pony manure

Autumn is approaching and my vegetable beds will soon be empty. I have 4 shetland ponies and huge amounts of manure available all year round. Can I gather it up and just throw it on top of the beds over winter?

I do and it works well for many things. The oldest and most broken down beds grow broccoli, cabbage, wheat, barley, oats, beens and hardier greens. The newer corn, sorghum, millet, amaranth, squashes, beans and cow peas. The next year potatoes, onions, carrots and greens do better so you might not want to put un-composted manure every were. I'm not saying composting first is not better, just too much work. It also works well to smother grass if you want to make new garden areas with no tilling. It also makes cleaning the barn more satisfying when your cleaning and fertilizing.

Kris schulenburg wrote:I do and it works well for many things. The oldest and most broken down beds grow broccoli, cabbage, wheat, barley, oats, beens and hardier greens. The newer corn, sorghum, millet, amaranth, squashes, beans and cow peas. The next year potatoes, onions, carrots and greens do better so you might not want to put un-composted manure every were. I'm not saying composting first is not better, just too much work. It also works well to smother grass if you want to make new garden areas with no tilling. It also makes cleaning the barn more satisfying when your cleaning and fertilizing.

Totally agree about the composting. I have enough to do.....and the bloody dog goes out and raids the heap whenever I put fresh stuff into it. I'll follow your guidelins re crops. Have to say that it doesn't smother my grass, quite the contrary in fact, i get really lush growth. Fortunately I don't have a barn to clean as my Shetlands live out all year and rarely go into their stable. They have plenty of natural cover in the paddocks.