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Williamsburg,KY

My neighbor just dumped some cow manure in my yard for me to use. The manure is from where the cattle eat and is sorta fresh with hay mixed in. Can I put this manure mixture on my pumpking patch now and plant in a week or two? Any opinions?

5/5/2005 12:01:33 PM

Waquoit Mass

id save it for the fall

5/5/2005 12:29:02 PM

Montoursville, PA

Ditto Dave's response.

5/5/2005 2:47:09 PM

Western NY

if your soil is barren and needs nutrients, and this is all you have, it might not be a bad idea. i've used just what you describe before. better than nothing.

5/5/2005 3:46:50 PM

Rockford,il

Manure is very good for your patch. Fresh manure can burn up your plants.It probably would be best to play it safe and use it this fall.

5/5/2005 9:28:56 PM

Paradise Mountain, New York

PUT IT ON, what the heck. I put a lot of fresh and old manure on my patch this year. The farmer down the road spreaded manure he had piled up all winter out back the other day. If farmers can spread fresh manure, plow it under and plant crops on it, why can't pumpkin growers do it? I beleive it was Speery who last year put a lot of fresh manure only on his patch last year and grew a 1215 I think I got the right guy.

5/5/2005 10:54:34 PM

Saegertown Pa.

Fresh manure can cause disease save it for the fall

5/6/2005 5:19:01 AM

Rhode Island

putting down fresh manure at this time of year is really not the way to go
yes, you may be able to grow in it but how well ?
when manure or any waste is breaking down the soils nitrogen content is tied up during the process

also as quinn mentioned there is a higher chance of disease in fresh manure vs a good compost thats had a chance to build healthy bacterial spores

we have all made our beds in this hobby and had to lay in them
but, if i have learned only one think over the years its this
the secret is in the soil
not the amts of fertilizers ( organics or man made ), not the very best seed stock, not the expensive disease and nutritional products, not the plant size

all of the above are important for sure, but none of them compare to a healthy, properly balance soil
one thats alive with all the benificial spores and nutrients that pumpkins require
if it were me id save the fresh manure for the fall and buy some good composted manure elsewhere

dick

5/6/2005 6:27:07 AM

Roanoke Il

I'm with pumpkin brat use the fresh manure work it in the soil the only diseases I could find caused buy the use of fresh manure was E. coli harmful to humans should't be use in vegtable gardens sixty days before harvest. Root crops and leafy vegtables are the only risk of contracting E.coli from the use of fresh manure. Most growers don't eat ag's but if you use fresh manure and eat them wash them good to be safe.
Disadvantages smell ,weight hualing purposes,weed seeds altering your ph with heavey applications but nothing alittle lime won't help.
I've used fresh manure for the past 2 seasons have notice better looking plants stronger resistance to diseases. better water retention of soil.
Ask your self this question does your soil need improvement this season can you get rotted or composted for this season. If you answered yes to the first and no to the secound question ... you know what to do hope this helps...mark
P.S. What plant diseases are past to AG's threw the use of fresh manure I have never read of any but if there are any I would be interested in finding out what they are. Thank you

5/6/2005 9:39:54 AM

Williamsburg,KY

Well, I reckon I will give it a try. When it comes time to set out my plants. I will dig a hole, add the manure and hay that is not fully composted and cover the hole, and set my transplant. Then perhaps by mid season I can use it as a mulch. I am in total agreement that soil is the key to growing anything. My soil is good, bottom land and had a cover crop this year which is already turned under and ready to plant. Thanks to everyone for their help. So if anyone has a comment on this, please reply.

5/6/2005 4:27:24 PM

C N Y

DOOOOOO NOTTTTTTTTTTT PLANT YOUR SEEDLING(S) RIGHT INTO THE MANURE!!!!!! well, a little heavy on the caps, but, lol!

add your manure to the entire patch by TILLING IT IN.

give your plant a drink but don't give it straight WHISKEY!

your seedling(s) will be dead in two days if you plant them
directly into fresh manure. i used to think like everyone else that doesn't grow things; that if it stinks, it must be good for my pumpkin plants! heck, you could even avoid putting the manure within about four feet of the planting hole...that would give the manure a little more time to acclimate and start breaking down a bit before the plant gets to it. just trying to help>>>>>>>>>>eric/'pal2

5/6/2005 5:49:58 PM