[Geordie]

spread raw horse manure on my veg patch?

I'm getting a load dropped next weekend and can't decide whether to spread it or stack it and use it at the end of the year?

 

[Springlands]

If it is raw manure you would be better to stack it and then use next year when it has matured. 

[gobs]

If your soil is wet by now I would refrain from putting anything onto it. For this shall act as a mulch, so preventing the soil from drying out in spring for planting in time.

[Kajazy]

Oops - I've just been chucking piles of compost onto the bare areas of my plot! And my soil's clayey and wet... I was hoping the worms would do some work for me... 

[gobs]

Oops - I've just been chucking piles of compost onto the bare areas of my plot! And my soil's clayey and wet... I was hoping the worms would do some work for me... 

You might get away with a thin layer of compost or it shall be a good place for bog plants. Accordingly, you might find the need to turn it in spring.

[mumofstig]

IMO compost is ok.
The original question was about fresh manure - and it's not a good idea to put that on now, cos it won't rot in time 

[japagow]

For the first time I am holding back on spreading muck until January Feb.

The soil is clay and I can hear trickling, not a tsunami whoosh, in January as it courses down the side of the field towards me. Very wet.
The previous attempts haven't worked very well as everything gets too damp and turning it is a real slog. In other drier plots I have seen the manure slowly brought down in to the soil as winter grinds on but not here.

So the pile has stayed put until now and I'll wait.


Good enough excuse for being lazy.?

[Geordie]

Thanks for the feedback chaps. 

Looks like it's going in a pile to rot down.

Could I put some of it in one of those dalek type compost bins? I've got one sitting around doing nothing atm.

[Trillium]

The dalek will work fine, just be sure to add it in layers to some dried matter like sticks, leaves, dried grasses, shredded paper, etc. This avoids one huge soggy ball of raw poo that needs 2 years to rot.