Can I start seeds in composted manure?

I was wondering if you can start seeds in composted manure? Keyword composted***

I am going to be trying just that in about four weeks, so I certainly hope so!

We made raised rows with really old wood pieces inside, composted horse manure that looks like fine black potting soil outside, and we will be direct-sowing lettuce seeds in that in mid-February (with a row cover to go over the the rows). Here's hoping all grows well!

Yes you can. When I dug my hugel it was 95% rock so I filled it back in with composted manure. I direct seeded into the bed and had a great crop.

Joe Hallmark wrote:Yes you can. When I dug my hugel it was 95% rock so I filled it back in with composted manure. I direct seeded into the bed and had a great crop.

awesome sauce dude, thanks for letting me know. Congrats on the successful hugel bed - I need to make one one day

Rachel Lindsay wrote:I am going to be trying just that in about four weeks, so I certainly hope so!

We made raised rows with really old wood pieces inside, composted horse manure that looks like fine black potting soil outside, and we will be direct-sowing lettuce seeds in that in mid-February (with a row cover to go over the the rows). Here's hoping all grows well!

Cheers. Best of luck to you. I just sowed some indoor Echinacea seeds and I got worried if you can direct seed in the composted manure, so I came here to ask XD there are some big chips in my composted manure, I got a little worried if it wasn't fine enough to sow in, but we'll see!

Never tried inside, but outside the composted stuff seem to dried faster, it has been a fail for me that time in combination with raised bed and no running water. But i'm sure indoor it will not be an issue ! GOod luck

Raphaël Blais wrote:Never tried inside, but outside the composted stuff seem to dried faster, it has been a fail for me that time in combination with raised bed and no running water. But i'm sure indoor it will not be an issue ! GOod luck

like it dries up quicker? that's weird, I'll keep an eye out for that.

I grow my starts in 36 cell trays. I put in a layer of damp peat in the bottom of the cells and then a layer of horse manure or mushroom compost and then another layer of peat on top. The seeds germinate in the peat and as the roots develop they get down into the manure layer. the bottom layer of peat acts as a filter to keep Down any possible odors. I don't even move the seedlings to a larger container as I was used to seeing seedlings sold by local nurseries here that didn't have the heated space to grow huge plants in pots in this climate. Some years I transplant a few to foam coffee cups in my sunniest window which I put out in the garden at the front of my staggered plantings to the garden.

And I got germination!!!

Echinacea seeds