Manure in the garden has been a common culture for thousands of years. Using manure in the garden is an excellent fertilizer and soil conditioner. However, don’t apply fresh manure to the soil in your fruit or vegetable garden. Even aged manure can have E. coli present if you get. Composting manure properly will kill most E. coli. For a manure pile to be composted properly, the following requirements must be met:
- It must have a temp of 130 to 140 degrees for a couple of weeks and cured for at least 3 months. So, getting manure from the center of an old pile is OK.
- Store bought manure is more costly, easier to get, and is mostly risk free.
- Any manure should be incorporated into the soil by digging or roto tilling in the fall.
- If you are using manure to top dress, keep it away from touching the plants.
- Always wash your produce before using.
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