Manure before carrots!?

[silverfork]

I know you're not supposed to dig in manure before carrots and whatnot, but is it always a bad idea? My new allotment has never been cultivated, in fact, it's compacted subsoil, stony and barren. I feel like digging manure in all over, to try and give it some kind of structure. I'm going to test it, but you can see it needs loads of organic matter. I'm hoping for advice and reassurance!

[Nicos]

Suggest if you are going to manure the area ( and it does sound like you need to have a good go at it!!) that you grow carrots/beetroot etc in temporary raised beds , or tubs, just for this year.
Used hops are brill for 'lifting' the soil too without adding much in the way of nutrients.

[nick the grief]

The chances are if it's not been used for ages then the fertility will be OK anyway. I'd be more inclined to just dig it over & only muck the bits that need it ( spuds & the like that are hungry feeders).

What makes you think it's sub soil?

[Two_Sheds]

My new allotment is compacted subsoil, stony and barren.

You got the short straw, dincha?
Is it really barren, or do you have some weeds growing? Bet you do. You can tell what your soil is like from the weeds that grow

[silverfork]

Many thanks for feedback. Its like this:
I think it's subsoil because it's really just levelled and compacted building site spoil, and it looks like subsoil, not like the rest of the soil in the area. Plus it's mega stony. and it's also got bits of brick and stuff from the building works. It really is impossible to dig. You have to sort of stab hard and twist with a fork to get in an inch or two at a time and lever out the stones. Lots of sparks!
As far as weeds go, the vicious perrennials aren't too bad, some docks, no bindweed (thank goodness), some brambles but not many. Couch grass. But really, not nearly as many weeds as I'd expect.
There are very few worms, compared to the buckets full in my garden at home 2 miles away, so some of them will be moving home.
I'm sure I will be able to grow stuff, I just want to grow lots of stuff!

[Snadger]

THere are other reasonably inert substances that can be used on the carrot bed!
Lots of sand ,compost, coir, peat, grow bag contents, vermiculite etc will all help the structure of the soil but not feed it. This will deffo allow you to grow good carrots and other roots
As everyone else says, save the manure for the heavy feeders and crop rotate each year. In a few years time your carrot bed will be friable loam, as will the rest of the garden!!

[Alice]

Hello Silverfork, if your soil is as you describe, then carrots won't grow in it anyway, or they will be really sad specimens. For this year, I would grow them in containers - they will do well there, and work on getting a really good area ready for them - could take a year or two.

[Birdie Wife]

Hi silverfork,
What about digging in manure and then growing tatties instead? They will work the ground deeply for you, then you'll be able to plant carrots a year or two after them and they'll do much better.

[silverfork]

Thanks all. I will be growing loads of spuds, as I'm sure they're my best bet, but I want to try other stuff too, even if only as an experiment. I'll also do carrots in containers. Rome wasn't built in a day I suppose. In a couple of years it will all be beautiful friable loam (yo ho).

[burnie]

I got away with stump rooted varieties on thin, poor soil,Parmex is a round one that would do fine.