where to get lots of cheap, decent compost/manure

[Snow]

Me and a mate are going to be growing quite a lot of spuds in pots this year. I reckon we'll need something like 1000 litres of compost/manure to fill all the containers. Could become quite costly.

What's the best option? I'm hoping to find some free/cheap horse manure somewhere around here (Corsham, Wiltshire) if anyone knows where some is, but will obviously need to buy some compost as well. Cost is certainly something to try and keep down but at the same time I dont really want rubbish (literaly) like I bought from B&Q last year. Seems the quality there is quite hit and miss.

[arpoet]

You need to be planning 18 months ahead with fresh hos muck. Most stables are happy for you collect as much as you want. You need to make a few phone calls.

[muddled]

Most riding stables have such a large pile of manure that you can easily get the black, rotted lovverly stuff no bother.
May I suggest though, that you grow a runner bean in a sample of it first?
There was that awful weed killer a couple of years ago that contaminated manure supplies (I'm not even going to try and spell it) and it stays active for rather a long time. If the runner bean is not deformed it's probably fine.

Good to check before digging out 1000 litres though eh?

[Bohobumble]

And if it's compost you're after then I picked up 56 litre bags from wyev@le at £2.49 recently, using it for my early greenhouse spuds in pots

[Snow]

Thanks for the suggestions. It'll need to be stuff that's already rotted as I simply don't have anywhere to put it and wait for it to rot down more. Good suggestion about growing something in it first as a test. I do worry about herbicides that could be introduced.

I'm surprised it isn't cheaper to buy in bulk somewhere, but I'll keep my eyes out for some cheap stuff at a garden center. No Wyevale close enough to me but there are a couple of others I can check out.

[arpoet]

Put a "wanted" ad on freecycle. You may get more that you need.

[TrysHard]

Any Compost under 5p a litre is cheap. The Wyevale deal was good around 4.4p a litre I got 10 bags with 500 extra points.

Also for spuds the 125 litre B&Q at £6 - is 4.8 p a litre

[Potstubsdustbins]

And when you have finished don't forget to keep it ready for next year.

[Bacchus]

Also for spuds the 125 litre B&Q at £6 - is 4.8 p a litre

Is that the stuff with a name starting with "V"? I use it for seedlings - I have to sieve it first though and mix with with a little sandy potting compost and some vermiculite. Seems to work great for that purpose.

[Two_Sheds]

a lot of spuds in pots this year. I reckon we'll need something like 1000 litres of compost/manure to fill all the containers.

Manure is a soil improver, it's not something you can use on its own to grow in. Spuds need a good loamy topsoil, not a general purpose potting compost, which is OK for seedlings.

[Snow]

Thanks @Two Sheds, I realise that; I meant that I need around 1000 litres of a compost/manure mix in total. I'm thinking something like 75/25% mix, but open to suggestions. I grew potatoes with general purpose last year and had quite good results. I want to increase my success as much as possible, but it has to be cost effective so a decent top soil might be too costly, but I'll have a look out.

[Two_Sheds]

I grow my own spuds in the ground, in 6" x 12" holes, filled with homemade leafmould (free, you just buy the black sacks to make it in)

[Snow]

I collected some leaves to make mould this year, first time. I could manage one sack, but it's better than nothing - or will be, this time next year.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Multi purpose compost is fine for growing spud, been using it for years. What ever your growing medium in containers it will be dead by about week 6 to 8 and you will need to feed. Also remember spuds are over 80% water, get the watering wrong and you are doomed to failure.

[Kristen]

I'm surprised it isn't cheaper to buy in bulk somewhere

I don't think the material is "worth" anything, so what you are paying for is the cost of haulage, which I guess is why most stables say "Free, but you come and Bag/Collect and take away" rather than having a delivery service ...