Manure Too Hot For Courgette & Squash?

So shortly I will be needing to plant out courgette and a squash and had heard that these like being planted into a mound of compost/manure, problem is the horse manure that's available on our allotment is fairly fresh, and so very strong. In light of that will planting directly into soil, minus the goodness of compost, be worthwhile, or as productive?

If you can't get rotted manure, then perhaps you can get hold of some comfrey or stinging nettles (do wear gloves!) and soak them in a bucket of water for a few weeks. It'll stink something awful, but you can then drain off some of the liquid into a water can, add more water, and drench both leaves and soil for a good feeding.

Seaweed in either powder or liquid is also a good organic fertilizer and available at most shops until your manure ages.

I plant mine into horse poo that's about 3 months old at the most - they do pretty well. One is now 3 foot high and rising.

Seaweed in either powder or liquid is also a good organic fertilizer and available at most shops until your manure ages.

I know it's possible to make liquid seaweed feed by adding water to the dry seaweed compound - but is that calcified seaweed or can it be done with seaweed meal as well, do you know?

I always dig a good sack of manure under my courgettes....not to bothered how rotted it is as long as it's at least on the way. I feel it's as much about water retention as feeding.

Fresh manure doesn't kill established grass, nor does it encourage growth. It mostly temporarily stunts growth. You'll notice that where horse/cow flops sit, the grass remains short for quite a while, nor will the cows/horses graze anywhere near it, which is why more farmers are not pasturing their livestock.

But established grasses are quite different to delicate young squash seedlings and roots.  You can't compare apples to oranges.