[wendycas]

Hi there
We have  onions to go into a newly dug bed. The only problem is it hasn't had any manure added and I've read that onions will rot if put in freshly manured ground. if that's right-will adding poultry manure pellets be ok or will it cause the same problems? We just want to make sure they have enough nutrients in the soil.
Thank you!
Wendy

[simonwatson]

I grew my onions last year in a bed that had had manure added only a week or two previously and they all grew fine. It sounds like you're talking about planting sets. They'll rot if they are kept too wet, but that's about it from my experience. I can't comment on whether growing from seed is different.

[BabbyAnn]

maybe the confusion is freshly manured (as in well rotted manure dug in just prior to planting) or fresh manure?

I've planted soon after digging in well rotted manure and had no problems.  If there is a concern of the soil fertility, you could put some general purpose fertiliser down such as Growmore

[wendycas]

Hi
Thanks for that. Yes, they are onion sets. They need to go in now really so I don't think we could manure now and wait a few weeks but maybe we could put a general fertilizer in the soil as it hasn't had any crops in yet.
Thanks 

[DD.]

Chicken manure pellets will be fine - that's what I use.