brand new allotment girls

WE have just got our large allotment on a section of farm land, which was originally covered in nettles and grass. The farmer has ploughed the land for us and we are in the process of turning and weeding the soil. We have dug in some horse manure into a small section of the soil but have been reading that by doing this you cannot plant your vegetables for approximately 3-6 months. However the manure does not smell of ammonia at all and we have only used a small amount. Can we plant anything or do we have to wait? Please help!

 

Hi girls well done with getting a site, I'm sure you know just how lucky you are.:wink:

Regarding the horse muck I gather it's fresh then?
If so I'm afraid it's a no, no although all might not be lost as only last year I planted a raised bed and half filled it will fresh horse muck although truth be told there was plenty of straw in it and I planted my Japanese onions in it and they are doing far better than the ones I just planted into the ground!

To be honest I wouldn't mix anymore horse muck in your plot but instead make a compost bin for the horse muck to go into which can be made quite easily by pallets.
Good luck and happy digging.Hel.xxx.

 

The best crop of tatties my dad and I ever grew was when I was a kid. We acquired a couple of tonnes of fairly fresh horse manure and dirty straw from the stables. We dug it in, then planted the spuds straight in it. In essence, we completely ignored the rule book that says tatties won't grow if the manure is too fresh.

Lucky for us, the tatties had at this time not yet evolved to the point of having the ability to read the horticulture books, so they didn't know they weren't meant to grow. We got an excellent crop.

I guess the moral of the story is this. If the ground is standing vacant for a few months anyway, you have nothing to lose by trying to grow stuff in it.

 

i have to agree with clueless, i've only been growing veggie''s
for two season's this will be my third, and both january's
filled it with fresh horse manure it had a couple of month's to
break down but was still green when i planted out, it did'nt do
any harm to my veg, i'd rather take the chance, at least you might
grow something, or it will be another lesson learnt, either way
it won't hurt trying, kev.

 

I just wanted to say well done ladies!

I think more people should do what you are doing.....its so satisfying growing your own isn't it.

I think i'm turning into Mr good (the good life)

Baz