[Barnzieowl]

I've recently had to put hours of hard work and effort into making my newly purchased allotment plot look like an allotment plot, which I have to say I have thoroughly enjoyed and am over the moon at the results.

Unbelievably, because of the wet weather, since October 2012 I have managed to get onto the plot a couple of times to dig the soil over and prepare it ready to have veg planted into it!

I am no wanting to put fertiliser into the soil to help break it down and enrich it a little. My dad has told me to use the hops from a local brewery that they have used in the brewing process and no longer require, he uses them for his plants. I have looked on the internet for anything that might suggest using hops in vegetable plots but I have been unable to find anything. I'm worried that these may have been mixed with chemicals during the brewing process and may have a negative effect on a vegetables growth.

Does anyone use hops on their plots and is its use successful?

[solway cropper]

Spent hops are a useful soil conditioner. If it's decent beer made at the brewery it shouldn't have any chemicals in it!!

[Sparkyrog]

There is a little info in this article http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/3354686/Bulk-organic-fertiliser.htm

[compostqueen]

The hops will be fine and you should accept them when you can get your hands on them.  I compost them in the dalek bin but they do seem to take a long time to rot down so mix well with other compostings.  They smell lovely    I think if you were to spread them directly on the plot would be fine but they do look a bit chunky.  I don't dig or rotovate so they do show up, so I thought it best to put them in the compost to allow them to break down.  I dare say they would be taken down by the worms eventually