What is the all around best manure for gardens? I can easily get my hands on cow, horse, and chicken. I am especially concerned with tomatos.
Hi, I use horse manure as well as 'green' manure (primarily comfry) every year. I can't really say that it's the best, it's actually the only manure that I have access to. When using animal manure the mein thing to be aware of is that you use well-rotted manure (some folks call it 'composted' manure). Otherwise it will be too strong and possibly could kill your little plants. The nitrogen level in fresh manure is quite high. If toms get too much nitrogen, they will produce a forest of foliage, but fewer fruits. I apply the rotted manure onto the ground and work it in, about a month before I actually plant the toms. I then water it often in preparation. Once planted, I give my toms some manure 'tea' about every three weeks or so in addition to other tomato food. Good luck to you.
We mix our compost in with our rabbit manure for the garden, Then til this into the ground before planting.
I happen to live next to someone who raises goats. Pure gold for gardens! The manure - fences do wonders for their eating habits.
I think well rotted cow manure is fabulous in the flower borders. I mix it with ordinary compost or soil. The chicken manure is good too, but can be very strong if you're not careful with it. I never use chicken manure in the acid soil borders, since chickens often get lots of chalk through their diets. I use fresh horse manure in the bottom of the girls' veggie patch. We put down a layer of about 5-10 cm/2-4 inches, and cover it with about 20-25 cm / 8-10 inches of soil. The manure gives off heat to help the veggie seeds sprout. The year after I use the mixture of soil and rotted horse manure in the borders.
I have access to fresh stable manure which I heap up to rot down plus I have started using green manure, mustard over the winter. I make my own compost and I make leaf mould but that is really only a soil conditioner rather than a fertiliser.
Hi, the best manure is from lambs and goats, is valid for more than 4 years. Horse manure does n't have many elements. Cow manure has more than horse, is the best if you want to make an well draining mix soil, valid till 2 years. Chicken manure is very strong and valid only for 1 year. All manure of course must be well-rotted. I don't know, if you know, that fresh manure is the best for seed germination. If you add fresh manure with water for overnight seed moisting, the results is great specially for difficult to germinate seeds. John from Athens
I am a very lazy gardener, so I prefer worm castings. Robert Rodale, of Organic Gardening fame said that worm castings are "the finest form of humus known." No I don't bother with worm bins. By making sure my beds are covered well with leaves and finely chopped organic materials year round (use an old lawn mower for hedge trimmings and garden waste), the native worms multiple and are prolific in my garden beds. They are constantly enriching and aerating the soil. This method also provides a cheap means of mulching my beds. (I never use lawn clippings-causes weeds/grass in beds and tends to heat up as it decomposes if applied thickly keeping the worms at bay.)
We have Livestock on premise. Horses and cattle. I Compost Manure, shavings and green waste. We have a proved system to turn a pile of waste into pure compost in 21 days
I vote for the horse manure, it seems to break up easier. I have had chicken manure burn seedlings. Chuck- are you willing to share your compost system?
