[Ian_A]

I am in the process of allocating space for the various veg for the year, and my OH had spread manure over some the main plot back in November - about 2-3 wheelbarrow loads for about 30 square metres I gather. iAnd also spinkled a load of chicken manure over most of the plot.

Now some of this was space that was going to be for this year's parsnips and carrots but it HAD to be manure didn't it?! I assume even that ratio of manure would make it daft to grow the parnips and carrots.....or is it not so much of an issue with chicken manure

But hey ho, back to my spreadsheet for rejigging things around!!

[Trillium]

I know a lot of people will strongly disagree with me, but I manure my carrot and parsnip areas every year in fall. And I use chicken manure because my neighbour kindly delivers a spreader load free right to my garden every year. I do mine in fall because the manure is relatively fresh. If it was aged, I'd do it in spring. This is the key: is your manure fresh or aged?

I spread a barrow load about every 3-4 sq ft and later rotovate it into my clay soil. Where I plan to put toms, I'll add a bit more, maybe 1-1/2 barrow loads/ 3-4 sq ft.

You'd not be wrong to spread yours over ten times that area because soil does need feeding. And no, I rarely get forked and never get hairy carrots or snips. What I occasionally get are a few forked ones because my soil is still stoney despite yearly clearings of such. I'm now at the point after 8 years of manuring where I'll do it only every second year because the soil is getting into better heart now.

If you already have good soil, there'd be no reason to manure as heavily as I do. Your manuring rate is good.

Here's a bit more info:

http://www.allotment-garden.org/compost-fertiliser/farmyard-animal-manures.php

edit to update link