New load for a new plot (well, new to me)

[Phil R]

Hi Charles, hi all. Yesterday I got a load of horse manure delivered.  I didn’t go with the livery stable option(£25 tonne delivered) I had previously mentioned as they said they’d “run out” then someone suggested to me that theirs wasn’t really as old as it could be. Anyway, I got a young farmer from accross town to drop me about 6 or 7 tonnes of horse manure not just to my allotment but right onto my plot. I paid £70 for it.

This stuff is so old the farmer said it’s 4 or 5 years but some could be older. It’s really dark, bears no resemblance  to horse**** anymore and is practically just “black soil”. It’s like the worms have been and gone years ago. It looks really quite amazing now, it crumbles, it bonds together and it smells sweet. Can’t detect any bedding in it anymore, be it shavings or straw. I made a “bed-former” (4′ x 10′ x 6″ deep) out of timber  and have spent today making 4′ by 10′ beds, make one, move the former, make another one etc etc.

Now, bearing in mind that this stuff is practically soil now, my question is this: Should I really be treading it down in my bed-former or trying to keep it a bit loose? When I walk on the beds I’ve already made there is still some spring to them. I’ll try and get a photo up.

I have made beds 6″ deep and have compacted them down as I made them. I half filled the former, treaded it down, put the other half in, tread it down then finished off with some more after “tamping down” around the edges with my size 11s. I dont think it matters too much as I have ANOTHER LOAD COMING by Friday out of which I will use as much as I can then store as much as I can then I’ll let the rest (which will be a fair amount) go to my neighbouring plots for what I paid for it so I could actually have enough to go over the top of these beds and the paths with another 6 inches as I have access to so much of it. It’s my intention to finish the job with a good couple of inches of quite good quality green waste over everything to keep weeds seeds down, not that thereseem to be any in this stuff.

 

 

 

 

 

[Phil R]

some photos (hopefully)

[charles]

That was quite a find Phil, it looks great.

Yes I think you are right to tread it down, enough to help beds to stay in shape, and it would only be bad if it were really wet.

[Phil R]

Thanks Charles, I’ve never seen anything quite like it. Do you think I should even bother with the”green waste” when this stuff is so well composted? I’m thinking maybe I should just keep spreading this EVERYWHERE, paths n all? Thanks again your reassuring and prompt reply. :o)

 

[charles]

Yes it looks good enough to sow into, there may be a flush of weed seedlings to hoe.

[Phil R]

Thanks for getting back before I leave for the allotment Charles. Very much appreciated. 

[Phil R]

Hi, I’ve noticed lots and lots of small flies around this load and where ever I put some, is that normal?

[Phil R]

some more photos

[Phil R]

.. know it sounds obvious, flies around muck and all, but there were rather alot yesterday. I suppose they disappear after a while? When it surface drys?

 

[Jayjay]

Wow Phil, lucky you to source such a lot of good muck! You’re bound to have a fabulous harvest this year, keep us informed. Jeanette.

[Phil R]

Yes I certainly will Jeanette. I’m keen to get things growing as right now I have the only clean but empty plot on the allotment.☺

 

 

 

[charles]

and flies is normal for any old organic matter Phil, they are harmless

[Phil R]

I moved some of the potato pots off the beds this morning, where they were keeping out of the way, and noticed a couple of red composting worms underneath on top of the beds. I didn’t see any worms when I was making the beds. Going to get some plants in them after they’ve been there for a week. Beans are flying away and some of my 1st early “Colleen” are about to open flower buds. :o)

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