[little sweetpeas]

Hi, (really sorry if this sounds thick)

I've been offered (in payment for some garden clearing that i've done)

3 tonnes of my choice of mushroom compost, very,very well rotted manure or a mix delivered onto my plot.

My neighbour, (who doesn't grow veg but who's father always used mushroom compost and had a fantastic veg garden) said i should get all of it as mushroom compost as it's already got manure in it.

To be honest i don't really know anything about the stuff and would love some advice of what i should have. i have to give him an answer today and his son will then deliver it in the morning.

It's to fill raised beds in my polytunnel (2 beds are 20ftx3ft and another 17ftx 4ft) The wooden frames are 20cm high but i've only got between 10- 15cm left to fill. They are sited on good soil that i've had good crops from.

[Rampant_Weasel]

what are you going to grow in them?

[GrannieAnnie]

I'd go for it!  If you have the mushroom compot, you'll get mushrooms from it!  Not sure how many, but someone on here I'm sure used to get mushroom compost from somewhere, and he had quite a few mushrooms!!

Or a good mixture, will be lovely in your polytunnel.  We fill ours with poultry poop!  Although you don't need it very deep, you'll be surprised how much you'll use when its spread between those big beds!

You lucky thing you!!!!

[little sweetpeas]

I'd go for it!  If you have the mushroom compot, you'll get mushrooms from it!  Not sure how many, but someone on here I'm sure used to get mushroom compost from somewhere, and he had quite a few mushrooms!!

Or a good mixture, will be lovely in your polytunnel.  We fill ours with poultry poop!  Although you don't need it very deep, you'll be surprised how much you'll use when its spread between those big beds!

You lucky thing you!!!!

I forget about the chicken poo, i keep tipping in my compost at home should i be taking it down the plot or does it take a long time to break down.

[little sweetpeas]

what are you going to grow in them?

Well a bit of everything, lots of carrots, few onions, i hope to have lots of early peas and bean next year, spinach, spring cabbage

loads and load of tomatoes,peppers, melons,squash and cucumbers in the summer

[senrab_nhoj]

I'd go for it!  If you have the mushroom compot, you'll get mushrooms from it!  Not sure how many, but someone on here I'm sure used to get mushroom compost from somewhere, and he had quite a few mushrooms!!

Or a good mixture, will be lovely in your polytunnel.  We fill ours with poultry poop!  Although you don't need it very deep, you'll be surprised how much you'll use when its spread between those big beds!

You lucky thing you!!!!

I forget about the chicken poo, i keep tipping in my compost at home should i be taking it down the plot or does it take a long time to break down.

Chicken * is very 'hot' and needs 6 months before getting it anywhere near a plant or its roots

[DD.]

I'd go for a mix.

Spent mushroom compost, (which is what it is as it's been used), does not have a lot of nutrient in it, but is good for lightening the soil.

Do NOT manure where you intend to grow root veg like carrots & parsnips.

Spuds are not a root veg, so you are safe with them.

[chicken soup]

We brought some mushroom compost many years ago before we had the allotment to put on our flower borders.  Later that year we had a lovely crop of mushrooms it was well worth our few pounds for the compost.  

[little sweetpeas]

bit confused now, i think it's the pressure i have to decide right away.

so you seem to be all saying go for a mix.

So does 2 tonnes of mushroom compost and 1 tonnes of manure sound OK.

and then am i right in that one bed could just be filled with the MC so that the likes of carrotts can be planted.

[Salmo]

Mushroom compost is rotted straw and has very little nutrients in it. It has lime in it. Very good for a mulch or general soil improvement. Because of the lime content do not put it where potatoes will go or they will have scab. There will be no weed seeds in it.

Well rotted manure has nutrients and is far more valuable to my mind. Put it where potatoes grow. It may have weed seeds in it.

If you are building new beds I cannot see how you can avoid either manure, mushroom compost or some other organic material. If you want to grow roots choose varieties with shorter roots.

[little sweetpeas]

Mushroom compost is rotted straw and has very little nutrients in it. It has lime in it. Very good for a mulch or general soil improvement. Because of the lime content do not put it where potatoes will go or they will have scab. There will be no weed seeds in it.

Well rotted manure has nutrients and is far more valuable to my mind. Put it where potatoes grow. It may have weed seeds in it.

If you are building new beds I cannot see how you can avoid either manure, mushroom compost or some other organic material. If you want to grow roots choose varieties with shorter roots.

I wonder if as they are loose loads and they are doing it as a favour maybe i could ask for 1/2 and 1/2 so 1.5 tonnes of manure and another of the m/compost.

[little sweetpeas]

Just wanted to say  Thank You

I've just phoned and asked for a mix of the two.

So i guess a lot of digging to do over the weekend.

[little sweetpeas]

Well it's arrived. However it was all mixed together but looks great stuff. Tiped onto my plot.

It's really crumply and the likes of carrots and parsnips would have no problem.I started to fill my beds and when i came across any larg bits i've put them to one side.

Anyway a guy walked down and had a nose (the type that never parts with any cash and always wants something for nothing including everyone elses manure etc) and said well you can't plant in that it's too fresh.

It does have a smell, rather sweet if that makes sense but it's all black and i'd say 90% of it is really crumbly.

So my question is can I plant in it, lets face it this will be the other side of Christmas.

[jazzbyrd]

Remember though !!!! you will get fuzzy carrots and parsnips if you manure the bed they are growing in DD mentioned this earlier!! Carrots and parsnips do not like a rich soil!!

Jazz

[little sweetpeas]

Oh so it's not that carrot fork in bulky soil it's also they don't like rich soil.

I'll leave a little area free of both of them in that case.