Muck off...or on

[bodger]

Because I had been ill for several weeks [ I would like to say I was at deaths door but it wouldnt be true ] I didn't get round to putting any manure on veg plots. Is it too late for it and if so whats the best way/thing to get goodness back into soil for growing crops. Answer with the easiest solution wins. I did hear that chicken manure pellets are very good. Thoughts

[OllieMartin]

Answer with the easiest solution wins.

...make the OH do it?

I'd think you can dig manure in whenever you like so long as it's been sufficiently rotted (6 months I think).

[Nicos]

We are digging ours in just prior to planting out. At the moment it's on the surface in the designated areas.
Our manure/compost is more than a year old and well rotted. You only need to use it as a soil improver if you have 'poorish'heavy soil.
On our previous site one of the gals found manure/compost far too heavy to move about so she just used chicken pellets. The soil was very light peat based and there's no way she'd have been able to do that on clay.
She had great results, and used the no dig method and random rotation ( ie just don't plant the same 'family ' in the same place as last year.)
Sometimes I think we try too hard!!!

[bodger]

Thanks Nicos. Will use the manure on the heavier soil but i will definitely give chicken pellets a go.

[Nicos]

Give nothing to where the carrots /beetroot etc are growing!

[paula.berriman]

Hi

Dig manure in it always works for me and a couple weeks before planting just sprinkle some general puporse fertiliser on the soil (the miracle gro grains are fine).

I also like to add seaweed ive collected from the beach and rinsed off before digging in.

Hope that helps

[sagegreen]

Chicken manure pellets, or Blood, fish and bone - or even good old Growmore, for non-organic, can all be added as fairly quick fixes, so much depends on the state - and type - of your soil...

[sagegreen]

Hi

I also like to add seaweed ive collected from the beach and rinsed off before digging in.

Interested to know why you would rinse seaweed? i spread mine as a mulch complete with sand, shells, etc, etc, and dig-in a few weeks later.

[Nicos]

Isn't seaweed salty?
...and a build up of salt makes it more difficult to grow crops???

[Bigmallly]

Isn't seaweed salty?
...and a build up of salt makes it more difficult to grow crops???

Yeh, but it would make great slug food.......

[Nicos]

We used to put it unwashed onto the asparagus bed in the Autumn though!

[DaveJ]

Chicken manure pellets are very good, I've used them myself in the past.

[bodger]

I forgot to feed my aspargus bed as well, what should I put on it now if anything. thanks

[organic]

A timely thread. I'm a bit behind schedule too (in many ways, this cold start is a blessing as it's giving me time to get sorted) so thanks for posting this, Bodger; and to the rest of you for the answers too.

[Nicos]

We bought liquid seaweed from the allotment society- about £30 for a big container.
Works a treat on everything- and goes a very long way!!
I'd think about watering that onto your asparagus bed!