by Terry Blackburn

Created on: April 21, 2007   Last Updated: April 26, 2007

We can never have too much organic matter dug into the garden particularly in the vegetable garden. Whilst in the humus (half decomposed state), it acts as a sponge in light soils to retain food and moisture; in heavy clay it provides a drainage filter between the soil particles.

When preparing the beds for vegetables the organic fertilizer should be added at a rate of two bucketfuls to the sq. yd.

Manures

Well-rotted animal manure is one of the finest by-products that are available to the organic gardener. It may sound like a messy and an unhygienic substance to handle but in this form it looks completely different from the fresh product. It doesn't smell, in fact it resembles rich, brown, crumbly compost, which of course it is. However, when handling any type of composts and fertilizers it is sensible to wear gloves.

Farmyard manure is a mixture of the droppings of horses, pigs or cows, including their urine and the litter used for their bedding. Cow manures are wetter, colder and lower in nutrients than horse manure, and decompose more slowly in the soil, which makes them more suitable for sandy soils. Likewise, pig manure is slow acting but long lasting, as it is slow to ferment, this too is a cold manure and therefore unsuitable for the making of hot-beds. Bullock manure is not recommended because many are fed a composition diet to build up tissue and body weight, therefore the residue could be transported into their manure and which might not necessarily be beneficial to us.

One ton of farmyard manure will give about 10lb. Nitrogen, 5lb. Phosphoric acid and 10lb. Potash, much of which is accessible to the plants soon after application.

Not everyone lives in the country or close by riding stables but many of the animal manures can be purchased from good Garden Centres or from suppliers with web sites who can deliver to your home. Manures are generally good all round balanced fertilizers with amounts of nitrogen as well as a little of many other ingredients. It must always be used when it has matured, fresh will harm the plants by "burning" the stems and roots. If you are able to collect it from source let it rot for about 8 weeks but do make sure that you cover it to stop the rain-washing away all the nutrients. In autumn dig lots of manure into the vegetable plots it will ensure that the plants have a really good start in the following season. Besides root crops prefer soil that has been manured the previous season.

Chicken Manure

Chicken manure is often sold

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