[charleneaj]

Hello. I need some advise please!

I am just coming to the end of my first growing season with my allotment (only got it in march)

I have just taken delivery of some fresh manure and wondering the best way to use it.

I have planted some winter veg - cauliflowers, broccoli and have some leeks in pots ready to go in. I just need to find out whether I can use the manure on the plots with plants already in? When do I spread it and how ling do I wait until I put my leeks in?

Thank you so much in advance

Charlene

[ARPoet]

Hi,Charlene, and welcome.

Fresh manure really needs to rot down before use. I have 3 manure heaps in different degree of rotting down.
If you have an empty bed that wont be used until next summer you could spread it on there and let the worms do the work.

Leeks like a feed of Blood Fish and Bonemeal... BFB.

[oakridge]

Hello Charleneaj.  It all depends on what sort of manure you have;  chicken is probably the most problematic in a small area because it is too 'hot' to use at first, horse and cow are about the same but will need some time.  Worms are wonderful little helpers.

Malcolm

[wrinkly1]

leave it till next year if fresh. it will only burn your crops. cheers wrinkly1

[mumofstig]

If it smells like poo don't use it yet, unless you can put it on an empty bed that won't be touched till Spring.

If it doesn't smell then you can use it straight away - just don't let it actually touch any plants.

Otherwise just heap it up somewhere and spread it in the Spring.

[charleneaj]

Thanks for all your help guys. It is fresh horse manure... although it doesn't smell so not sure how fresh it is!

So i'm ok to put it on a bed i'm not going to use until the spring, but not ones i'm going to use straight away? If i'm to use some straight away, what am I best to get? Compost??

Thanks. Its great to be able to ask these questions!

[Christine]

You may be able to purchase bags of manure from the garden centre if you have a large enough one near you - it's often cheaper than compost and will be well enough rotted to use immediately.

[Potty Plotty Lotty]

You may be able to purchase bags of manure from the garden centre if you have a large enough one near you - it's often cheaper than compost and will be well enough rotted to use immediately.

It was 3 bags for a tenner at B&Q earlier in the week.