[Kajazy]

Ok - so I'm very new at this veg-growing game, and come up with the numptiest questions  - but please could somebody explain to me when I should use compost and when I should use manure, and what their respective advantages/disadvantages are?

Also - how much are you supposed to use of each?

Thank you!

[Yorkie]

There are no daft questions on here 

(I don't know the specific answers to your questions)  

Both compost and manure are what is generically called 'organic matter'.  This means material which you add to the soil to improve its structure - it aids drainage in heavy soils and aids water retention in light soils, amazingly enough.

Although they have some nutrients, they are not used for that purpose as such, see here
http://www.allotment-garden.org/fertilizer/index.php

In general, you are not advised to add fresh manure to the soil as it can rob it of nitrogen whilst rotting down, and will be too strong for plants also growing at the same time.  People often add manure in autumn.

I use my compost in spring when I remember to empty the bins!  I put it on the ground where I'm going to grow peas, beans, courgettes or sweetcorn, as I think it helps them with water retention.  I've absolutely no idea if I should be doing something different - I've never properly understood this subject  

Don't add either, though, where you are going to grow carrots or parsnips as they will fork or go hairy.

[fatcat1955]

I spread manure in the autumn after rough digging and let the worms drag it down into the soil. I also add as much well rotted manure as i can in my bean treches. What's left goes in the compost bins and is used throughout the year as required.

[pete1977]

In general, you are not advised to add fresh manure to the soil as it can rob it of nitrogen whilst rotting down

 I thought manure put nitrogen back to the soil and it was wood etc that robbed the soil of nitrogen in the breaking down process i.e. maure with lots of starw in... am I wrong?

[prakash_mib]

In general, you are not advised to add fresh manure to the soil as it can rob it of nitrogen whilst rotting down

 I thought manure put nitrogen back to the soil and it was wood etc that robbed the soil of nitrogen in the breaking down process i.e. maure with lots of starw in... am I wrong?

I think its the other way. you are not supposed to put fresh manure because of two main reasons.
1. very high nitrogen content which burns the plants.
2. contains transferable/harmful bacteria for human beings (I read this somewhere). the council/association blocks people from using fresh manure on this "ground" 

[mumofstig]

In general, you are not advised to add fresh manure to the soil as it can rob it of nitrogen whilst rotting down

 I thought manure put nitrogen back to the soil and it was wood etc that robbed the soil of nitrogen in the breaking down process i.e. maure with lots of starw in... am I wrong?

anything that is still rotting will use nitrogen from the soil until it has finished rotting. When the rotting process has finished the nitrogen from within the manure will finally be released to the soil.
that's why the advice is to add only well rotted manure to beds that are soon to be used.