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Hi,

We've just taken over the allotment and spent the weekend digging the weeds out, we've been advised by one of the 'old boys' to cover the plot with manure and leave till spring, then dig in.

Is this advisable or are we better going for the green option and planting either mustard or clover, or is it better to cover the whole plot with old carpet etc?

This is our first allotment so any help is appreciated!

if you have access to manure.. then yeh i would.. but not where you intend to grow root veg such as carrots etc

Gidday

Why not do both?

I would happily use horse manure even for root crops. If you can get it, the use it.

I've just got hold of an allotment and have access to a good supply of horse manure so will be looking to do as you suggest.

I think I'll live a bit of room to try and get a few bits growing though.

Why should you not use manure where you want to grow root crops?

Steve

because the roots will head for the soil with the nutrients in. I fyou have just manured your plot the nutrients will be everywhere... ergo roots wil go everywhere (if you follow) with root veg that means that you end up with split roots and drastically irregular shapes.
HTH

Thanks all, time to shovel s*** then Steve!

Annpan wrote:because the roots will head for the soil with the nutrients in. I fyou have just manured your plot the nutrients will be everywhere... ergo roots wil go everywhere (if you follow) with root veg that means that you end up with split roots and drastically irregular shapes.
HTH

I see what you are saying, but if you dug it in ( as I am doing at this time of the year, cos it is still winter here), surely it should be OK? Mind our place has such crap soil, anything is better than nothing.

I seem to remember the problem with freshly manured soil and root crops is that manured soil has a high percentage of nitrogen in it. Which causes the leaves to grow like crazy, at the cost of the production of the roots.

Regards, Jandra

I didn't manure my root plot last winter and I've still found a few forked carrots. They don't bother me - but what I do find a bit strange and I don't know what the cause is, is split carrots - where the outer bit has opened up and the heart/core is showing. Anyone know?

Did you have a period of lots of rain after a relatively dry period? That might have caused them to grow too quickly and split the outer skin.

Er, is the pope catholic? Yup it was really dry in April and then exceedingly wet May through end of July. Thing is I only sowed them in April so would that have affected them so early when they were tiny seedlings (and being watered at the time)?

To be honest - I have no idea!

Me neither - I just accept it as one of those things with carrots, along with forking and root fly! There's enough of them that it doesn't matter if a few go back on the compost heap.

Lucky you! I haven't dared check under the fleece yet to see if I have any carrots at all this year...