Spent hops?

[Likac66]

I have spread manure on 4 of my beds at the allotment but have left what will be the roots and the potato beds manure free.

They sell spent hops at the allotment shop and I wondered if they would make a good fertiliser for either roots or potatoes?

[Bigmallly]

What is your thinking behind leaving the tattie bed manure free?

[alldigging]

How much do they cost?

[rustylady]

Don't use anything for your roots bed.

If the spent hops are reasonably priced, they make a good source of organic material which is good for any soil.

Can't your potatoes go into one of your manured beds? They would appreciate it.

[arpoet]

They sell spent hops at the allotment shop and I wondered if they would make a good fertiliser for either roots or potatoes?

Buy? Why?????????????????????????
Find a local small brewery and they will be happy to give you, FOR FREE, spent hops.
I use them in the compost heap, Spread as a summer mulch, Use a slug control, Mix with shredded paper and rotted hos muck as a winter mulch on resting beds.
Buy? Never!
Roger (a tight Yorkshire man)

[Nicos]

We used bags and bags of them ( free from the brewery) in our first heavy clay plot- they made the soil much easier to handle!

[alldigging]

Buy? Why?????????????????????????
Find a local small brewery and they will be happy to give you, FOR FREE, spent hops.
I use them in the compost heap, Spread as a summer mulch, Use a slug control, Mix with shredded paper and rotted hos muck as a winter mulch on resting beds.
Buy? Never!
Roger (a tight Yorkshire man)

We had someone ring round and got nowt!

I found a local brewery and get some from there - not that often though.

[phil the shed]

Likac66
i get mine for free @the dancing duck brewery off ashbourne road take what you want from the Blue fence side.
other is grain by door for pigman

[Likac66]

Buy? Why?????????????????????????

They are cheap - a matter of pence I think. And the money will go back to my allotment organisation which I already think is an amazing organisation. Why wouldn't I want to support them?!

[Likac66]

Interesting that you all say my potato bed would appreciate manure - I've been advised against it by other people so now I'm confused. One person told me they put manure at the bottom of their potato trench but others have told me that potatoes get scab from manure. If I'd had the plot in the autumn I would have put manure on the bed then but as I've only had it recently I've just got chance to put the manure down. It is very well rotted - about 7yrs old I think.

[rustylady]

others have told me that potatoes get scab from manure.

Wrong!! Common scab and powdery scab are bacterial and fungal diseases of potato skins.

Made worse by limy or sandy soil. Therefore any manure or compost you can add will help.

[Aberdeenplotter]

Interesting that you all say my potato bed would appreciate manure - I've been advised against it by other people so now I'm confused. .

You have me confused because reading through the whole of this thread, one individual has asked why you would keep your potato bed manure free and only one other has said they would appreciate it. If you feel you have been given advice here which conflicts with advice you have been given elsewhere, then you have a judgement call to make.

What you really need to take account of is that different folks use different methods but generally speaking, there is no right way and no wrong way to grow veg. Do what works for you and we can only give advice on what works for us as individuals.

I personally use fym in the potato trench not only for the manurial value but because it helps keep the tubers clean(see what Rusty says above) but in a dry season, the fym helps retain moisture without which the tubers will not swell.