Author Topic: Raised bed too rich? (Read 2337 times)

polaris · « **on:** February 09, 2015, 01:27:37 am »

For the last six months one of our raise beds has become the compost overflow, it's now a good eight inches of fresh/old chicken poop, rabbit poop, food scraps, straw, sawdust, plant matter etc, everything you'd expect... As it is, is it too fish to plant on?mir what would be suitable to plant on it in the coming season,mew don't want to waste it if something would love it, but don't want to put plants in just to burn.

Any ideas welcome!

devonlady · « **Reply #1 on:** February 09, 2015, 12:02:45 pm »

I would put some black plastic over it and leave it 'til May, then put french beans, lettuce and tomatoes in there, followed by leeks.

Fleecewife · « **Reply #2 on:** February 09, 2015, 04:04:22 pm »

Squashes will love it especially the giant kind for the local veg show, potatoes, winter brassicas. It will burn some veg if it's not very well rotted, and roots such as carrots will go berserk with endless forked, unusable roots.
If I have freshly manured ground I usually grow potatoes the first summer, then winter brassicas, followed by things needing a little less feed such as rootcrops, salads, peas and beans. I can't grow tomatoes outdoors, but they would suit the second year, with some chopped comfrey added to freshen the mix.

Dan · « **Reply #3 on:** February 09, 2015, 06:19:53 pm »

Be careful with lettuce in manure that isn't thoroughly rotted, there's a danger of contamination from pathogens via rain water splashing and watering, and since it's usually eaten raw it's a higher risk to you than other crops.

Carse Goodlifers · « **Reply #4 on:** February 09, 2015, 09:46:18 pm »

As well as squashes I would add pumpkins would love this manure rich bed.
Cover with black plastic and plant straight into the bed.

Lesley Silvester · « **Reply #5 on:** February 09, 2015, 11:02:44 pm »

When I had my 2 ft 6 ins deep beds constructed, I also had them filled with part rotted goat manure. The first summer I grew dwarf French beans which were ok. Last summer I grew squashes which loved it and grew like triffids. I'll be eating the results for ever.

I scooped out a dip in the compost and put some potting compost in to actually plant the squashes in so the baby roots weren't burnt. I have also grown pumpkins (the biggest was 40 lbs) in compost bins filled with manure as I cleaned out the goat shed.