[strangerachael]

I know this has been discussed before, but I've searched the FAQ and done a search but nothing came up.
I have a heap of very old manure on my inherited allotment (I don't know how old but at least 8 years I'm told). At the moment it's in a heap where my brassicas are going to go. I have shifted a lot of it over to the potato patch, but whatever is left I will be spreading over the cabbage patch, but I also want to lime the area. How long should I leave the manure before liming?

[sunshineband]

Ideally you would add well rotted manure to where you were going to grow brassicas in the autumn, and then lime in the spring.

This is because the two togtehr cause an adverse reacton in the soil.

Personally I would use any surplus after dealing the the potato patch for squashes and beans/ peas  now, rather than cabbages.

[TheSpartacat]

Me too... squashes, beans and sweetcorn will all thank you for it

[JayG]

I know this has been discussed before, but I've searched the FAQ and done a search but nothing came up.

Don't know what you put in as your search words but searching for "manure and lime" in just the GYO board brought up 10 pages of replies! (Best to keep searches short and simple even if they don't form a proper phrase or sentence - forum search engines ain't as smart as wot Gurgle is!) 

[Yorkie]

Make sure you click Search near the top links, rather than just putting it into the search box top right - as that will limit where the search is carried out.

[strangerachael]

Well that's odd. I just did the search again now and got masses of results. Don't know what I did wrong/differently yesterday.
The problem is that the manure is already there in the brassica bed, but I guess I could just go back to the drawing board with my crop rotation plan, seeing as nothing has gone in yet anyway.
Thanks

[Kajazy]

Lots of people just add lime to the planting hole for brassicas - maybe worth a try?

[Mr Rotavator]

Lots of people just add lime to the planting hole for brassicas - maybe worth a try?

I've never thought of that. How much? Also, has anyone had success or poor results using this method? Also again, is this recommended for all of the family including sprouts? I'm having troube with sprouts.

[plopleuk]

i did it for all my brasicas, including sprouts, and had a fantastic harvest, and still am.
i put half a hand full of lime in each hole from plants i started in  the greenhouse and then hardened in the cold frame giving them a strong root system before planting.

[Kajazy]

It seemed to work for me - I have very acid soil up on the plot, but to change the ph of a whole section would be uneconomical, so I just add an unscientific small handful (small hands here!) to the hole as I plant out each of my brassica seedlings - sprouts included! I'm still harvesting brassicas planted last year, so something must have worked!

[BabbyAnn]

I have a heap of very old manure on my inherited allotment (I don't know how old but at least 8 years I'm told)  How long should I leave the manure before liming?

Given the age of the manure pile, I wouldn't have thought the liming issue would be that great TBH.  Most of the acidic components have most likely been washed away by now.

[strangerachael]

It seemed to work for me - I have very acid soil up on the plot, but to change the ph of a whole section would be uneconomical, so I just add an unscientific small handful (small hands here!) to the hole as I plant out each of my brassica seedlings - sprouts included! I'm still harvesting brassicas planted last year, so something must have worked!

Just wondering whereabouts in Rugby your plot is Kajazy?

[Kajazy]

Actually in Kilsby!