arms don't feel attached to my body!

;D

Full upper body workout!!! How much would that cost you at the gym?!!!

;)

My wife pays hundreds for her gym membership, and it's a struggle every year. I pay £30-odd plus seeds and whatever, and get it back in veg. I wouldn't want to spend time in a gym anyway, they give me the creeps.

No I hate gyms!  I had to laugh and curse feminism and women's lib though as there were a couple of men standing around chatting and trying not to notice me puffing and heaving these bags out of the car!!

if you are not sure how long it has been rotting don't put it in the ground. i did this last year and didn't get a good crop of spuds. only well rotted manure should go in. well that is my opinion from past experience

You could try this. Put a shovel full in a carrier bag and bring in indoors, or a warm place. Leave it to warm up for about 6 hours. Open the bag and take a long deep sniff. If no stinky smell, it should be ok.

...or worst case scenario, your house would smell like a stable

;D ;D ;D ;D

If it's from bottom of pile and as you say its heavy .I would dig it in your beds ..cheers ..Jim