Manure, well rotted - How can you tell?

[Borisbump]

Hi Guys,

Just been to the local stables to pick up some manure. This was a first for both my husband and I and we haven't got a clue what well rotted manure looks like. Yes I should have asked first! Stable guy, not very helpful.

Obviously we avoided the dry, fresh straw looking stuff and aimed mainly at the steaming black stuff underneath but the mound was VERY big and we didn't want to go poking about to see if it all looked different.

Does black and steaming sounds about right?

What will happen if I put not well rotted manure in my manure raised bed and plant into it? Mainly courgettes to go in and any other manure loving plants.

Ta for any responses!

[shirlthegirl43]

Well rotted manure looks like soil/compost. It won't have any trace of straw or shavings and it will be crumbly and not smell of horse poo any more.

If what you have collected is still steaming, it will possibly still be rotting down and might be too rich for plants. However, pumpkins and courgettes might be able to cope but I am not sure.

[Borisbump]

Well rotted manure looks like soil/compost. It won't have any trace of straw or shavings and it will be crumbly and not smell of horse poo any more.

If what you have collected is still steaming, it will possibly still be rotting down and might be too rich for plants. However, pumpkins and courgettes might be able to cope but I am not sure.

Oh............

[Flummery]

If it honks, it's not well rotten - yet! Hang on to it - it's virtual gold!

[Pootle]

OH did the same thing at the weekend - brought back bags and bags of the stuff...I took all the worms in it and lack of smell as a good sign that it was ready for use

[Borisbump]

If it honks, it's not well rotten - yet! Hang on to it - it's virtual gold!

How long are we looking at for it to rot? Approximately?

[Two_Sheds]

How long are we looking at for it to rot? Approximately?

6-12 months. Depending on conditions. Warmer, damper, rotated compost will rot quicker.

[Two_Sheds]

we haven't got a clue what well rotted manure looks like. ...
Does black and steaming sounds about right?

If it's steaming, it's still rotting.
Well-rotted manure looks like earth - dark and crumbly earth.

[Sweepster]

look in to that soil boris, run your hands through it, feel its blackgrains fall through your fingers thinking my god this is how we're all going to end up, ashes to ashes, dust to dust, its coming to us all boris and theres nothing we can do, just waiting for it to happen in a few short years and then we'll be no more, my god the despair.
thats what manure feels like boris.

MEDICS!!! Emergency in the manure thread!!! 60mg of prozac STAT!!!

[NOG]

When its well rotted it doesn't smell like manure any more...it smells like soil.