Manure - how much and how to use it.

[woody21]

i need to get my potatoes in as soon as possible, i have some cow manure and spent mushroom compost mix which seems well rotted in 75 litre bags that weigh around 25kg each.

can i dig some in and plant potatoes straight away? i will be using manure as mulch as well as green manure and grass clippings through the year

if digging in manure how much should i use in a 20x4 ft area ?

should also dig in fertilizer (growmore) either into the soil on its own if using manure only as a mulch ?, or dig in manure and fertiliser?

its a new patch of ground cleared, clay soil so rich but heavy. would i use ferilizer at the strength on the pack or use less ? or none at all even?

[Kleftiwallah]

Slow down a bit ! ! !

The soil just aint right for planting. Can you keep your spuds for a week or two?

When the soil is a bit dryer. . .Dig a trench a spit (depth of a spade blade) deep and fill half way up with your manure/compost mix, at the recommended intervals stand your spuds up so the shoots are uppermost on this manure, carefully fill the trench with the dug out soil to original soil level.

"If digging in manure how much should i use in a 20x4 ft area" ? as much as you can get your hands on, this will improve your clay soil immensly.

I should just stick to the manure, fertilizer is expensive stuff , don't use any and see how it goes.

Leave the mulch to one side until you see the spud leaves above ground, then earth up with it but don't cover the leaves.

Cheers, Tony.

[zazen999]

None. Wait for it to dry off a day or two, and just put them straight in. Clay based soil doesn't really need much else. Use the well rotted manure to earth them up.

[Capsid]

I wouldn't use the mushroom compost for the spuds as this is quite alkali and may encourage scab.

[Aberdeenplotter]

Spent mushroom compost isn't such a great idea with spuds as it has a high lime content. Fym is brilliant with spuds as much as anything for its moisture retaining qualities. Be as generous as your supply allows.

[Kleftiwallah]

It sounds as though the spent mushroom compost is already mixed with the cow muck. Cheers, Tony.

[zazen999]

It sounds as though the spent mushroom compost is already mixed with the cow muck. Cheers, Tony.

In that case - keep it off the potatoes altogether. Use it in the brassica patch.

[woody21]

its a spent mushroom compost and farmyard manure premixed .... bugger....

everything i have read about spent mushroom compost says its a great soil improver, great for losening the soil and helping heavy soils drain better while still retaining water which is why i went with it mixed with the manure. seemed ideal to use as a mulch and for earthing up spuds...

glad i diddnt just go ahead and dig it all in then find out when its too late by having to ask why are my spuds rubbish.

so good for brassicas and not much else? or am i missing something other than a brain.

[zazen999]

its a spent mushroom compost and farmyard manure premixed .... bugger....

so good for brassicas and not much else? or am i missing something other than a brain.

It depends really on the pH of your plot and the pH of the finished mix. Manure adds acidity and mushroom compost adds alkalinity. However brassicas like it alkaline whereas most other veg prefers it 6.5ish [slightly acid].

[di]

Whenever I have a dilemma like this, I use the 50/50 approach. Plant half with the manure and half without, then at least one lot should succeed

[woody21]

It depends really on the pH of your plot and the pH of the finished mix. Manure adds acidity and mushroom compost adds alkalinity. However brassicas like it alkaline whereas most other veg prefers it 6.5ish [slightly acid].

Thanks, i will have to check the ph of both and maybe if im lucky it will be useable for at least something more than brassicas and composting.

i have a probe type soil ph tester but havent been able to get even a half descent reliable reading yet , could be just cheap junk or more likely user error

the mix i bought is advertised with an analysis, it apparently has a ph of 7.00. would need testing to confirm.

Analysis:
pH 7:00
total Nitrogen (N) 2:00
total Phosphate (P 0 ) 0:5
total Potash (K 0)
Ammonium-N 620mg/kg
% Organic Matter 334:6%
% Ash 33:6%

[woody21]

Whenever I have a dilemma like this, I use the 50/50 approach. Plant half with the manure and half without, then at least one lot should succeed

thats a very good suggestion, i have bought more seed potatoes than i can fit in so could dig another patch.
it would be interesting to see if the added manure makes a difference to the quality and yeild too..