[dazza]

I have just had my manure delivered - as has lots of people down the allotments !

Now my allotment is flat and we have sandy very free draining soil on our plots - so i thought leave the manure to rot down over winter and spread early spring !

However plenty of the old boys seem to be getting it straight in the ground, and i have been told "get it in the ground boi"

What do i do ? :?

Darren

[Steve.P]

Hi dazza,
Personally i would get it dug in now, to give it time to feed the soil. I'm not sure which crops they are, but some dont like freshly manured ground, so best to check on these.

[PinkTequila]

How fresh is the manure? I would only stack if it very fresh. However, because of your sandy soil you can easily geta way without the winter digging and dig the manure in in the Spring. Personally I prefer to get the job done before I get too busy in the Spring and I haveheavier soil where it is preferable in my opinion to dig it straight in.

[paintedlady]

I might be tempted to dig it in now - the pile isn't going to rot down very much by spring, and as you have sandy soil, the rain will leach out the strong urine/ammonia and with it being spread around in the soil, it is going rot down a lot quicker than if it is a great big pile at the bottom of the plot.

[dazza]

Thanks for your input the Manue is 1 year old, nice and dark !

Still get it in the soil ?

Darren

[agapanthus]

I would'nt dig it in....let the worms drag it down for you!! Just leave it on top of the soil

[PAH48]

Hi one and all, I go with Aggi, if it's faily new stuff, as I have done, spread it over the top soil -let the weather and nature -ie the worms ect. Take it into the ground?!!  Some guys cover it with black plasic or viscreen (DPC), (so seeds don't get in?) At the end of the day, early spring I just fork it over. PS. mine is also very light sandy soil, add I had bumper crops this year, gave tons away and were still eating, wanna cabbage?
Bye PAH  still   in... hope that helps?

[dazza]

the guy on the next plot has left on the surface - and somebody knowcked him for it - but i think i will do the same !

Thanks for all the advice  

Darren

[Ice]

I would'nt dig it in....let the worms drag it down for you!! Just leave it on top of the soil

I agree with Aggie.  Why dig it in if the worms can do it for you.

[agapanthus]

the guy on the next plot has left on the surface - and somebody knowcked him for it - but i think i will do the same !

Thanks for all the advice  

Darren

These old allotment boys........they know nothin'!!!!!!!!!

[PinkTequila]

I would assume (maybe wrongly in this age of no dig gardening) that you are going to dig your plot anyway so you may as well dig in the manure at the same time. Worms still get it it they just don't have to collect i, it is delivered to them.

[Faz]

I've just spread manure and grass clippings on the heaviest area of my patch - I have dreadful clay soil there and won't be able to get on there until well in to the new year now, so I thought I'd let the friendly worms take the strain (and also stop my feet turning in to large round lumps of clay )

I shall be stopping by the stables on the way home to collect a few more bags for another bit of my patch but am planning on digging this a bit before I put the manure on so the worms and the frost can have a go at helping me.

[Rampant_Weasel]

probably wont matter about digging if u have sandy soil but round here its clay, and if u dont dig it in the autumn...in the spring its like conrete :cry: