Using manure

[annie8]

I popped into Homebase for seed sowing compost and also picked up 3 x 50l bags of farmyard manure that were on offer. It’s not a lot obviously so was thinking I’d use it for a few of my plants. If I was to target it what do you grow that really benefits from a bit of manure? Was thinking of my squash/pumpkins certainly. Anything else ?

[mothhawk]

I use it in the bottom of the bean trench, and as a mulch around tomatoes. I also spread it over the flower borders, makes the plants big and strong.

[Plot70]

That amount will soon disappear into the soil.
The plants will finish it off in a year or so.
We get it from horde riding enthusiasts at the allotments.
On our heavy clay soil it is a wheelbarrow full per square yard.

[ameno]

Bagged manure from DIY stores and garden centres is actually only about 50% manure; the rest is usually compost (often composted green waste). It often says on the back of the bag how much actual manure is in it.

In any case, don't expect too much in the way of nutrition from it. Instead, consider it more as a soil improver to improve drainage or water retention, or to use as a mulch.

[rary]

I would use it for trombonceno courgettes, which I always found like plenty of moisture at their roots, plus if you have rhubarb put some around that, often neglected but worth giving a good feed

[mrsbusy]

Hi Rary I just looked up Trombo courgettes as not come across this variety. Do you store many fruit successfully?

[annie8]

Have put some of it round my rhubarb and around some of my flowering shrubs, keep rest for courgette/pumpkins and potatoes. Would love to have a source of greater quantities, never managed to find one.

[rary]

Hi Rary I just looked up Trombo courgettes as not come across this variety. Do you store many fruit successfully?

Trombos are very good for storing, the last time I grow them I actually used part of one for a soup at Christmas and the rest of it was used for a soup about the 3rd. of January, they self seal when cut, but I honestly don't know how long they would keep for with a cut end, they require a warm summer and as we don't get it that warm here I intend growing them in the greenhouse as I think the skin getting toasted a bit with the sun helps keep them longer, I would recommend that you try them but remember they grow better when allowed to climb

[mrsbusy]

Thanks Rary.
do you consider these a winter squash or a summer squash. Sounds like they are a hybrid perhaps.

[ameno]

Thanks Rary.
do you consider these a winter squash or a summer squash. Sounds like they are a hybrid perhaps.

Tromboncino are technically a type of butternut squash, and therefore a winter squash. However they are usually picked immature and still green, and eaten like a courgette.
They can be left to mature to brown on the plant, and will then keep fairly well, but are still best used like a courgette or summer squash even then, as they never develop the sort of sweet, nutty flavour you get from a proper butternut squash (they're not bred for it), and instead remain rather bland.
Best to think of them sort of like an unusually shaped, and slightly better tasting, marrow.

[rary]

Sorry ameno I must disagree with you about being bland, I found them to be very tasty, compared to other courgettes, unfortunately the weather doesn't always give the best conditions for it to grow here or I would grow it every year