Allotments 4 All

Hello,

I am starting my allotment for the first time this year. I have no compost ready, but have been told where I can get fresh manure.

Are there any crops I can use this on as it is, or will I have to wait till it has rotted a bit?

cj :)

Hi Carolinej O am like you and new to this - i have been told not to use fresh as it can burn the roots so will be interested in the response from the more expert growers :)

Hi, caroline. has your plot been worked before, if it has, your soil will probably grow some crops,
we would stack the fresh muck as it's usually a bit strong for most veggies :)

It is not advisable to add fresh manure, as the bacteria from it robs the soil of its nitrogen!! as it attempts to break it down!
It is better to either stack it for 3 months or so and then use as required when it has already rotted:)

If it is fresh - in order to use it this year I would place it in a compost bin. If you have a dalek - ideal. Fill it to a couple of inches from the top. Add a shovel or two of soil at 15-20% intervals till the bin is full. Put some plastic to cover the top then put the lid on. This will speed the decomposing. It should be fine to use by april.

My plot was worked up until the year before last, so has stood for 1 season. The soil looks good, compared to the stuff I have in my garden, all dark and crumbly.

I will be making compost bins out of old pallets. I suppose I will need to fill in the gaps between the planks to compost the manure. If this means I will be able to use it by April, then I would be able to get it onto some of the beds before the crops go in.

Will it be suitable for all crops then, and am I right in thinking that it shouldnt go on the sprout bed,as it will make the sprouts 'blow'? ( I think I read it somewhere)

Thanks for all the advice so far ;D

cj :)

Not all crops like the acidity. Some prefer to be more alkaline. Brassic as and spuds are the main ones that like it. You can also grow pumpkins, courgettes, rhubarb straight from the pile. Manure is also good for the bottom layer when making strawberry beds.

Manure is also a good reservoir. It can mean the need for less watering for some things.

When I went to the stables I left the fresh manure and bagged up the poo that looked like it had been sitting for a while, also get the poo mixed with straw try to avoid the wood dust or shavings. Your soil sounds like it won't need any this year if its dark & crumbly, happy digging. ;D ;D ;D

When I first got my plot I could only get fresh manure. I removed the top soil & dug the fresh manure into the sub soil & then replaced the top soil, the beds are fine now

I've been told by a professional gardener friend that fresh manure burns the veggies (due to the urine content) and you'll wind up growing whatever the horse ate instead of what you planted  :o, so stick it in the dalek/compost bin, cover it up and let it rot for a couple of months.
Not sure about the sprouts, mine blow anyway! I eat them no matter what they look like... ;D And pumpkins love poo.

Used fresh manure on the spud plot last year and except for the hay that germinated the spuds did not seem to be affested in their growth