Preparing Beds

[St_Aquinas]

I am preparing my vegetable beds for next spring. Do I need to use rotted manure when preparing my beds? My allotment is in a middle of a cow field, although the views are beautiful access can be a bit of a problem. From the road it involves a ten minute track up a steep hill. I have been putting some rotted compost on my beds - but I would like some advice on use of manure. All the experts always recommed the use of manure.

How effective are manure pellets - can you use these when preparing vegetable beds? Can any anyone advise me of any other substances (if that is the right word?? ) when preparing beds.

[Snadger]

I am preparing my vegetable beds for next spring. Do I need to use rotted manure when preparing my beds? My allotment is in a middle of a cow field, although the views are beautiful access can be a bit of a problem. From the road it involves a ten minute track up a steep hill. I have been putting some rotted compost on my beds - but I would like some advice on use of manure. All the experts always recommed the use of manure.

How effective are manure pellets - can you use these when preparing vegetable beds? Can any anyone advise me of any other substances (if that is the right word?? ) when preparing beds.

I would have thought that if your lottie was in the middle of a cow field you have access to all the manure you need! Home made rotted compost is a good alternative though!

[nick the grief]

I am preparing my vegetable beds for next spring. Do I need to use rotted manure when preparing my beds? My allotment is in a middle of a cow field, although the views are beautiful access can be a bit of a problem. From the road it involves a ten minute track up a steep hill. I have been putting some rotted compost on my beds - but I would like some advice on use of manure. All the experts always recommed the use of manure.

How effective are manure pellets - can you use these when preparing vegetable beds? Can any anyone advise me of any other substances (if that is the right word?? ) when preparing beds.

Well rotted muck doesn't provide much in the way of nutrients but it does help improve the soil quality as it adds loads of humus to it. It helps it to retain moisture (without watelogging) as well. The same can be done with home made compost.

Comfrey is good way of adding nutrients ( home made fertiliser) . I guess the pellets you are talking about are Chicken manure, I use these as a "dry" feed but it won't add bulk to the soil like well rotted muck.

Can't you get a local farmer to drop you a load ( as we do on out lottie site) it will make it easier for you.

[supersprout]

Ruth Stout, queen of mulchers, started off using manure, then abandoned it altogether. She grew everything on soil deeply mulched with hay.
http://www.organicgardening.com/feat...21-189,00.html

I use straw, because it's cheap and easy to carry around, and chicken manure pellets (organic from OGC, brand Rooster) to give plants a 'boost' during the growing season. Envious of all that cow muck though St_A, I'd probably use as much as I could get, but it would be good to have it put somewhere convenient for you by the farmer like Nick says

Remember not to use fresh manure on areas for roots e.g. carrots, beetroot, parsnip - fresh manure will make them fork.

[St_Aquinas]

Cheers

Thanks again for all replies. I am going to contact the farmer who owns the cow field to see whether he will drop off a load of cow manure.