[ThatsNice]

I have found a source of horse manure from very local stables, that I've been invited to help myself too. They have told me its been sitting since October. I'm intending putting a heap full in my new compost bins (when they're built!). I was wondering though, when I come to plant my spuds in a few weeks time, will that manure be ok to use on the spud beds or should I use something else until its rotted down for longer?

[mumofstig]

if it doesn't smell like .....erm.......... poo  then it's ok to use 

[ThatsNice]

Haha!!  Good tip! Will have a good sniff before spreading it about 

[ilan]

I am always very very wary about using fresh horse manure or even some composted stuff as weed seeds are designed to pass thro a horses digestive system and be deposited in its own mini compost heap !! spread this on the land at your own risk Best place is to bury it deepish so that any viable seeds are unable to reach the surface or as a mulch in dry weather so the seeds germinate and die off or the birds get them 

[gavinjconway]

I use it all the time and it has loads of shavings... Everyone always says "you have to leave it to rot down first" ... well look at these pics and decide for yourself. I just add some extra fertilizer or chicken pellets to give it some nitrogen to break the shavings down..

[gavinjconway]

Here is another at the height of the growing season..     I have done it for years like this..

[Yana]

Wow Gavin that is brilliant.
Ive got a load that looks very much like your does in the first pic. I thought I would have to leave it to rot for aaaaaaaaaages.
I have put some directly onto the lottie but got shaking of the head and tuts when i did by the old timers , sorry Experienced plot holders.
So just chuck it on and then throw on chicken pellets as well?

[ThatsNice]

That does indeed look fab! I am very encouraged to just go for it now

[gavinjconway]

It might not be right but it seems to work for me.

[yaxley]

Well i must say things have grown well for you there ..

[upert]

the question is do you fertilise in other ways too? such as fish blood and bone, growmore etc? a lot of the older hands throw fresh muck on their plots and don't worry that it hasn't time to rot and they all do well. i always ask what else they use though as muck is more of a soil conditioner that a fertiliser.

plus, with the year we've just had i imagine a heck of a lot of nutrients have been washed away. i'll be adding liberal handfuls of fish blood and bone throughout the year.

[devonbarmygardener]

Manure on potato beds is supposed to cause potato scab on the skin.
Now I now this doesn't effect the potato beneath the skin - but depends what type you're planting. Scabby looking new potatoes aren't very appealing!

I use pelleted chicken manure on my potatoes only and save the manure for eveything else.

[JayG]

I think you have to balance the possibility that the manure is infected with the bacteria which can cause scab with the fact that dry conditions when the tubers are forming is perfect for allowing infection to take place (the other risk factor is alkaline soil conditions.)

I prioritise my home-made compost for use in the spud trenches and have never had scabby spuds despite growing them in a very light soil.

[gavinjconway]

Manure on potato beds is supposed to cause potato scab on the skin.
Now I now this doesn't effect the potato beneath the skin - but depends what type you're planting. Scabby looking new potatoes aren't very appealing!

I use pelleted chicken manure on my potatoes only and save the manure for eveything else.

Mine were fab with no scabbs at all..

[Ema]

This is encouraging as I've picked up a few fresh bags at the weekend.

I was always lead to believe that you need to rot down hot manures because of the potential for food poisoning?

Gavin do you prep your beds with fresh poo in autumn or sping?