[tooo many seeds]

iv'e had 4 ton of manure delivered and am wondering when is best to dig it in and hows best to do it,i have 5 rods of land and am not sure how much to put in,is it best to dig in later as theres some straw still in it,does this need to rot down first :unsure:all advise welcome

[mumofstig]

If you can still see what's straw and what's poo  then it's not well rotted and it needs more time to rot down IMO
Some people seem to spread it on as it is and let it rot in situ, though I've never done this - so see what the others say

[sunshineband]

There is no-one near my plot that digs in 'unrotted manure' they all cover it with plastic or weedsuppressant membrane for a year or two, before chiselling it out and then digging it in.

Werks fer all of them 

[Nikkithefoot]

I get a load each year of semi rotted cow manure. I spread it over the plot when its empty of veg and leave the wormies to do their stuff. A light forking in the spring is all that is needed then. My spuds have been amazing since I've been doing this as they are the first crop to be grown after manuring.

[compostqueen]

You can chuck it on and leave it. Or you can cover the pile with a cheapo tarp or bung it in the compost bins and rot it.

I like to chuck a thick layer on of the fresh stuff for next year's spud bed(s) and I don't bother to rot that. I don't dig it in either. 

I don't say you should do the same but that's what I do 

[lacewing]

Last autumn I stacked a load of manure and straw and covered it with tarp.
I opened the heap last week and the contents is like black peat. I will wait until spring to spread it, as I fear the winter rain may wash the goodness out. Takes a bit of work to stack a large heap but well worth the effort.

[rowlandwells]

i spread my dung in autumn after the veg harvest i use both cattle and horse muck plough the ground and then let the worms and winter do its job in spring i just cultivate the ground this method can't be to bad because the farmers seem to do the same after harvest

under our Lottie terms and conditions one is not permitted to stack or cover manure its your preference as you see by the submitted comments each has there way of using there dung on the Lottie

take your pick

[Muddylou]

I'm lucky in that I can get lots of straw/manure, I cover the beds around now that are going to have the spuds and brassica's in next Spring, this allows them to rot somewhat and also be rinsed of urine by rain and snow. I also fill up the compost heap with it, that'll rot down over the next year and will be used on next years over winter garlic, onion and shallot beds.

[stompy]

I put not fresh, but manure with straw in it straight on the beds.

Im not putting it on to feed the plants, im putting it on to improve the soil and feed the bacteria in the soil and also to protect the soil beneith without smothering it with plastic.

The rain can get through to keep the soil moist so the animal/fungal life can do it's magic.

I leave it over the winter and dig it in in the Spring and add BFB at the same time to feed the plants.


Just the way i do it , not saying it's the best way but it works for me