adventures with manure

Manure is gross.  It's icky.  It smells.  BUT, according to the local farm store it's supposed to be wonderful for your garden.  So, today as we were putting together the raised vegetable garden, my husband and I embarked on creating rich soil full of manure (and peat and compost too!).  I seriously hope this produces amazing vegetables because it really is unsightly!

Comments

[Account Deleted]

It really does work! I grew up on a farm and well of course access to a lot of manure. It is horrible smelling but my grandparents used it in soil and it actually does wonders. Not to mention they would use crushed up egg shells and mixed it in :) I am sure you will be pleased with your outcome!

[Kristen]

I hope so! I am a novice gardener who has relied on containers for herbs and a few tomatoes here and there so I am hoping my new raised beds will do wonders for my yields. Knowing that the manure is rich for the soil will hopefully make things work better. Any other tips from the farm? I'd love some other ideas...

Thanks much!

[Account Deleted]

Well, if possible save any egg shells you use. Break them up and mix it in with your fertilizer, plants need calcium. If you are growing veggies, depending on the plant veggies need pot ash and nitrogen, some things like that. I am not exactly sure which veggie or how to mix what to use to give the needed plants nitrogen but if you google or ask someone more educated in plants and what not that could probably tell you the proper amount :) I hope I helped as much as possible :)

[Account Deleted]

I just recently started my blog but if you would like to follow, I post about several topics and planting is one of them. I plan on getting more in depth with my grandparents on how they grew such wonderful flowers and vegetables so I can properly add the right information in my topics :)

[Account Deleted]

Also with the egg shells being okay to put right in because plants need calicum, I asked and was told when using manure you need to let it rot in the ground for awhile because if you put it on your seeds it will burn up your seeds.

[Kristen]

Good idea.. I have been putting our egg shells in our compost bin but ever thought of adding them directly to the soil. Thanks!

[Kristen]

Do you know how long you need to let it rot? Luckily I started my plants from seed so won't be planting them in the ground until they are ready (maybe in 2 weeks or so). How much time do you think I need to wait before planting? This is great.. thank you!

[Account Deleted]

Well since you aren't direct seeds then you shouldn't have to let it rot. However next time if you want to use seeds and manure let it rot for a few weeks so it doesn't burn up your seeds :)