Grow Your Own Magazine

Well not really horse manure. The local gymkhana is being held in the field next to us and I have counted up to 50 ponies and horses. So ......... there should be a fair bit of stuff (unless they are very toilet trained) tonight and I intend to go out with the wheelbarrow. (They think I'm leaning over the wall watching the events, but I'm really watching the rear ends of the horses )

Any ideas what I should do with it as it will be pretty strong - probably smell a bit too!

Lucky you! I just drove into the country for two free bags from the roadside - hope you get a lot more

What do I do with it? At this time of year:

• Strew onto a newly acquired plot, then cover with black plastic through which I'll plant squash and toms next year
• Layer in the compost heap
• Strew on top of mulch along the asparagus bed
• Ditto jerusalem artichoke bed

Came across a great idea for manure acquired in January - make a covered 'hot box' with manure covered in about 8" compost, and plant new potatoes in it for Easter. When they're up, put in the melons. MMMM!

You need a starting pistol JA. give the, a good scare it will double the yeild

You could bag it up & leave it till next year if you want that will stop the rain washing all the goodness out of it or do what Supersprout says.

How about the bottom of next years bean trench & mix it with some of the garden waste?

__________________
ntg

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic

http://grief-encounters.blogspot.com/

Fancy trying a hot box this year! Loads of free manure so maybe will give it a go!

You could use it as a freebie propagator Squirrel

__________________
ntg

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic

http://grief-encounters.blogspot.com/

I'm still sitting here waiting for them all to go home! Missed it last night as we had friends for dinner and OH was a bit perturbed at the thought my nipping out in my wellies and a wheelbarrow and then playing the host bit. I thought I'd ask them to give me hand!

Gosh there are horses in the field next to us.....sheep down the road, and cows over the road.
I am also cleaning out the goose hut next week..........lovely decomposed poo with straw.........

ALL THIS!!!
What can I do with it all???

Dx

Two barrowloads

Two barrowloads of sh*t and a barrowloadl of funny looks no doubt !!

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Rat

British by birth
Scottish by the Grace of God

[size="1"]Journal updated Tuesday 5th August

Good idea! I don't have a heated propagator! Mmmm will have to hunt out some planking, I think I have a couple of old window frames and panes hanging around! How deep does the compost on top of the manure need to be? Any idea?

Thanks for all the advice. I have a compost bin with compost that will probably be ready next spring, so have layered it on top of that. Some kind soul also left half a hay bale so put that on top and then the duvet. Feel quite smug

Yes SR - sad isn't it. My OH couldn't believe that I forgoed my Sunday G & T to shovel it. Lots of cars drove by and I had to struggle up the hill with the barrow, so hope I don't make an article in the Shetland Times next Friday!

I had in mind "You know you are a gardener when ............"

(PS had a double G & T when I got in I'm not that daft )

Jennie - I have got visions of you struggling up the hill with your wheelbarrow full of pony poo! You definately deserved the double G&T! All I know about pony poo is that you have to leave it for a long time to breakdown (around 12 months I think). But at least you have made a start! I would be interested in finding out how you get on because I have a friend who has three horses......watch this space! dexterdog

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Appreciate the little things in life because one day you will realise they are the big things

I thought you couldn`t use fresh manure? I thought it would "burn" what ever you tried to grow?

Fresh manure yes, but this is being left over winter which will give it time to 'mature' a bit LTP

I thought that by layering it on the existing compost that anything that leached out would drain into the existing compost. I'll report how I get on next April (?)

Got a phone call today "Do you need horse manure?" YES !! Someone obviously saw me. Problem is they are 20 miles away. Don;t fancy driving that far with the trailer full of a steaming mass.

I worry about OH as when we are sailing he gets the brasso out and polishes! He says that is NOTHING compared to my gadding around the field last night scopping up the P**h. Sadly ......... he's not a gardener ......... does not understand the importance .......... Glad I have you lot to tell .......... thankyou !

Now your asking Squirrel,

Don't know if you can read this OK if not I'll post it somewhere Else & give you the link. This is from my old book thats great for this sort of info. the scanners knac... er broken so I took a foto with the fone



The blurb that goes with it is as follows:-

"Very much more use can be made of the coldframe if the ground is prepared as a hotbed. To do this, soil should be taken out to a depth of 18" and the space filled with 9" of strawy manure, if it is available, or materila from the Rot heap or leaves that are decaying and therefore should give off heat. this is trodden down very firmly so that heat is conserved & then a layer of 6" of sandy soil . The heat generated will encourage growth so that early salad crops can be raised and seeds that are normally sown in heat such as leeks and celery can be raised on the hotbead instead"

Practical gardenng & food Production in pictures by Richard Sudell

You could add a bit more if you wanted I guess & the cold frame will insulate it from the worst of the weather. If you lined it will polystrene it would be better still.

Hope that helps

__________________
ntg

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic

http://grief-encounters.blogspot.com/