manure time

[tomatoada]

Is it too late to put maure on the part of my allotmaent where I am going to plant potatoes?  My book says it should go on in the Autumn  but I only got my lottie last month.  Should I leave it to the Autumn of this year?

[tomatoada]

[Gardenantics]

My advice would be to put a good load of what you have available in the bottom of the trench at planting time. I dig a flat bottomed trench one spade deep, put a good layer of well rotted muck/compost in the bottom, and my tubers resting on that, then cover over. Beware of frosts and keep mounding the soil up over the shoots as they emerge to protect them and encourage more shoot, and therefor more spuds. Ask around locally for the planting times as it is later the more northerly you garden.

Brian.

[gavin]

Better manure on than off? 

I had my plot - but the manure only arrived last week :(  - and was tipped 100 yards + from the plot :( :( --- AND it ain't well rotted :( :( :(  (I'd make a good farmer - never happy!) 

Anyway - it's going straight onto the beds; a good thick layer, for the moment; and I'll probably fork it in, once I've shifted the whole load onto the plot (all beds - except that earmarked for roots and onion family; they'll just have to make do).

I can cope with not being ideal this year, and look forward to next :) ;  (hee-hee :) - I've kept a large part of the manure back to rot well - ready for next year :) :) :) ).

All best - Gavin

[umshamrock]

I have the same problem. I just got my allotment and manure hasn't arrived yet.

Glad to hear you just put it straight on, Gavin. I think I am going to do the same....

[Sarah-b]

For the spud bed, I shoved it on about a month ago in a sort of long heap - will fork it in later.
Am worried about planting onion sets into newly manured beds though.
And would say that last years brassicas suffered at the hands of newly-manured-and-therefore-not-very-firm beds.
But the runner and French beans did superbly and that was clearing the ground, digging, manuring, and sowing all on the same day.

hope that helps,
Sarah.

[Roy Bham UK]

Hi Sahra, the instructions on my shallot packet states that the ground should not have had manure on it for the last two years, which makes it ok for me as the lottie has been closed two years ;D

[aquilegia]

I haven't even dug the area where my spuds are goign to grow yet. We're on heavy clay, so it's only diggable in early spring. Even last autumn it was too heavy to dig after the rainy season, I mean summer, we had.

My manure is still at the stables, but at least it's well rotted!

[Lady Cosmos]

I also am still putting manure on my soil. I fork it over early march, ready for the potatoes to go in. :D

[derbex]

My shallots did well with manure, so did the carrots -even though it's supposed to be a problem. Everything was done late last year as I didn't get the plot till spring (I'm not sure what my excuse is this year -but I'm working on it!), and stuff seemed to thrive.

Jeremy

[ruudbarb]

Beware of planting potatoes in poorly rotted compost and manure as they are liable to get scab.

Peas, beans, leeks, lettuces, tomatoes, spinach are a few suggestions for growing if the stuff isn't too good; leeks will be OK as it should have time to rot down a bit more before they get planted.

[aquilegia]

And I lost my sweetcorn, squashes and courgettes from planting them in not-quite-rotted compost last year (It was still rather lumpy, but I was running out!)

[ruudbarb]

That surprises me a bit aquilegia as I grow my courgettes in little mounds of compost which is often a bit underdone.  I make a mound of compost, cover it with soil and hollow it out like a bowl.  In the centre I make a small bump to raise the plant to keep it out of the watering trough formed by the bowl.  I sprinkle some general purpose fertiliser, usually fish blood and bone, over the compost before covering it with the soil and freeze the loads of surplus courgettes in unblanched slices.  Pick a variety that resists mildew and enjoy.   8) 8) 8)

[aquilegia]

oh. Well maybe it wasn't so much the underdone compost as the clay soil and heavy rain we had last summer?  ??? I think your statement about raising the plant gives it away. I must try your method this year!

[derbex]

I can second clod hopper, I planted mine through fresh shavings manure into heavy clay/silt and the cougettes, marrows & pumpkins did v.well. At least until they were attacked.

Jeremy

[Mrs Ava]

oooo and I will third ya clod hopper.  I grow my bestest biggest pumpkins in steaming hot horsey poo which is piled as high as I can get it on my compost heap!  ;D

[tomatoada]

Thanks Brian.  Good tip about digging a trench.  I will start digging.

[sandersj89]

Beware of planting potatoes in poorly rotted compost and manure as they are liable to get scab.

That is very correct. However if you have recently manured the patch for spuds, when it comes time to plant the chitted spuds line the trench with grass clippings or comfrey leaves. This will help protect against scab.

You can also take the view that scab is just cosmetic and will not really effect yield of keeping qualities of main crop spuds.

Jerry

[fosteri]

Ooooo, good reading with this thread. WE haven't double-dug our potato beds yet (trying very hard!!), so the manure hasn't touched soil yet either....... :-\

[philcooper]

Back at the orignal question on manure and spuds - I agree with the use of the manure in the trench, as much as you can, remembering that the potato grows upwards from the seed so a lot under the seed is wasted. I put a thin layer in the bottom of the trench and then as much as possible on the top.

On scab - it is a disease, so I'm not sure that you can "catch" it from poorly composted manure. The uncomposted manure may be a bit too strong for the plants and so burn the tubers and roots as it does with other plants - hence the advice only to use well rotted manure on the allotment.

Scab is not caused by alkaline soils, as is commonly thought, but the disease prefers alkaline conditions so manure or compost, being slightly acidic, will reduce its impact if you have it

Phil

[diver]

I am interested in clodhoppers remark about freezing unblanched courgettes...I didn't know you could freeze courgettes...never mind unblanched ones, do you just slice them and put them in the freezer...don't they go all soggy?