Which manure for most veg?

myclayjungle · February 2021

I've been trying to research which manure, or indeed supplement like comfrey, is best for most veg? I assume it might depend on the veg I want to grow, but as a novice, is there an all rounder (or perhaps 2 manures) which will cover most veg to supplement the soil before planting? Any tips are appreciated.

BobTheGardener · February 2021

Well-rotted horse or farmyard manure will do the job. The bagged stuff from garden centres is generally ready to use and free of weed seeds (which can be a problem in stuff direct from farms.) Making comfrey 'tea' is an excellent way to provide an instant feed later in the season or the leaves can be buried in the soil below heavy feeders which are planted later (ie when fresh comfrey leaves are growing again) such as courgettes and squash. Avoid using manure on ground you will be growing carrots on though, as it will cause them to fork.

Obelixx · February 2021

Manures improve soil structure as well as fertility and are best used in a crop rotation scheme where freshly manured ground is used for potatoes, tomatoes, chillies. The following year that ground is then used to grow onions, garlic, beans and brassicas and then the following year root crops such as carrots which will fork if the soil is too rich in manure. Crop rotation avoids soils being depleted of too much of one particular mineral and reduces the build up of pests and diseases.

Rhubarb is a perennial crop which will appreciate an annual dollop of manure in autumn after the leaves die down or in spring before it starts into growth again. Squashes and pumpkins will also appreciate a rich, moisture retentive soil improved by manure.

Comfrey is used as a feed and, because it has a wide range of NPK nutrients but especially P and K, it makes an excellent fertiliser for flowering and fruiting plants whereas nettles are high in nitrogen and make good fertilisers for leafy plants such as salads and cabbages and Swiss chard and spinach. Brassicas appreciate a top dressing of lime before planting as this helps them resist club root.

nick615 · February 2021

myclayjungle It's always necessary to issue a proviso when giving advice, and mine is that my gardening is on a quite modest scale but, first of all, with that in mind, I reject the 'packet' instructions that you apply 'x' per square metre of your fertiliser. That, to me, feeds weeds as well as my crop so, because of my small plot, I put my nutrient (chicken manure pellets in my case) either in the rows as I plant or, if dibbed, in the hole before dropping in the seed/seedling. That ensures that, once my plant germinates and starts looking for food, there it is where the roots are. None of the above contributors are wrong. I just work rather more selectively and do the same with irrigation for which I have a walking stick style dibber of 16mm steel bar. If water is at a premium or I don't want to encourage weeds, I just wander down a row of plants dibbing 12 inch/30cm holes into which I feed water from a garden spray, set to a fine jet. If I feel the need to give the plants a bit of help, a few pellets go in the holes first and the water starts the breaking down process immediately. In the pic the tape measure is set @ 80cm.

myclayjungle · February 2021

Thanks for the great advice. I often see free bags of manure locally- so wondered if 1 animal (chicken, horse, cow etc) is preferential for the veg plot?

BobTheGardener · February 2021

If your aim is to improve the structure of your soil as well as fertilise it, then horse or cow. Chicken manure provides lots of nutrients, but won't improve the soil structure as there is no 'bulk' to it, so that is best used on already well cultivated soil, and to provide a boost later in the season.

myclayjungle · February 2021

Thanks Bob, great info as always.

Which manure for most veg?

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