Unrotted compost delivered

NinjaB

My other half was trying to be really nice and got a tonne of cow manure delivered. Usually we have it an it doesn't smell and totally brown. This looks so fresh it has easily visible straw and very strong smelling and flies everywhere. I am rather gutted. Was hoping to get this everywhere and dug in but not sure what the best thing is to do. I will be doing potatoes at the end of march but wondered if anyone has had experience of what to do for the best . Should I spread it on top and cover, dig it in or leave it in a mountain until the toms are ready to go in . I have peas that i was hoping to plant and was going to put some in a trench covered with soil but will the roots get burned to bits as they grow?

The farmer said it was 3 months old and said leave it one week then go ahead and dig it in but I am not so sure.

thanks

wellused

I would leave it until next year manure does really need to rot completely down.

browneyedbazzi

wellused wrote: »

I would leave it until next year manure does really need to rot completely down.

Seconded - I had a friend with a cattle ranch who used to supply us with manure, but he kept it for 3 or 4 years before supplying it for use in the garden. By that time there was no smell and it had all broken down and dried out. I wouldn't use manure as 'fresh' as 3 months old.