Non Rotted Manure

[vikkib]

We've recently started having fairly fresh manure with loads of straw delivered to our allotment site.

A lot of people are using it as a mulch around crops which I've been hesitant to do in case it scorches the plants.

I've not really got space to set aside as a manure heap at the moment but this is something I'll get round to later on in the year (we haven't had a regular supply of manure for the last few years so I've got used to not having it!).

In the meantime I'll be removing some crops and I won't be planting up a 'proper' crop again until next spring. Is it sensible to mulch these areas with the fresh manure and cover with cardboard to let is tor down and let the worms drag it down over the next few months?

If not I'll just green manure those bits!

[rustylady]

By all means put the fresh manure on your empty beds, it will rot down in situ. I wouldn't have thought there was any need to cover unless you want to.

[snakeshack]

I would initially make a pile on your uncultivated area,give it a watering and cover to keep the heat in.At this time of year ,piled in a heap of about a cubic yard it should rot really quickly and then be ready to spread out in a few weeks.

[vikkib]

Lovely, thanks both!

Someone else on the plots has suggested spreading some out on the ground and letting it dry out then burning it for crops like brassica.

Might give that a go too!

[rustylady]

For heaven's sake, why burn it?

[Samurailord]

For heaven's sake, why burn it?

I would imagine its a typo, and shoud read 'burying'?

Andy

[leonmc0708]

I am gonna go with burning it me - love a little fire now and then.

[veggiechicken]

Somewhere they use dried cow pats as fuel to cook on..........
BBQ anyone
On a sensible note (for once) it would make a good hotbed.........darnit - now I want to say something about electric blankets and hot waterbottles

[vikkib]

For heaven's sake, why burn it?

Was suggested by one of the old guard on the allotments... they mentioned making something with plenty of potash for brassica beds but I would have thought it would have added acidity to the soil.

I'll stick with spreading it to rot down.

[Compo72]

If you put manure in a pile , remember to keep turning it over with a fork . Needs aerating .
Plus put some water on it , stops drying out too much

If you have heavy land the straw is good for breaking the soil up .when dug in .

[Two_Sheds]

Is it sensible to mulch these areas with the fresh manure and cover with cardboard

Other way round: cardboard first, then manure on top to hold it down. The card will kill any weeds, and it will all break down over the winter to add goodness (humus) to the soil. Very little, if any, digging required

burning it

Yeah, that sounds like an Olde Boye idea

Burning is anti-social and a waste of nutrients (they go up in smoke, literally). You end up with less goodness by burning, not more.

Far better in every way, to let it slowly rot down.