adding manure

[claire2965]

can anyone please advise. i have an allotment as previously said and have been told i should add some manure to the plot. do i need to or can i wait till next year. the plot has not been dug over for 2 years at least. i have now dug it over removing any bindweed/ couch grass on plot. sown some overwinter onions, garlic, spring cabbage and spring cauliflower in one side of the plot.

any advise would be helpful

[airconednightmare]

add it to the part you haven't planted if you can. you could probably get away with just speading it on the surface if you leave it until spring to sow/plant anything.

[bantiekeeper]

Agree with the above. Suggest you leave an area unmanured to grow carrots in. Carrots roots tend to fork if grown in newly manured ground.

[Diggetty]

Add manure to empty beds, not direct to plants. Winter will leach the nutrients from exposed soil affecting how well things do next season.
Check the source of your manure - it's risky to use 'free manure' from local stables as it may carry a leaf curling disease.
Manure Compost & Plant Viruses in a Vegetable Garden | eHow.com

[golden14]

Adding it now though will ensure that it is well rotted in for next season. I did it on my runner bean patch last year and my crop was 25-30% more in weight / yield this year