On Sep 9, 10:55*am, Ed ex@directory wrote:
First time allotment holder, seeking advice...

The local riding stables have left a whole big load of horse manure
outside of our allotment site for folk to use. *It is pretty fresh
(great strong pong from it) and it contains only a moderate amount *of
straw.

Notwithstanding the warnings I have seen on this list and elsewhere
regarding contamination with weed killers and the like, how can I
beneficially use this stuff?

Can I use this *manure straight away on the beds in my plot as a top
mulch and dig it in next spring? *Or should I just add it to my compost
bins and let it mature there for, say, *a year and then use it?

Also which plants would benefit from an application of manure? *I seem
to recall that root crops don't like recently manured beds?

Ed

An organic farmer that used to post here did not like the idea of
using manure on food crops as it contained a strong pesticide used to
keep flies down.