Very fresh horse manure

[goodolpete]

I got hold of a dozen black sacks of this today for the allotment.
Should I leave it in the bags to rot down, put it in my composter
or spread it over my plot (and should I dig it in)?
How long will it take before its useable?
TIA,
Pete

[Guest]

Either of the first two choices or make a hot bed. I fear we will not get much of a winter to break it down enough if spread over the plot. Also if it is the first time you have got it from where you got it, you might want to test it first before putting it on anything.

[Scoot]

Either of the first two choices or make a hot bed. I fear we will not get much of a winter to break it down enough if spread over the plot. Also if it is the first time you have got it from where you got it, you might want to test it first before putting it on anything.

Why do you "need a winter" to break it down. Surely it would break down better in milder conditions?

[bearded bloke]

Contain it in something plant a couple of broad beans in each container & see how they grow before putting possibly contaminated manure onto your growing area, would be my advice.

EDIT ... See here for advice regarding contamination ............

http://www.growyourown.info/page164.html


&


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

[Bigmallly]

Why do you "need a winter" to break it down. Surely it would break down better in milder conditions?

A hard winter will kill any beasties & eggs that may be in the manure.

[Scoot]

A hard winter will kill any beasties & eggs that may be in the manure.

I can understand that and killing things off but still surely a mild winter will see manure break down quicker? Unless i am missing something lol?

[Bigmallly]

No Scoot, I see your point.

[Guest]

Why do you "need a winter" to break it down. Surely it would break down better in milder conditions?

my horsey poo breaks down better with cold and wet not warm and dry (or windy as it is at the moment). Sorry I have no explanations for this

[veggiechicken]

Its probably like rough digging and leaving the soil in clods to overwinter. The cold and frost break the clods down while warm wet weather would turn it to mud.

[Penellype]

The speed of breakdown depends on what sort of bedding has been used. Straw breaks down much faster than wood shavings or sawdust.

If it is warm and windy the manure will dry out and nothing rots well when its very dry. That will be why it rots better when cold and wet. If you put it in a sack, compost bin or a hotbed it will dry out less quickly as there is less exposed surface than in a pile or spread out.

[Scoot]

Well mine has been spread in stages all depending on when i harvested that part of the garden. Some went on in September/ October then the next lot went on in November and then the last lot in December when i pulled all my Parsnips.there'll be nothing going in the garden until April anyway so hopefully enough time even for the last lot i spread to break down. It's worked every other year I've tried it

[Snadger]

I've just spread a wheel barrow load of fresh stuff on my greenhouse borders. I had toms in them but didn't want to disturb the soil as I am planting spring cabbage in the beds now the module grown plants have grown a bit and are ready for transplanting. I like the soil firm for brassicas.
Because the beds were dry I've watered them through the hoss muck to start the interaction between soil and muck.
When I plant the ball headed Spring cabbage I'll dig a hole with trowel and plant through the muck making sure its away from the cabbage stem. If it does warm the soil a bit it may bring the cabbages on quicker.
Hopefully the organic matter will help my toms/peppers planted after SC.

[goodolpete]

Thanks for all your replies.