[chasechicken]

**D'oh, just realised I clicked into the wrong forum .. I shall await it being moved :-\ **

Hi all,

I've recently taken on an allotment and have finished weeding and am now ready to turn it over in time for spring growing.  We have a couple of horses too and I figured it would make sense to make use of the vast amount of poo we pick from the field and muck out of the stables etc.

My question is how 'well rotted' should the manure be before I top the allotment with it?  I probably have a pile that's 3 months old at the bottom which won't go too far.  Also is straw a no-no?

I'm afraid this is just the beginning .. no doubt I'll be asking all sorts of things as the allotment takes shape :-)

[Yorkie]

Well rotted at this time of year usually means at least 6 months, if not 12 months.  I don't think much decomposition will take place in the next couple of months either.

[chasechicken]

OK thanks - in that case I'll probably save it for next year ...

[AlaninCarlisle]

We have a similar situation. I leave it on the muck-heap for at least a year normally but have started a new routine. Once crops are in, I use new stuff as a sort of mulch - not on leaf-crops I hasten to add - and allow worms and decomposition to do its work in situ.

You don't state what bedding material you use. We use coarse sawdust and find the rotted mix of droppings and bedding is a great soil conditioner on our heavy soil. It sort of opens it up and makes it far easier to work. If you're using straw bedding it'll rot down quicker than the sawdust but conversely not open up clayey soil to the same extent