[Dopey113]

On an allotment (usually quite big) do people put bags of compost in them? I'm lucky and get a free supply of horse manure, but I would have thought it was a very expensive way to do it, having said that, would there be a time that you would buy bags of it to put it on certain veg, and if so what veg would you use it for? thnaks

[Yorkie]

I wouldn't advise using bags of compost to improve the soil, unless it was really really poor soil and there wasn't any likelihood of getting manure.

I only use compost for seeds / pots.

[DD.]

Don't confuse compost, (as bought), with manure.

Compost is a complete growing medium in its own right. Manure is a soil improver, containing a certain amount of nutrients and humus.

[Dopey113]

But that would be very expensive to do that though wouldn't it? the reason I ask is I have 4 bags someone gave me, its not old stuff its quite fresh, and I didn't know how best to use it, or what plants would benefit from it best, I held back one bag for my seeds, (he gave me 4 bags in all) and I want to keep the other for seedling for future use

[DD.]

Seeds and seedlings do not require much in the way of nutrition - they certainly don't want a great dollop of fresh horse manure!

If it's fresh, it's best to keep it for at least year, then use it on heavy feeders like spuds & sweetcorn.

[Yorkie]

I'm not quite sure what point you're trying to make?  Have you got bags of manure or of compost?

Manure is cheaper than compost when comparing volume.

They are, as DD says, designed for different purposes.  That is why bought / sealed compost is more expensive.  It is sterilised and balanced for nutrients, and designed for specific plant growth.

Manure's main purpose is as a soil conditioner.  It improves the structure of your soil by aiding drainage and moisture retention (sounds contradictory but is true, depending on the nature of your soil!).

If you've got 4 bags of decent compost and don't know what to do with them, you can put it on the plot but it's an awful waste of decent compost unless your soil is really poor.  If you've got 4 bags of manure, let it rot as DD says for a year and then put it where your beans or spuds are going to grow.

[Dopey113]

I have bags of compost that i want to use up,

The manure I put on the allotment and dig in, i get that for free from a farmer down the road, he gets a tractor load and dumps it on the allotment every week, so i do know what that's for


OK I will keep the bags of compost safe for seedlings an such like

Thanks guys

[DD.]

Don't use the manure on root veg though!

[Dopey113]

OK on onions and garlic though isn't it.... that's what I have in the manure already, and I have been told to put partly rotten manure on top of them (I haven't yet) but I wasn't so sure that was the right thing to do so I didn't, I know its kinda acid