Hot Box

[cwipnip]

i read about the method 'Hot box' where you basically make a pile of manure, put compost on top and grow on it, i was wondering if i made a ditch on my allotment about 1m cube, fill it with manure, put compost on top and put a cold frame on top, would that work just as well as 1 that built on top of the ground?

i know there would be issues about changing the manure but i can work around that.

[tootles]

As I understand the whole thing, that is exactly how it should be done. The heat stays in and being low the cold stays out. You do have to prapare the manure for this method though. Turn your pile over a week or so until the temp stops rising. You shouldn't need to change the manure this season though, just dig it all out at the end of the growing season and chuck it on the beds for the next season.

Having said that, I haven't yet done mine! (mid Feb is the plan)

[cwipnip]

ok thanks, ill definatly try that, luckily my alloments has halve a plot piles at least 1m high of manure, i thought about cuvering that over with soil but i think it might steam cook my fruit and veg

[jacob marley]

The manure that is best for that job is fresh very fresh then you use the heat that it generates as it compost down i think that's how it is done hope that's right....jacob

[terrier]

I would make sure there's plenty of straw in the manure and don't let it dry out. I've tried it a couple of times and I used fresh equipoo straight from the 'oss, it didn't get that hot.

[cwipnip]

thanks for all the help definatly going to try it

[cwipnip]

i put the cold frame on my victorian hot bed on friday and it certainly isnt cold any more ill need to let it cool down before i plant in it

[gojiberry]

Yes you definitely need to wait till the temperature stabalises before you start planting.

Ian