Horsey Manure and Tomato garden :?:

Natasha687 · March 19, 2006

I just received a source for free horse Manure WaaHoo! If you've used it, please share how and timing & secrets & recommendations. I got 3 trash bags, and 5 covered totes of it and it was pretty aged. I spread it over my Veggie garden area. Oh by the way I live in the HiDesert area of California. Please HELP.

lumierefrere · March 19, 2006

Tips or secrets? None. Last year my substantial manure pile was dumped on my garden by a bucketloader. I spread it (sure I did) then planted. 3 months later I had more tomatoes than I could deal with.

Of course I'm not in the high desert so your mileage may vary. Testing your soil after the application of the manure would be a good idea. Maybe I'll do that this year. ;-)

Barb

bully · March 19, 2006

That's like winning the lotto!

If it's well aged I mix it with my compost and work it into the soil.
If I can't do that then I mix it with the compost and put it around the plant and in the hole.

gardenmama · March 19, 2006

I have many bags of well aged horsey-doo and Rabbit-pellets delivered each year. They go straight on the garden. The plants go ga-ga over it.

ZBQ · March 19, 2006

I know of two places I can get both horse and rabbit dooey. When you say well aged, what do you mean? What process do you have to go through before it is fit to be put in the garden?

**Mischka** · March 19, 2006

Horse manure that hasn't aged less than a year can burn the roots of your tomato plants; it gives off thermal heat during decomposition. Some folks use it to line the underside of their cold frames to benefit from the heat given off.

Fresh equine (horse) manure can also chemically burn plants because of the high levels of (urea) nitrogen; mostly from urine. Cows have several stomachs that break down their waste to a much greater extent than horses do. Bovine (cow) manure is therefore not as "hot" as horse manure but it's still best to compost or used aged manure.

Birds do not have separate urinary tracts, like other mammals. They don't do "#1" and "#2". It all comes out as a slurry with very high levels of urea and will most certainly burn the roots of your plants. This type of manure MUST be allowed to age.

Rabbit manure can be used "fresh". I recommend mixing it into the soil prior to planting though I believe others here might side dress with it.

It is also safer to compost any animal manure properly to kill pathogens before use. If using fresh manure, try not to use it near harvest time on crops in contact with the soil. Cow manure can harbor E. Coli, too.

clay199 · March 19, 2006

I think the biggest issue with using fresh horse manure is the tendancy for seeds to pass whole through the digestive tract. Well composted and aged horse manure is the way to go, especially if it is free.

And Mischka's points are very well put.

JerryL · March 19, 2006

Here’s an example of what I add to my garden. I spread about 3 inches twice a year and till it in. I don’t worry about aging it since it will have all winter to decompose. In the spring I use some that has sat all winter so again I don’t worry about burning plants.

Mine is free for the taking every last Sunday of the month at one of our County Parks. I go as often as I can since you can never have to much poo on hand.

March 19, 2006	#4
gardenmama Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: zone 7b/8a SE VA Posts: 268	I have many bags of well aged horsey-doo and Rabbit-pellets delivered each year. They go straight on the garden. The plants go ga-ga over it. __________________ -Martha SE VA

March 19, 2006	#5
ZBQ Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Southern Ohio Posts: 170	I know of two places I can get both horse and rabbit dooey. When you say well aged, what do you mean? What process do you have to go through before it is fit to be put in the garden? __________________ "To wander this country and this world looking for the best barbecue — and never actually finding it would be a life well spent, a delicious journey in which enlightenment comes with the search — not the arrival." - Anthony Bourdain

March 19, 2006	#6
Mischka Tomatoville® Administrator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: The Bay State Posts: 3,207	Horse manure that hasn't aged less than a year can burn the roots of your tomato plants; it gives off thermal heat during decomposition. Some folks use it to line the underside of their cold frames to benefit from the heat given off. Fresh equine (horse) manure can also chemically burn plants because of the high levels of (urea) nitrogen; mostly from urine. Cows have several stomachs that break down their waste to a much greater extent than horses do. Bovine (cow) manure is therefore not as "hot" as horse manure but it's still best to compost or used aged manure. Birds do not have separate urinary tracts, like other mammals. They don't do "#1" and "#2". It all comes out as a slurry with very high levels of urea and will most certainly burn the roots of your plants. This type of manure MUST be allowed to age. Rabbit manure can be used "fresh". I recommend mixing it into the soil prior to planting though I believe others here might side dress with it. It is also safer to compost any animal manure properly to kill pathogens before use. If using fresh manure, try not to use it near harvest time on crops in contact with the soil. Cow manure can harbor E. Coli, too. __________________ Mischka One last word of farewell, Dear Master and Mistress. Whenever you visit my grave, say to yourselves with regret but also with happiness in your hearts at the remembrance of my long happy life with you: "Here lies one who loved us and whom we loved." No matter how deep my sleep I shall hear you, and not all the power of death can keep my spirit from wagging a grateful tail.

March 19, 2006	#8
JerryL Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: S.W. Ohio z6a Posts: 736	Here’s an example of what I add to my garden. I spread about 3 inches twice a year and till it in. I don’t worry about aging it since it will have all winter to decompose. In the spring I use some that has sat all winter so again I don’t worry about burning plants. Mine is free for the taking every last Sunday of the month at one of our County Parks. I go as often as I can since you can never have to much poo on hand. __________________ Jerry

March 19, 2006	#1
Natasha687 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Adelanto, CA Posts: 16	Horsey Manure and Tomato garden :?: I just received a source for free horse Manure WaaHoo! If you've used it, please share how and timing & secrets & recommendations. I got 3 trash bags, and 5 covered totes of it and it was pretty aged. I spread it over my Veggie garden area. Oh by the way I live in the HiDesert area of California. Please HELP. __________________ Natasha687

March 19, 2006	#2
lumierefrere Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Zone 4 NY Posts: 772	Tips or secrets? None. Last year my substantial manure pile was dumped on my garden by a bucketloader. I spread it (sure I did) then planted. 3 months later I had more tomatoes than I could deal with. Of course I'm not in the high desert so your mileage may vary. Testing your soil after the application of the manure would be a good idea. Maybe I'll do that this year. ;-) Barb

March 19, 2006	#3
bully Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: S.E. MI Posts: 794	That's like winning the lotto! If it's well aged I mix it with my compost and work it into the soil. If I can't do that then I mix it with the compost and put it around the plant and in the hole.

March 19, 2006	#7
clay199 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Beyond Hope, British Columbia Posts: 201	I think the biggest issue with using fresh horse manure is the tendancy for seeds to pass whole through the digestive tract. Well composted and aged horse manure is the way to go, especially if it is free. And Mischka's points are very well put.