[Lynne]

I've checked the glossary and searched but can't find an answer to my question.

I am having some fresh manure delivered to the plot and won't be using it just yet. Can I cover it with polythene or is it better to cover it with old carpet or something else. (I want to cover it to prevent people thinking it's there for the taking.

[WG.]

Stack the fresh stuff and cover with polythene.  If it is very dry then wait until it has had some heavy rain and then put on the polythene.

Best after 2 years.

[muntjac]

Stack the fresh stuff and cover with polythene.  If it is very dry then wait until it has had some heavy rain and then put on the polythene.

Best after 2 years.

 or water it with a hose  :roll:

       

[WG.]

or water it with a hose  :roll:

       

Just no patience you folks ...  

Have update the Glossary now Lynne

[noshed]

I've just been thinking about manure, having spent this evening barrowing a lot of it about. In my opinion the urine-soaked straw is the best stuff, whereas a lot of my neighbours favour the horse balls themselves. An interesting question don't you think?

[DD.]

I've just been thinking about manure, having spent this evening barrowing a lot of it about. In my opinion the urine-soaked straw is the best stuff, whereas a lot of my neighbours favour the horse balls themselves. An interesting question don't you think?

Yup. Most of us on here can talk sh..... all night!

[mkhenry]

I've just been thinking about manure, having spent this evening barrowing a lot of it about. In my opinion the urine-soaked straw is the best stuff, whereas a lot of my neighbours favour the horse balls themselves. An interesting question don't you think?

The urine soaked straw is a great addition to your soil. The rest is also good,but I was always told that you should not keep putting manure on year after year,it does more harm than good.
This seems to go against the current trend.Compost (soil improvers)every year is good. Manure not so good

I would love to know what others think about this.
It should make some interesting reading.

[muntjac]

if you put manure in every year you wil eventually poison the remaining soil to much is worse than not enough ... every three years is what i do and wont change i dont add any other copmposts etc just fertiliers to bring things on or bosst them

[mkhenry]

if you put manure in every year you wil eventually poison the remaining soil to much is worse than not enough ... every three years is what i do and wont change i dont add any other copmposts etc just fertiliers to bring things on or bosst them

Thank you Munty thats what I was always told,but it seems the word as got around in some places to add manure every year. :cry:

And whats more it seems that some people are putting too much faith in one type of improvement long before they have got the soil "just right" ,or as they used to say in "good heart".

I believe that you need to put back whatever your plants have taken out in the last growing season,And that may be different on one part of the plot to another.
Proper planning now in the off season could save a lot of trouble in the next growing season.

Remember your so called pests can also do your plot some good.
So dont plan to kill everything. :roll:

[brucesgirl]

I'm planning to only manure the beds I will be growing brassica's in, so in my crop rotation that is two beds a year. The rest will get soil improver, garden compost and leaf mould as the need arises, and some are laid to green manure.

[fatbelly]

if you put manure in every year you will eventually poison the remaining soil to much is worse than not enough ... every three years is what i do and wont change i don't add any other compost's etc just fertilisers to bring things on or boost them

This surprises me.
I just assumed that I would have too add Manure every Autumn!!!!!

[WG.]

This surprises me.
I just assumed that I would have too add Manure every Autumn!!!!!

Provided you are also adding lime, then I don't see adding manure annually as being a problem.

Some things to watch out for :
1. don't add lime and manure at the same time (manure autumn, lime spring)
2. don't add manure where you will grow roots
3. don't add lime where you will grow tatties

[gobs]

This surprises me.
I just assumed that I would have too add Manure every Autumn!!!!!

Provided you are also adding lime, then I don't see adding manure annually as being a problem.

Some things to watch out for :
1. don't add lime and manure at the same time (manure autumn, lime spring)
2. don't add manure where you will grow roots
3. don't add lime where you will grow tatties

That's just sorts it out, thank you WG. We used to add manure every 3-4 years as Munty and MH say, but I'm adding every year (except for roots ) to improve my heavy clay soil.

[Top Cat]

I've read a lot in the forum about green manures where do the plants/seeds come from. I've a small bare patch which could do with a bit of lfe over winter

[WG.]

I've read a lot in the forum about green manures where do the plants/seeds come from. I've a small bare patch which could do with a bit of lfe over winter

I reckon you are a bit late for it now TC - especially if you need to send off for seed from a catalogue.

Try this if you've got some mustard seed or fenugreek in your spice cabinet.  Mix the seed with a few handfuls of damp soil & keep in a warm place for maybe 2 days to start germination.   Then broadcast sow & rake lightly to cover.   You should be planting when the first tiny shoots are visible.   Water in & keep moist for the first week.