On Sun, 11 Apr 2010 20:03:19 -0600, Una wrote:

General Schvantzkoph wrote:
I've just found a source for free composted horse manure, there is a
horse farm about 1/2 mile from me that gives it away. They have a big
compost pile, you just have to drive up with some containers and take as
much as you want.

Good stuff there. Go for it.


1) Is it good for everything or should I just put it on some crops? I
grow strawberries, blueberries, tomatoes, carrots, parsnips, cucumbers,
peas, broccoli, spinach and cord.

For below ground crops, you'll want to use well cooked manure. Even an
old manure pile might not be all that well cooked. Do you have room to
do your own composting? Use your own composted manure for those crops,
for best quality control.


2) Should I work it into the soil as a soil conditioner?

Certainly, if the soil needs improvement and you want to do the work.


3) Can I use it as a mulch?

Yes. Especially if you put it on top of growing weeds. Smothers them.
There may or may not be viable seeds in the manure.


4) How much is too much?

In a vegetable garden there is no such thing as too much horse manure.


Some horse owners do spray problem spots with insecticide, but it is a
limited application and done only when flies are a problem. So not in
winter outside the tropics. During winter many horse owners also cut
back on treatments for intestinal worms. And the horses tend to be fed
more (only?) from hay bales or other processed feed, so seeds are at an
absolute minimum. Winter manure is the best manure you can find, and it
is most abundant in spring. How convenient!

Enjoy,

Una

I've just ordered a composter, I think I'll cook some of it some more.
This stuff is only partially composted,