Use of compost to grow veg

Discussion in 'Compost, Fertilisers & Recycling' started by Jack McHammocklashing, Jan 22, 2012.

  1. Jack McHammocklashing

    Jack McHammocklashing Sludgemariner

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    I am trying to fill a raised bed
    I can get a tonne of 12year old horse manure, it appears now to be jet black soil full of worms,no sign of straw or shavings or its original source

    Would this be OK to grow veg in, or do I have to source loam/soil ?

    Jack McHammocklashing
     
  2. clueless1

    clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

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    Can't comment about other veg, but I would fully expect you'd get an amazing crop of spuds from it. In my experience, there is literally nothing better than horse poo for spuds.
     
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    • lazydog

      lazydog Know nothing but willing to learn

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      Just beware root crops dont like rich soil they grow like aliens :loll:
       
    • gcc3663

      gcc3663 Knackered Grandad trying to keep up with a 4yr old

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      Wot. No 12 yr old Horses then?:scratch:
       
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      • Phil A

        Phil A Guest

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        Sounds ideal Jack, its only fresh poo that makes root veg fork so should be good.
         
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        • JWK

          JWK Gardener Staff Member

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          Sounds excellent stuff Jack. It will be very good for spuds, beans, peas, cabbages and marrows/courgettes. But don't try root veggies like carrots & parsnips becuase they don't like 'rich' recently manured soil and end up 'forking' - (growing strange twisted multiple roots). Onions might find it a bit rich too and would struggle a bit.
           
        • Phil A

          Phil A Guest

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          Would have thought it would be ok after 12 years John?:)
           
        • JWK

          JWK Gardener Staff Member

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          Really fresh poo burns the roots of any plant. Being 12 years old it will be past that stage, but it will be packed with nitrogen I reckon, thats what makes roots crops go forked :thumbsup:
           
        • Phil A

          Phil A Guest

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          Good point, unless its been in the rain.
           
        • Jack McHammocklashing

          Jack McHammocklashing Sludgemariner

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          This Horse manure, is piled six foot deep, in part of a field 40yards wide x 20yards long The new stuff is at the front
          Digging from the wall of it at the back, on top it has about three inches of grass roots, wild flowers and tree seedlings growing,
          The five foot wall below that is jet black soil with dozens of red worms

          Before the twelve years, the council were charging them (at that time) £80 for each lorry load picked up
          They decided just to pile it as they have acres of grassland with race horses on them

          The old dear was telling me how wonderful it was that two young men in their twenties come every week from March to Sept and take away two buckets full of the worms, and give her a fiver :heehee:

          Have you seen the price of worms on the internet :DOH:

          Today I did the 12mtr back border, extended it from 2' wide to 1mtr
          lifted all the roses and bushes out , riddled the top four inches, dug it over
          re laid the stone edging, dug in five of the bags of manure, replanted the roses and the one bush that is going back in, Then it got dark
          Dark stopped play and I am knackered

          Tomorrow, I have the Gym AM then I intend to do the bottom border, with the same treatment, only I am having problems getting one of the Fushia's out, already broken a round mouth spade and a fork (looking for cheap replacement shafts)

          I think I am going to put a chain around the bottom of the bush, then a very long strong tow rope, along the back garden, up the side of the house to the front and attach rope to car towing eye
          If it does not work, I do not have a laptop, and the hospital here does not have computer access, so maybe missing for a while :heehee:


          Jack McH
           
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          • Phil A

            Phil A Guest

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            We had to do simliar with an oak tree in Turkey. Spent all day trying to get it out of a 2000 year old wall.

            Had to drag it out with a Landrover in the end:DOH:
             
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            • Sheal

              Sheal Total Gardener

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              Be careful out there Jack!

              If you don't get all the Fuschia's roots out it's likely to re-grow. I dug one out three years ago and shoots still come up from roots still there. I've started spraying the shoots with glyphosate, hopefully that will finish them off.
               
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              • JWK

                JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                :dbgrtmb: Cor that sounds good stuff. I'm jealous, god only knows why I feel like that about horse sh!t! :scratch: I wasn't jealous when you mentioned that millionairess on the other thread, I must have caught a touch of Antony Worrall Thompson-itis :help:
                 
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                • Phil A

                  Phil A Guest

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                  Are you being our resident Poo expert again:heehee: Remember last time?
                   
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                  • JWK

                    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                    Yes sorry Zigs, if ever I get onto Mastermind it will be my specialist subject :)
                     
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