Manure, compost, chicken poo...help!

[Rossa]

I've cleared out a side border late last year in my garden that had conifers in it left over by previous owners. Nothing is re-growing.

I've had new fence put in and want to get the soil sorted out for growing brassicas this year. Cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower etc. Also against fence will grow soft fruit that I've just bought in Aldi.

Going to put gravel boards at bottom of fence as panels are chevrons with gaps. Border is on slope down to fence (varies from 1m-2m width x 7m long in elongated triangle shape) at the moment. Opposite edge to fence is stone wall with concrete paving top alongside my drive.

Plan is to try to level out soil by digging over and adding manure or compost. Not sure what to use. Is horse manure a good soil improver? Think I will need medium to high nitrogen in soil for brassicas so what compost or other would be best.

Got dried chicken poo left over from last year but may need something more. Soil is pretty good, not clay type, very dark almost black and crumbles well when not waterlogged.

[terrier]

Hi, Rossa. This site give lots of info on different manures, their properties and their uses.

Manure Matters: How Manures Measure Up

[Eyren]

The problem with your soil may be pH rather than fertility - IIRC, conifer needles turn the soil acidic. Get a pH testing kit from the garden centre, and if it says your soil is too acid, buy some garden lime (pulverized chalk - also available from your garden centre) and follow the instructions.

http://www.growveg.com/growguides/soil-types.aspx

Garden Lime - the vital fertiliser. Why lime, how much to lime and when to lime

Re fertility, you're not supposed to fertilize ground at the same time as you lime it. Luckily brassicas love alkaline soil, so this in itself may be enough to encourage growth. In the unlikely event that acidity isn't a problem, I would just mix in some of your old chicken poo to give the soil a nitrogen boost. I scattered some on top of one of my raised beds last year and got so much coriander, I was giving it away in handfuls! (much to the delight of my Indian neighbours)

[Two_Sheds]

Chicken poo is alkaline (calcium), so it's good for brassicas

[Rossa]

Thanks for info terrier and two sheds.

Eyren,

Think I've got alkaline soil. Got a pink hydrangea at one end of this border (think it's blue for acid, pink alkaline). There's also a pink camellia, pink azalea, pink rose and red rhodies in the back garden.

I'll get a kit to confirm. So Chicken Sh** it is then!

[Eyren]

Chicken poo is alkaline (calcium), so it's good for brassicas

Didn't know that! I love brassicas, and have a plentiful supply of chicken poo...

[Eyren]

Think I've got alkaline soil. Got a pink hydrangea at one end of this border (think it's blue for acid, pink alkaline). There's also a pink camellia, pink azalea, pink rose and red rhodies in the back garden.

Erm, aren't hydrangeas, camellias and azaleas acid-lovers? I don't see many around my neck of the woods, and I'm on clay over chalk (definitely alkaline)...

[Rossa]

Oooops, your probably right. Wasn't sure which way round it was. I'll get a kit and find out for sure. Thanx

[Snadger]

Chicken poo is alkaline (calcium), so it's good for brassicas

Thank cripes for that. I've been piling neat chicken poo around my winter brassicas to give them a boost instead of using sulphate of ammonia!

[Eyren]

Oooops, your probably right. Wasn't sure which way round it was. I'll get a kit and find out for sure. Thanx

No worries! That A-level in Chemistry had to come in handy eventually

If chicken poo is alkaline, sounds like it might be the perfect thing for balancing the pH in your garden. Don't add too much, though, as it's pretty potent!