Compost

Hi All I have just been up the fields and collected some horse manure I dug down deep to get the older manure I have noticed it has got some roots in it (see photos) I have used this manure before with no problems and cannot remember seeing the roots before. I need the manure for the boxes in my greenhouse for Tomatoes and Cucumbers. The question is are these roots OK or should I seive them out??
I normally cover the boxes after planting the toms or cucumbers with a black sheet so I do not need to weed through the year this normally stops anything else growing.


Dave

 

Without really seeing up close Dave its a job to say, but they look white and healthy, so not good.
It could easily be bindweed, and you dont want that.

 

It is a bit difficult to give a definite ID but white roots with little clusters every so ofen can be couch grass, quite common in grassland and they spread through a manure heap really quickly. The yellowish roots look a bit like nettle roots, also very common in areas of high nutrient content ie. manure heaps.

 

Hi Geoff/Pete
The bindweed has got me worried if I go back up the field will I be able to see the weed this time of year??
I know there were some nettles growing in the previous lot I got a couple of years ago. There was also some grass growing on the edge of the heap.

Thanks for the advice

Dave

 

To me, Dave, it looks as if you have a combination of all three. If you can sieve it then do so and get as much root out as possible.

 

Basically Dave, you dont want any of them, so they need to be removed before you use it or spread it.
You wont see bindweed at this time of the year.

 

Thanks for all the replies, I think what I will do is mix it in with some growbags and compost from the compost bin keep contained in boxes in the greenhouse. Grow Cucumbers & Tomatoes in the boxes and at the end of the season I will be able to see what has grown and then decide if it is safe to put in the open ground. I will cover the boxes with a black sheet that stops weeding but I am sure if it is a weed it will get through the sheet, I will also seive it to get out as much as I can.

Thank again for the help and advice

David Guy