fertiliser or manure

[chilli_grower]

As most of you know, I now have a small allotment

The soil is quite black and light and airy, no clay.

I was wondering if applying well rotted horse manure is essential?

Or, could I fertilize with say blood fish and bone instead?

what would the differences be please?

Or of course, I do not apply any form of fertilizer at all...

Any thoughts welcomed

Thank you

[Bill HH]

It is my experience that horse manure contains a lot of weed seeds because horses dont digest as efficiently as other animals. Others will disagree I have no doubt. I would prefer well rotted cow manure. But if your making your own compost then that is excellent stuff for conditioning the soil.You could spot treat individual crops according to their needs with lime or BF&B, wood ash etc, but just remember that compost, all your veg peelings, news paper, cardboard, it keeps them all out of landfill after all. You should read up about green manuring to, its easier to carry a packet of seeds than bags of manure.

[RaptorUK]

Well rotted manure not only provides nutrients but also organic matter that help the structure of the soil. One disadvantage is that some crops don't like it unless it's been down for some time other crops, for example, carrots may fork as a result.

I would have used manure but I was let down and couldn't get it at a time that suited my planned cultivation of my plot, instead I'm using a green manure, Winter Field Beans and I will also be using growmore.

[chilli_grower]

Thanks for the info Bill. I have no home made compost yet at all.

But I have started on a pile at the allotment. Will be a long wait!

I have no access to cow manure unfortunately.

Basically I am only going to be growing the following:

potatoes
broad beans
loads of onions
parsnips

I do already have some growmore, would this be efficient enough?

[Aberdeenplotter]

Bill makes a valid point about weeds with horse muck. For that reason, I use cow dung which I use copiously in my onion and leek beds and also in the bottom of my pea and bean trenches and in my potato drills. I use a 3 year scheme of rotation so am feeding and improving every part of the plot quite regularly. Adding to the humous content helps greatly in the conservation of moisture during dry periods.

I make as much compost as I can as well and I also supplement with granular fertilisers, Fish Blood and bone and foliar feeds from time to time.

[Bill HH]

In the absense of compost I have been know to dig in peelings etc in their fresh state, the worms will sort em out. Sea weed is another good source of fertility. Growmore is fine but not organic. I dont think any of the crops you mention need lots of nitrogen So the BF&B should be adequate.

[chilli_grower]

Ok thank you.

I do have several bags of b and q compost in the garage, maybe for this year I could throw a few shovelfuls of that into my trenches?

Also, I have a feeling I might have already posted a similar thread!!!! Apologies if I have!

[Feral007]

I don't have anything against horse manure, mainly because my horses produce it and place it in the paddock for me. I'm pleased to say they've been hanging round the house gate, so I've not had far to walk with the shovel this week
As for seeds, since I'm making manure tea with it, not such a problem.

[Bill HH]

Well of course if you've already got it, use it, but I would'nt go out of my way to buy it, bag it, transport it etc. Apparently our local zoo sells Lion poo, that would get your plants off to a roaring start.

[snuffer]

Always remember, fertilisers will feed your plants but manure and garden compost will feed your soil. Look after your soil and it will provide all that your plants need.

Fertilisers are ok for giving a crop a boost or for feeding in the absence of manure and / or compost.

Don't confuse the compost bought from the garden centre with the stuff you'll be making on your lottie. The bagged garden centre stuff has very little nutrient value, it is a growing medium that will feed pot grown plants and seedlings for a short while.

If you have access to horse manure then use it but remember to let it stand for a while. Fresh stuff is very high in nitrogen and can harm your plants. I have a huge pile rotting on my veg patch. I will not be adding it to the soil until it is time for winter digging at the end of the year

My problem is not getting hold of the stuff, it's having the room to store it as it rots down.

Most importantly, have fun on your lottie and enjoy all that lovely fresh veg.

[cptncrackoff]

It was my first year on my allotment last year, apart from digging I did very little to it..
It was amazing the difference between my plot and my neighbours who religiously add large quantities of horse manure, their crops were bigger, stronger and required a lot less watering than mine.

This year I am digging in horse poo that has been rotting all year.

We are very lucky in that there are a team of local horsey people who bag it up and drop it off free.

I have nothing especially against fertiliser, I'm just exploring my inner organic gardener..to see if we get on!

[Veggielot]

It doesnt sound like your soil is to bad. I would be tempted to start off a compost bin with manure and peelings, there are plenty of threads on composting. You can use fertilisers in the meantime.

[chilli_grower]

Hmmm, I might see if I can get hold of some horse poo....

[TrialAndError]

Well rotted manure will do lots to condition the soil, give it more body to retain moisture and allow good drainage. It will add almost no nutrients though. For nutrients you need blood fish and bone.

Improving the structure of soil takes a couple of years of years at the least.

[george356]

Hmmm, I might see if I can get hold of some horse poo....

Wear gloves