[Craigx]

Hello,

I dug about a foot down, and put a level of  chicken bedding/rabbit bedding/waste of both and then covered back up, then when level, put another layer that had been standing for about a month(the wastes) and then covered with more soil, so its about 2 breeze blocks high now,

Will this be ok to grow on?


both manure's had been left to rot for about 2/3 months, before putting in, to the ground,


As im still turning the soil over and adding more soil, the chickens have been on it and scratching on it and id assume pooping,

Can i get peoples throughts?


Craig

[Craigx]

Oh i forgot to add what id plan on growing,

Carrots,
Onions,
Sprouts,
Brocilli,
Chives,
Tomatoes,
Cabbage
lettice
beetroot,
MAYBE peas

Craig

[Yorkie]

I suspect the manure / other organic matter will still have a way to go in the rotting down process, and therefore would expect the soil level to drop over time as it rots down further.

For this reason I would avoid the brassicas - sprouts, broccoli, cabbage - as they need firm ground and I think you're risking it not being firm.

Tomatoes, onions, peas I think would be OK.  They won't mind too rich a soil.

Lettuce doesn't need rich soil but would probably be OK, as would beetroot.

Not sure about carrots - might make them fork.

[Christine]

Chicken manure needs about a year before use as it really is very hot. At least all the chicken keepers on the plots near me say so and if they say so, I go with them.

[fatcat1955]

I would say go ahead and plant. The worms will make short work on the manure and it will rot much quicker than being in a heap. By the way you have the makings of a hot bed there. Just cover with a fleece or polythene and the soil will really warm up.

[Ema]

Rabbit poo is classed as a cold manure and is safe to use fresh, doesn't burn your plants or contain any nasties. chicken poo can contain nasties like salmonella and ecoli and needs to be left to decompose and get hot for at least a year with plenty of turning

[Totty]

Putting manure that is quite fresh in your soil will have a negative effect short term IMO. The process manure and alike go through to rot down actually uses up nitrogen in the soil.
I had no choice but to use manure that was around a year old for this season. I had lots delivered and in the process of it being loaded with a jcb, it had some fresher stuff in it. A couple of weeks before planting I'll rake a good helping of BFB through the soil to give a boost and make up for any nitrogen lost through the fresh manure.

Totty

[Craigx]

Hello

Thank you for all your comments, iv now moved a lot of the soil onto a larger area, and mixed alot more soil into it, to really spread it out more, so it isnt so concentrated (it was a thickish layer then soil, then another layer)


Whats does BFB mean?

Craig

[Totty]

It's blood fish and bone. An organic balanced fertiliser.

Totty