General discussion regarding the techniques and methods used to successfully grow tomato plants in containers.
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#1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Newfoundland, Canada
Posts: 6,794
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Happy my day when out of the blue a pickup load of horse manure was delivered to my garden.
![]() Soooo... yes it's true. The sight of that horse manure made me think, what if I used that instead of the lovely finished compost. ![]() I can tell you that it's fresh enough to smell like a horse, but overall fairly well rotted. There is lots of straw visible though and fine wood chips too from the stable. Worms galore, but also quite a few little flies. ![]() ![]() |
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#2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Den of Drunken Fools
Posts: 38,539
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I think it would turn into a sewer if it wasn't fully finished.
But I'm no expert and could be way off. Worth |
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#3 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Ontario
Posts: 3,890
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Hmmm. I read somewhere that it should have no smell if it is aged enough. Interestingly, the aged cow manure that I get from the farm has NO worms in it! Presumably, they have done their job and moved on to other delicacies, so perhaps the presence of worms also indicates that your horse manure isn't ready yet
![]() I would play it safe and keep the manure for next year..... Linda |
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#4 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Den of Drunken Fools
Posts: 38,539
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You could top dress.
Worth |
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#5 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Newfoundland, Canada
Posts: 6,794
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I had some similar quality manure from the same guy last year which I did dig into the containers and it did no harm. Except the mix I was using last year was so unsuitable in the first place, anything to lighten it up was a good thing.
![]() ![]() ![]() I should probably use the manure to build a new garlic bed for the fall. ![]() Sooo... guess I gotta go pay up and haul the compost too. Thank you for stopping me from my crazed lazy plan. ![]() |
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#6 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Den of Drunken Fools
Posts: 38,539
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I have heard of people planting directly in it once it stops cooking.
Why not try just one to see what happens. Worth |
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#7 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Georgia
Posts: 196
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As others have mentioned, the issue is not that it is horse manure rather it's whether or not the manure has been properly aged/composted.
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#8 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Newfoundland, Canada
Posts: 6,794
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It's a good idea, Worth, to try just ONE !.
![]() Being a little warm doesn't worry me - that's on the plus side, considering the weather. A bit of a 'tomato root hotbed' would be great. ![]() OTOH, I would hate to 'learn a lesson' on the whole tomato crop for the year. ![]() ![]() |
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#9 |
BANNED FOR LIFE
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 13,333
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I agree with letting it age some more. When it's lightweight and dry - it's ready. There won't be any smell either.
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#10 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Den of Drunken Fools
Posts: 38,539
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There was a guy here that said in Great Britain they would put a thermometer in it.
When the temperature when down they planted tomatoes in it. Worth |
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#11 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Newfoundland, Canada
Posts: 6,794
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![]() Quote:
Wonder what would happen with a layer in the bottom of the container... ![]() hotbeds are cool! ![]() ![]() http://www.holon.se/garden/howto/hotbed_en.shtml |
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#12 | ||
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Vancouver Island Canada BC
Posts: 1,253
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![]() Quote:
Not at this price. They've been doing this a long time. Quote:
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#13 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Newfoundland, Canada
Posts: 6,794
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That is a crazy pineapple plan! Extreme hotbedding.
![]() Bjbebs your plants are looking great, and not a bit stressed by cold/wet conditions or by manure either. ![]() The peat and compost that I have are excellent quality, kelp helps to aerate a bit until it breaks down, so I'll see what the texture is like using 1/4 or maybe 1/3 cut of the manure. I also thought about keeping 1/4 or less of last year's just to make up volume but may be better to cycle it all outdoors. |
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#14 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2012
Location: massachusetts
Posts: 1,710
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Try one tomato in it as a bio-assay.
Most hay fields are sprayed with 2-4-d, which passes right through the horse. Tomato is exquisitely sensetive to this chemical. |
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#15 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Newfoundland, Canada
Posts: 6,794
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