[VickyR]

Hello again

I've got 4 tons of manure currently rotting down on my allotment.

Could I put soil (6-10 inches?) over part of this and grow courgettes or squashes on it later in the year?

 It's been rotting down for about three months now and is currently covered with black plastic.  

I know people sometimes make a hot box but I am none too good with the woodwork!

Thanks
Vicky

[WG.]

You will get a massive amount of leaves and not necessarily many courgettes.   They'll crop better if you give them masses of space per plant, and don't be afraid to hack off a few leaves to let the sun / air onto the flowers.

[Annie]

My hubby did something similar but we covered 1/2 with 8" soil and the rest grow bags,there didn`t seem much difference and we had more courgettes than we have ever had and when they were finished the manure was spread over the other beds.We will be popping next door for more manure next month to repeat the experiment with less courgette plants and adding some squash.

[WG.]

did something similar but we covered 1/2 with 8" soil and the rest grow bags

Courgettes don't go very deep so I doubt they reached the dung Annie.  I'd suggest a plug of soil, 4" deep by 6" diameter to get the courgette started.  Then stand back.  

A black poly mulch helps keep the water at the roots.

[agapanthus]

How about pumpkins grown in the same manner? I have a pile of rotted down chicken pooh and wanted to try and grow an xtra large pumpkin this year to raise funds for our local hospice....only want to grow 1 or 2 plants this way,

[WG.]

How about pumpkins grown in the same manner? I have a pile of rotted down chicken pooh and wanted to try and grow an xtra large pumpkin this year to raise funds for our local hospice....only want to grow 1 or 2 plants this way,

Absolutely.  Don't see why not .. is it WELL rotted though since chicken dung is powerful stuff.   You could use larger soil pockets to compensate.

I did try it with pumpkin once but early frosts (September) left me with pumpkins smaller than a gold ball.

[Annie]

We were being cautious,this years plan(!!)is nice brick built beds(2 I think) with one end board or something for emptying at the end of the season are going to try 6" soil and a seep hose since I found watering a high bed quite tough.
Ours started as a storage solution for manure but OH got all enthusiastic and instead of being hardscaper,digger and mover of heavy objects is muscling in on the plants although he leaves me to the seed sewing and potting on.

[WG.]

 You could use larger soil pockets to compensate.

You could also turn it around and use chicken muck to enrich pockets of regular garden soil.  Try both & tell us all which works best for you.  

[agapanthus]

Think I will do Whisy:)

[WG.]

muscling in on the plants although he leaves me to the seed sewing and potting on.

I am lucky(?) in the sense that Mrs Golf takes ZERO interest in the garden.  She loves the veg of course, but only once harvested or, better still, cooked.

She also loves the sleek, healthy, suntanned, muscled Adonis who has to do all the hard work     .  That's ME before any wag asks who helps me out.

[ziggywigs]

She also loves the sleek, healthy, suntanned, muscled Adonis who has to do all the hard work     .  That's ME before any wag asks who helps me out.

OH is the same as Mrs WG only interested in the harvesting and eating...but that's great for me as i get it all to myself.

[Annie]

:cry: I did not write anything about suntanned Adonis,that was WG boasting again,though OH does have good legs and sexy forearms!
However the vegi plot was my little kingdom,and since OH works from a workshop at home,my space.Now he`s taking over potatoes,parsnips/carrots.courgettes/squash,says we shouldn`t grow so many toms in the greenhouse-just have to hope that he helps with the watering this year and doesn`t notice that Izzie has her own little bed!
!

[WG.]

WG boasting again

First offence I think Annie       Remind me never to throw out that magic mirror I've got.

[Annie]

Only Mrs WG can settle this one!

[WG.]

Only Mrs WG can settle this one!

I had to hide her glasses 10 years ago.