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Ohio

Why is it not ok to put fresh cow doo-doo on a garden right now and till it in?, Can someone tell me what this would do to the plants if u would do this and why?, I read that is not good to put fresh manure on a garden a month before you are going to plant and that its better if its a couple years old if you are going to Till it in.

4/14/2004 2:07:23 PM

Bemidji, MN

Fresh manure can "burn" plant roots if not aged. The Nitrogen needs to mellow down some before using. Generally, 6-8 wks minimum is required to calm down the "N" somewhat. Even longer aging is better.Steve

4/14/2004 2:12:17 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

fresh manure will also be high in salts which will also leach out over time...better not to have the salts left in the patch.

4/14/2004 2:44:47 PM

White Plains, NY

Fresh manure is loaded with viable SEEDS. Aged manure for the most part has destroyed the seeds.

4/14/2004 5:06:46 PM

Montoursville, PA

..............And in addition to the above fine information and advise fresh manure on your boots can weigh heavy on marital relationships, taint the new car to the specific aroma of poo. That stuff is heck to clear out once set in upholstry and trim.

The Pennsylvania Dutch start hauling it to the frozen fields in January and Februrary. One reason you just learned. The ground is frozen and will not compact to the horses weight or the tractor wheels and there is no other pressing field or animal work at that time.

4/14/2004 5:55:14 PM

Montoursville, PA

And one more important thing.....If they did not haul manure for the months of January and February all the farm kids would have October and November birthdays. No one can afford birthdays and Christmas being that close together.

4/14/2004 7:20:44 PM

Caceres, mid west of Spain

Fresh manure (just thrown out from the animal intestine), should need one month in spring to be composted enough to not disturb plant growth, but pumpkins are one of the best resistant plants to fresh manure (like tomatoes). The first composted reactions has some microflora which produces acids and toxins not good for plants, but they disappear soon.

4/15/2004 3:22:36 AM

Carrollton, Ga.

Don Quijot how much fresh manure could I put on one spot. Like an inch deep on the whole patch or more?
Thanks,
One dude

4/15/2004 8:28:20 AM

Montoursville, PA

Look at your calendars! Many will be starting seed between the 20th of April and May 1. Ten to twelve days later most will be headed into their cold frames. You have thirty days for new manure to mellow out somewhat if you place it today....You will not have thirty days until you are planting in the nursery.

That's cutting on the edge of possible. I don't like to put new in the patch after the first of March. I am in the Northeast, of USA.

4/15/2004 11:16:53 AM

if you guys have manure that you want to add...and you figure 30 days to mellow it out...you could technically mark out a circle where you're going to plant, and not put any manure on that spot. I would think a couple feet or even 5 feet in diameter (help me out on this one guys) would be sufficient. Then by the time the plants roots reach the manure, it will be safe for them.

4/15/2004 3:35:04 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Good observation Brigitte. Aged or quality bagged manure in the mound. Fresher stuff further out. Very good idea for folks just getting things going.

4/15/2004 6:19:32 PM

Caceres, mid west of Spain

One dude, one inch for me would be right.

4/17/2004 5:48:09 AM

Denver, Co.

How about rabbit manure? How long should it be composted?

4/17/2004 10:25:43 PM

Montoursville, PA

Poop is poop.............rabbit is one of the best. It should be treated like all manure. The organic advisory on all poop is to age and cure it by using fall and or very early new year months placement into the soil. If in doubt stockpile it for a year in a compost pile. Even if you do not work the pile your manure will age towards humus and mellow into a better product for your patch.

Anything that sits in a working compost pile for half a year or more turns out better in all ways than when it was added to the pile. If a pile is nicely ballanced and turned every week excellent compost can be made in six to eight weeks.

4/18/2004 8:40:20 AM