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Horse Manure for Potatoes

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  • #1

    Horse Manure for Potatoes

    I have access to an unlimited supply of useable horse manure, which I wish to use for next years spuds. I have the soil ready, but do I dig the manure in now, or just lay it on for the winter and dig it in during Spring prior to planting? Many thanks, learning is such fun!
    Last edited by freefolk; 08-12-2017, 04:56 PM.
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  • #2
    Hi. I think it depends on whether the manure is fresh or well-rotted. If it's fresh, I would build a cone-shaped pile, about three feet high and as wide as it needs to be. This will speed up the process of it rotting, as it'll heat up in the middle. Then in spring it will hopefully be ready to spread and dig into your tater bed. If it's well-rotted, you could spread it now and the worms will take it down into the soil for you.

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    • #3
      Put rotted and fresh on mine last autumn and dug in. Come the spring for earlies it was all well rotted down and had turned clay soil into a nice loam. The spuds seemed to yield well. One thing I have read is check what the horses have eaten as some sprayed grass herbicides will carry through to the manure and then kill the planted crop

      https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=477

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      • #4
        It is already several months old when bagged. Several other local growers (as well as the supplier) use it, so assume it is free from weedkillers, but I will check.

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        • #5
          I've used fresh stuff which was mainly sawdust used for the horses bedding with good results. Dug a small hole, put manure in bottom, then seed tattie then filled up hole. I had a wonderful crop of clean tatties!
          A welcome side effect was when I raked down the bed after harvesting it made a wonderful tilth for the next planting.
          My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
          to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

          Diversify & prosper


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          • #6
            I'd spread it and leave it overwinter - then plant into it without digging it in.

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            • #7
              Originally posted by veggiechicken View Post
              I'd spread it and leave it overwinter - then plant into it without digging it in.
              I'd go with what VC said
              Location ... Nottingham

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              • #8

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                • #9
                  I use the same stuff as Snadger - half filled up potato bags and 30l pots with it and stuck the spuds it. Filled it up once they were growing.

                  Nice crop of spuds and several bags of broken down manure for the beds.

                  New all singing all dancing blog - Jasons Jungle

                  �I have not failed 1,000 times. I have successfully discovered 1,000 ways to NOT make a light bulb."
                  ― Thomas A. Edison

                  �Negative results are just what I want. They�re just as valuable to me as positive results. I can never find the thing that does the job best until I find the ones that don�t.�
                  ― Thomas A. Edison

                  - I must be a Nutter,VC says so -

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                  • #10
                    Another vote for spreading it and leaving it. The manure will act as a mulch, keeping weeds down (although you may find some grass grows if it contains hay seeds). The worms will do the digging for you.
                    A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. LLAP. - Leonard Nimoy

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                    • #11
                      Further to the above, I was yesterday shown a huge (and I mean "climb up it and plant a flag on top" huge) pile of manure over the road. It is from where the horses were in a different field a year or two ago. It is black, crumbly, non-smelling, 12-18 months old and - best of all - FREE! Wheelbarrow here I come

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                      • #12
                        Originally posted by Mr Bones View Post
                        I'd go with what VC said
                        Ditto from me.
                        Feed the soil, not the plants.
                        (helps if you have cluckies)

                        Man v Squirrels, pigeons & Ants
                        Bob

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                        • #13
                          Originally posted by veggiechicken View Post
                          I'd spread it and leave it overwinter - then plant into it without digging it in.
                          Originally posted by Mr Bones View Post
                          I'd go with what VC said
                          Originally posted by Penellype View Post
                          Another vote for spreading it and leaving it..
                          Originally posted by fishpond View Post
                          Ditto from me.
                          Originally posted by veggiechicken View Post
                          Feeling concerned - nobody ever agrees with me
                          Last edited by veggiechicken; 28-01-2018, 07:20 PM.

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                          • #14
                            Originally posted by veggiechicken View Post
                            Feeling concerned - nobody every agrees with me
                            I didn't! Although, I probably could have!
                            Last edited by Snadger; 28-01-2018, 07:12 PM.
                            My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
                            to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

                            Diversify & prosper


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                            • #15
                              Originally posted by freefolk View Post
                              Further to the above, I was yesterday shown a huge (and I mean "climb up it and plant a flag on top" huge) pile of manure over the road. It is from where the horses were in a different field a year or two ago. It is black, crumbly, non-smelling, 12-18 months old and - best of all - FREE! Wheelbarrow here I come
                              Im jealous

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