Planting In No-Dig Beds - Just Compost or Compost & Manure?

[nrmartin8798]

Hello all, this is my first time trying no-dig beds.

I have two which I have put down cardboard and then compost over the top, and one which has compost plus some manure mixed in

Is it wise to mix manure into the compost? Or when it comes to planting out will the compost be sufficient and is it detrimental to add manure (just some cheaper stuff i bought from Wickes!) or what do you recommend?

Also, on my beds which are dug over, can I just dig in some compost and manure into these?

[Logunner]

If the manure is well rotted the beds will be fine, but not for carrots or parsnips obviously.

[SarrissUK]

Hi there!

Yay for no dig! I have just one year behind me of no dig and I am not going back to digging

If the manure is well rotted, so that it's dark and crumbly like compost, you can put it on top of the cardboard and mix it with normal compost if you so wish. If the manure is fresh, I would say you should let it sit for at least six months before you use it on the beds.

As for your dug over beds, just sow into them as normal if you want, or put cardboard and a few inches of compost/well rotted manure on them.

Welcome to the no dig brigade!

[SarrissUK]

And my carrots last year really didn't mind the manure

[nrmartin8798]

If the manure is well rotted the beds will be fine, but not for carrots or parsnips obviously.

Ok thanks - I was going to mostly go with squash, marrows cucmbers etc so that confirms that one!

[Baldy]

Should be fine with those crops

[nrmartin8798]

Hi there!

Yay for no dig! I have just one year behind me of no dig and I am not going back to digging

If the manure is well rotted, so that it's dark and crumbly like compost, you can put it on top of the cardboard and mix it with normal compost if you so wish. If the manure is fresh, I would say you should let it sit for at least six months before you use it on the beds.

As for your dug over beds, just sow into them as normal if you want, or put cardboard and a few inches of compost/well rotted manure on them.

Welcome to the no dig brigade!

Thanks for the welcome!! It certainly is easier than digging - the bit that i have done i have done has gone well so far, but just getting all the compost seemed quite expensive!!

It is nice crumbly manure so I guess that's ok to dig straight in - thanks.

Hopefully at the end of this season I can get some more manure and leave it over winter to break down, it's all ended up a bit late this year!

[SarrissUK]

You don't have to dig it in - just pile it on top and plant into that