Farm Yard Manure

[stavroslinni]

Hi all.....

have decided my plot needs some much needed improvement soil wise

Have sown some green manures but am also looking at buying already bagged farm yard manure..... prob a bit naive but can you just spread it on and sow things straight away or does it need to be left a while before anything can be put in ??
Im looking at the J Arthurs brand if that makes any difference.
Thanks all

[VirginVegGrower]

I asked the farmer for his well rotted cow muck last year, then let it rot some more and put it onto my potato and squash beds last Autumn. You can very often get muck for free, if you have farms/stables nearby. You may have to shovel it. Luckily our allotment borders the farm fields and our message to the farmer is an upturned bucket on a garden cane. Be sure that it is Aminopyralid free though. Google the term for further info. Must always be well rotted. I assume JBA would be, just not sure if it's free of the dreaded pesticide.

[rustylady]

I presume you mean this

J Arthur Bower’s Blended Farm Manure
Composted blend of sterilised manure and shavings
Increases microbe activity in soil.
Improves structure and fertility.
Better drainage and aeration in clay soils.
Improves water retention.
Bag Size: 50L

If so, it is already composted/rotted.

[Compo72]

An old farmer boy once told me .
manure in the autumn .
Let Winter do its work better then any cultivating in the Spring .

That's why farmers leave plough over winter .