[erainn]

Having acquired an allotment, cleared it and now waiting a few weeks before planting, to hopefully avoid frosts, I added some fairly dry horse manure. As a newbie to growing veg I have sought advice from fellow allotment holders and opinion seems divided as whether adding it makes the plot too 'hot' for planting or not.

As it stands I have squash, dwarf beans, leeks and tomatoes in pots at home and brocolli & red/white onions, carrot/parsnip seeds sown (which are already in an un-manured part of my plot.I am also hoping to plant borlotti/runner beans plus mange tout.

Will the manured soil be too much for such planting, or will certain of those veg be happy in such conditions? Or should I just cast caution to the wind and plant as and when?

[mumofstig]

was it fresh manure or old/rotted manure?

[erainn]

Hi, it seems to be fairly dry, certainly not very fresh.

[mumofstig]

If it old enough that it doesn't smell,  it shouldn't harm anything......dryness doesn't really answer whether it is rotted or not, though.

The carrots and parsnips deffo won't like it, either way, but as long as it isn't unrotted
then the rest should be ok.

[erainn]

Hello, there is nt a very strong smell, but if I hoe it over then it gives off a slight whiff of manure. I won't be planting until a few weeks time, so am hoping it will be alright.

[peapod]

Give it a really good dig in and make sure its fully incorporated into the soil.   That will do the trick over the next few weeks.

[erainn]

Hello, shall certainly take your advice on that, thanks.