I'm getting my raised bed ready for planting collards in September, and I came across advice saying I should mix in some 'well-rotted' manure 1-2 months before planting. I believe the reason for this timing is to avoid 'burning' my plants. I'm curious if the store-bought options I have, like Black Kow Composted Manure and Earthgro's well-composted Chicken Manure, count as well-rotted manure. What exactly does 'well-rotted' manure mean?
3 Answers
It’s important to note that fresh manure has higher nutrients and can pose a risk for over-fertilizing. Plus, it carries pathogens that can threaten food crops. Composted manure is much more stable, minimizing those risks.
When they say 'well-rotted', they usually mean it has broken down significantly, almost to dirt. This ensures it's safe for your plants and won't just be raw waste. So, in that sense, the options you have should fit the bill!
Well-rotted manure can actually refer to both store-bought options or manure sourced from a local farmer who has properly composted it, just make sure they didn't use anything like Grazon in their processes. Fresh manure isn't suitable; it needs to be aged so it doesn't burn your plants.
That makes sense! I thought well-rotted might mean it wasn't fully composted, but sounds like it actually is more decomposed than I thought.