Manure

[spitfire]

Just taken over an allotment that needs a lot of work doing (dont they all)the allotment is 38m x 12m and at the very end of the site. Most of the allotment holders have manure delivered by the trailer full at a reasonable cost, however due to the narrow track the nearest he can get to my allotment is about 180m away, my querie is woud organic chicken manure pellets be a good substitute for fresh manure?. Pellets are easy to transport and costs £8.00 per 20kg bag, does anyone have any advice please

[crichmond]

If you dont mind a bit of hard work using a wheel barrow I would be inclined to get the manure.

Cheers Chris

[chuffa]

Hi Spitfire, i had to move thirteen large bags of well rotted manure with my car. Then wheelbarrowed them up two at a time, hundred meters to my plot, boy was i kn---red. I agree with crichmond, its worth the effort. Maybe you could get one of the lottie holders to help you then treat him to a couple of pints at the pub to quench your thirsts. Good luck.

[Paul Wagland]

It's about 150m from my plot to the manure drop-off point. I moved one trailer load in 2006 and will do another load at the end of this year. It's hard work, but well worth the effort and very good for you

[Eternal Sunshine]

Hi Spitfire.

Our plot is 100yds away from the manure pile but it's surprising how quickly you can move it to your plot once you get going. I think I must have barrowed tonnes of the stuff onto the plot in this last year.

[Snadger]

One of the allotment holders on our site got some muck delivered when he wasn't there and because the guy opposite couldn't get in his gate, he climbed over the top and shovelled it away..........onto his own plot!

[Paul Wagland]

I was going to say that's taking the p1ss, but it's even worse than that!

sorry.

[spitfire]

Thanks guys
Looks like I'll have to roll my sleaves up and get on with it, but not this weekend. weather going to be .......Manure! Spitfire

[Eyren]

Horse manure and chicken manure are useful in different ways, IMHO.

Chicken manure is best used like any general-purpose fertilizer, i.e. in relatively small amounts, as it's quite strong. I scattered some (from my own hens) over my raised salad beds in the winter, and my over-wintered parsley and self-seeded coriander are going great guns!

Horse manure is much better for mulching large beds, to cut down weeds, improve soil texture, etc, and can be used in much greater quantities. Well worth the effort of carting it to your plot

[Nicos]

Remember- you've also got the 'bulk' in the manure as a soil improver which you wouldn't have with pellets.

I actually find the act of transferring the muck from the heap into the barrow the hardest part- just don't overfill your barrow and you shouldn't get too knackered.

As a seedling , I used to help out at a stables and we used to compete as to who could fill the barrow the most. Bashed down and piled high!!! ....stagger...stagger...
Remember there are no 'brownie points' for the fullest/heaviest barrow loads folks!!!

PS...nice Avatar Eyren!!

[lainey lou]

Thanks guys
Looks like I'll have to roll my sleaves up and get on with it, but not this weekend. weather going to be .......Manure! Spitfire

Hi Spitfire, welcome to the vine, looks like you've got a busy weeekend coming up! Can you rope in any volunteers to help?

[Eyren]

Remember- you've also got the 'bulk' in the manure as a soil improver which you wouldn't have with pellets.

That's what I was trying to say, but you put it better. I'm aiming for the no-dig system on my plot - one good double-dig initially to get rid of most of the perennial weeds, then just cover the bed with manure and/or homemade compost every so often and leave the worms to do their job

PS...nice Avatar Eyren!!

Thanks! I made it for the poultry-keeping forums I belong to, but decided it would be appropriate here as well.

[Snadger]

That's what I was trying to say, but you put it better. I'm aiming for the no-dig system on my plot - one good double-dig initially to get rid of most of the perennial weeds, then just cover the bed with manure and/or homemade compost every so often and leave the worms to do their job
.

I can vouch for that system as that's what I did with my beds last year. It gets a damm site easier the second year as well!

[lainey lou]

I,m using this method too, my Grandad just smiles knowingly and shakes his head!

[Eyren]

I know, Snadger! I only managed to get two beds done properly last year, but this year the soil in them is so soft and loose it feels like, if I trod on it, I'd sink up to my waist in seconds!

I'm too old to have grandads any more, but the old boy on the next plot occasionally looks at me askance, and when I asked about the previous tenants (the plot had been abandoned for several months), he told me some details then added "It was well-cultivated - he knew what he was doing" - implying I don't!!