Allotments 4 All

I have a load of well rotted stable manure.

Should I put it in now or in the spring?

Should I dig it in or just lay it on the top?

For myself, I will be laying it on the top of freshly dug ground asap, and the worms can do the rest over the winter period. I don't put it where I plan to sow root veg though.

i do it the same as maggie

Already done  :) :) :)

All the beds that need it are covered, to be forked over in the spring.  Next year's plan is already sorted, so we know what needs it and what doesn't.  The fruit will be mulched in spring.

The garden will be done over the next few weeks.

I prefer to do it before the onset of winter, and this is how I do it;

http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Slide%20Shows/Soil%20preparation%20ss/soil%20preparation%20ss.html

Well,

In my opinion, it all depends on your soil and location of the plot.
Heavy clay would mean do it now and leave it to over winter.
Sandy soil leave until spring so as not to lose to many nutrients from it.
Up to you in the end.

Quote from: Tee Gee on November 09, 2009, 13:21:49
I prefer to do it before the onset of winter, and this is how I do it;

http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Slide%20Shows/Soil%20preparation%20ss/soil%20preparation%20ss.html

Hello Tee Gee, what type of fertiliser do you rake in at the end?

Thanks.

I'm with Landimad I also think the answer depends on the type of soil.  If you have sandy or gravelly soil the nutrients get washed out, so I would suggest a spring buriel.    I also think it depends on the number of worms.  If you have very few then they will not be doing much burying of manure.  Also don't forget to test that manure.

I don't like manure on the surface, so I have green manures on the go.

I tend to do some and some.  Just because it is a lot of work and it is nice to have some beds already prepared.  But I do my bean trenches just before planting out, so as to have then maximum nutrients available for the beans.

Quotewhat type of fertiliser do you rake in at the end?

If edible I use Fish blood & bone (as in the slide show)

If non edible I use Growmore!

QuoteI also think the answer depends on the type of soil.  If you have sandy or gravelly soil the nutrients get washed out, so I would suggest a spring buriel.

I agree with the type of soil issue but not the spring/autumn issue!

To explain; I never think of farm yard being nutritious although I do know it contains some, I don't know how much? so I think in terms of it not containing any, and add my own measured amounts!

Another thought I have on the issue is this;

As Digeroo states; the nutrients leach away! but does it not do this if left on the compost heap?

If it is going to leach I think I would rather it leached away on my beds rather than in the compost heap.

Unless!!.....If my manure was on a concrete bed and I could save the draining liquor then yes I would agree ...leave it to spring.

I have another view in favour of autumn application and that is; My manure might not be fully rotted down and the pundits will say let it rot down first before using..........to a point I agree.........but why can't it rot down in the soil?? afterall it will be around six months later before I plant out on it so it could be quite well rotted down by then.

Worms have been mentioned so again I see autumn application an advantage the worms have somewhere relatively warm to nestle into and breed during the winter months!

Another advantage is; with autumn applications you are putting it in when the ground is warm & workable which might not be the case in spring particularly if we have a wet/cold winter/spring.

This means you may have to work very hard under difficult sticky condititions to get your beds ready for planting out.

Isn't it strange? having gardened for around forty years, I find the jury still seems to be out on this one!

So once again I would say;  it is a case of " do what is best" for you!

I've just had manure delivered which is not as well rotted as I would like so it's going to be divided between next year's beans, squash and potato beds and left heaped up to rot. In the spring time some of it will be distributed round the fruit beds. I'm wary of putting it there now in case it "burns" the plants.

Quote from: grawrc on November 10, 2009, 13:56:51
I've just had manure delivered which is not as well rotted as I would like so it's going to be divided between next year's beans, squash and potato beds and left heaped up to rot. In the spring time some of it will be distributed round the fruit beds. I'm wary of putting it there now in case it "burns" the plants.

get a water -proof cover on it, to stop the nutrients from leaching out!! ;)

Yes thanks Tony. The tarps are waiting in the shed. Once I've shifted it from the path it'll get tucked in for the winter.