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Buffalo,Minnesota

This will be my second year growing, and I have a question. I`m gonna get a load or two of cow manure, and I don`t know if I can I get anything but fresh stuff. Will this be ok to use, or should I let it set a few weeks and break down. I know this sounds like a dumb question, but I really don`t know much about this stuff. Last year I just bought some bags from Walmart, and that stuff worked great. I want to do everything I can to increase my chances of getting a respectable pumpkin this year. BTW my growing area will only be about 20 x 50 feet.

2/16/2003 7:55:31 PM

Puyallup, WA

Try to work the manure into the soil as soon as your soil thaws or drys. I have done it this way for three years. It is best to add manure in the fall, however.

2/16/2003 8:35:42 PM

Commack, NY

i wouldnt be in too much of a rush to use fresh stuff in the spring time trapman, you could burn your plants. try to get yourself some aged stuff if you're going to apply in the spring.

scott

2/16/2003 11:29:11 PM

Puyallup, WA

Two pick-up loads in 1000 sq.ft will not likely burn your plants. Well...they didn't mine anyway. I used straight chicken manure! If you till it in by the first of April, the plant will not grow into the surrounding soil until mid May or even later.
Scott....If I had a choice, I would have loved some aged stuff...it just wasn't available!

2/17/2003 1:16:03 AM

Montoursville, PA

Just thinking out loud. If raw manure goes in is not the problem one of, existing nitrogen being tied up as it is being converted to, compost, or more natural elements? If that is the case could one not plan on adding easily available nitrogen in the form of liquid to compensate at plant set out time and more as the plant develops through the cool period of May and early June? This could be any two of several placed by drench or through the leaves. I know this is what happens if you add leaves and cover crops to late for them to compost in the garden.

2/17/2003 8:18:35 AM

Garden State Pumpkins

Not sure Doc but I think it has to do with the conversion states from ammonia nitrite to nitrate...Going to have to get one of the cation exchange guys to chime in on this! G1t you out there? how about tremor? from toxic to usable is the problem...while compost is changing states it's eating usable nitrogen and has a toxic effect until it's ready...Just a laynman's understanding no pro here...you through the nitrogen in to feed the good bugs something while they develope a large enough colony to convert all of the compost material to usable....I think? Chuck

2/17/2003 11:25:59 AM

Montoursville, PA

I have never had a problem with manure that had a decent worm count. Apparently it is past any problem areas if the worms are up in the pile working. Prior to seeing the worms would be the heating of the pile which sends the worms down to cooler living quarters. The worms return when the temperature is to their liking. Guess they send up one tuff ombrey worm first. If they do not smell fried worms they all follow.

2/18/2003 9:37:19 AM

Garden State Pumpkins

lol

2/18/2003 2:23:05 PM

Caceres, mid west of Spain

wow! I got a big truck of oooooooold sheep manure just delivered in front of my patch. As soon as I can go into, as soon as it get dry, will till it in. Another step ahead.

2/19/2003 1:34:45 AM

Utah

chuck i'm hear... just trying to take the winter off -
and not be to involved with mid winter pumpkin blues.

my thoughts on fresh cow poop...
it has plenty of usable N, more than required to switch it to compost, which is good (like Stan was saying) unless you to much (which is what Scott was saying) add to much. but it is had to know how much is to much... usually we only find out after we have added to much.
how much is your load ? a pick up full ? it also depends on what type of soil you have, whether you till it in right away or let it sit on top of soil. N can quickly leach away into the ground and also "evaporate" into air. tilling it in will help the soil hold on to it. clay soil will also hold on to it better than sandy soil. it's really a trial and error thing. I would think that two pick up loads
into a 2 year old patch area would be ok.
gordon

2/20/2003 6:25:12 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

Good to see Utah didn't swallow you up Gordon...Great hearing from Ya! Chuck

2/20/2003 6:41:53 PM

Buffalo,Minnesota

I will be using my snowmobile trailer to haul it. It measures 8 foot long and 8.5 foot wide. I figure hauling about two loads, about 18" deep, thats about all the weight I think I would trust hauling on it. I have a next door neighbor who is a fanatic about his yard. I hope the cow poop is extra stinky the day I bring it home!

2/21/2003 12:05:13 AM

Buffalo,Minnesota

Forgot to mention, my soil is very sandy, have to water a lot.

2/21/2003 12:17:44 AM

Utah

Trapman.... two loads is 204 cubic ft. spread evenly over a
1000 sq. ft. patch will be 2 1/2 inches deep. Manure can vary so much that it is realy hard to guess if it will be to hot or not. If you are worried about that, i would spread it out as soon as possible let it sit a while... then till it in before you plant.

2/25/2003 5:11:35 PM

Utah

thanks Chuck... still trying to stay away ... but looking
some...
pumpkins on line for 12 months a year is just to much
for me. i'll be around more as spring approaches...
got me a camera and hope to post regularly on the diary
section, asking a question now and then, and hopefully posting helpful information.

2/25/2003 5:12:25 PM

New Brunswick

My pumpkin patch is made up entirely of decomposed horse manure. I mix in some potting soil, and peat moss when I set out my plants. This year I am thinking of putting a layer of straw over the enire patch and around each plant...is this a good idea?

4/27/2003 11:27:37 AM