[plantmarkParticipant]

Thanks Charles

[plantmarkParticipant]

Not an option as I had 60 plants. I had thought of using large plastic bottles with tops and bottoms cut off, although I have found the entry point so may be ok from future attacks for the time being.

[plantmarkParticipant]

Thanks Charles, yes in the same area everything else looks great. In fact the carrot foliage looks fantastic. I have tried 2 different varieties with similar results.
Some say that carrots should not be planted in newly fertilised areas but I find that hard to believe? I have never heard you say that.
I should mention that I transplanted them this year after seeing that Which? did a trial by raising carrots in seed trays and transplanting them out. They had good results, so I thought I would give it go.

[plantmarkParticipant]

Try your local council and ask where they process their green waste. They usually sub contract it to a local processor. I buy green waste compost from my council’s processor for £100 for a small tipper load.

[plantmarkParticipant]

Thanks Charles

[plantmarkParticipant]

Thank you Charles.

[plantmarkParticipant]

Paul, so sorry to learn that you have encountered this problem. I know it is soul destroying. The problem is that yes the farmers no doubt have all the right paperwork but they continue to use AP because they don’t think anyone will ever know. Indeed I doubt that I would have ever known what I was up against if it hadn’t been for you Charles. Even if you ask the horse owners they dont have a clue what goes on with the hay they buy in, which is what happened to me on the third disaster. As Charles says the AP appears to be fairly mild but from what I have read the effects can last for years and the recommendation is to rotovate to mix with soil organisms to break it down. The problem with that is that once the manure has been rotovated there is no way to remove it if the effects do remain apparent. I think if I was in your position Paul I would remove the manure from at least some of your beds for next year. On a positive note the shovelling is great excercise! I will never use horse manure again but I have had good results with green compost so I cant see any point in risking the work and disappointment for manure. So if you can find a supply from your local authority that may be the way to go. You should report this to Dow chemicals.

[plantmarkParticipant]

Noted. Thanks Charles. I was trying to boost the Green Compost with the Chicken Manure Pellets as I will never again use Horse Manure after my 3 disasters. My first batch of garden compost is looking great and ready to go so I will use that next time. On the positive side at least the Broccoli will provide more material for the compost heap 😀

[plantmarkParticipant]

Its really disappointing, they don’t look very healthy, more grey than green. They are in full sun all day so hats not an issue. Perhaps the green compost is low in nutrients? Having said that some other crops look healthy, my sweetcorn, beans, lettuce, beetroot etc. Could it be that the PH of Chicken manure is not right for some crops?

[plantmarkParticipant]

I have had this one for a year now and it works just fine.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bimetal-Stainless-Steel-Garden-Compost-Soil-Thermometer-with-a-50-mm-Dial/292678912676?hash=item442505caa4:g:FNcAAOSwH71XOuPZ

[plantmarkParticipant]

Thanks Charles, sown 3 March so they have been very slow to grow?

[plantmarkParticipant]

Erica, yes it will break down if mixed with the soil but it can take several years. Most affected are Broad Beans, Runner and Green Beans, Tomatoes, Potatoes, carrots, Onions.

[plantmarkParticipant]

Yes it is Charles. I had complete misplaced confidence in the manure from the field next to my garden. I have tried horse manure from several different sources now and all of it has been contaminated with herbicide. I will never use it again, but all is not lost as I had great results with the green compost and chicken manure pellets last year so I will continue mulching with that and I will also have a fair quantity of garden compost ongoing.
I felt my experience was worth posting to warn others using horse manure to always test it before use. I find it extraordinary that all gardening programmes and many magazine articles recommend using horse manure but I have never seen a warning of the risks. I suspect that many gardeners suffer the consequences of herbicide in horse manure and never identify the cause of their problem.

[plantmarkParticipant]

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