Is 2 Inches Thick of Manure Enough?

[Hanniball]

Hi All,

Glad to be aboard… I have read Charles’ book and became hitched straight away!
Need some advice actually. I have just acquired an Allotment with 11 raised beds made from scaffolding boards, all in pretty good condition. The beds themselves had been neglected for about 18-months so were horrendously overgrown. I have managed to clear the perennial weeds from all of them (I hope) and have just began to lay cardboard down and manure over the top.

The Allotment itself is absolutely brilliant, the only problem is access which I have to say is terrible. The only way to get onto the plot is through an alleyway, there is no road access at all. If you need to move anything it has to be manhandled. After hunting around, I managed to find a stable that has a huge pile of rotten horse manure which they were happy for me to take as much as I needed. I managed to get about 8 x 45 litre bags of this black gold into the boot of my car and after a lot of back breaking effort and a few hours, managed to cover just one raised bed with about 2 inches thick of manure.

Is this thick enough? Only, the way I am going I will end up in hospital with horrendous back problems at this rate.

[charles]

 Well done Hanniball only as you say, a big job, such a pity when the stables have it all.

Two inches of manure is good esp. when well rotted. It would be ideal if you can do all the beds, maybe one a week until November?! Keep you fit…

Then the same next autumn if possible, or a little less. It will repay for doing in easier weeding, and ultimately less weed growth, better moisture retention, bigger crops… keep all that in mind while humping sacks.

Not sure if cardboard is needed, since you cleared the weeds, though it won’t hurt to stop new weeds until next year.

[Hanniball]

Hi Charles, hope you are well.

Thanks for the encouraging reply. One visit per-week to the stables sounds good to me and yes, thinking of all the positives as you’ve cited in your post is a real good incentive.

Thanks again.

[bluebell]

Hi Hanniball
Don’t forget to compost as well, that will help to a small extent. Also it is surprising how fast you can get through these tasks. I have just done mine for the year through a similar obstacle course, doing 2 runs per day for 2 weeks. Feels like a daunting task at the start and but really rewarding. Especially when you start seeing the rewards in your produce.
Bluebell

[Hanniball]

Hi Bluebell,

You’re quite right of course. Fortunately I have some spare timber which I intend to use to build a compost bin/s over the Autumn/Winter period ready for next year.
I have moved a total of 32 x 45 litre bags of manure so far over the last 2-weeks, covering 4 of my raised beds. I have 7 more beds to cover which I hope to do by the end of this month. The last occupant of the plot I have, left an old wheelbarrow which I have brought back to life with some WD40 and oil, so moving the bags is not so much of a trial now. What I am doing is setting myself attainable goals each week, so I don’t get too disappointed should the weather turn or something happens at home – self motivation and all that! It’s really satisfying to see these newly manured beds though after a day of heavy manual grafting, something you alluded to Bluebell (2 runs a day for 2-weeks? Crikey !!). Roll-on 2014.

Regards, H.

[Author]

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