Using Aged Sheep Compost for Raised Veggie Beds

by Wayne
(Brighton, CO. USA)

How much sheep compost can be added each year to a 4' x 16' raised bed? How long should I wait after rototilling it in six to eight inches before planting seeds and small transplants?

My soil is quite clayey and I am also rototilling in mulched leaves and using clean grass clippings as top mulch for transplanted Tomatoes/Peppers/Zucchini/Snow Peas/Beans/etc., as made available from neighbors.

A local sheep feed lot has developed a commercial composting venture and I just bought a pickup truck load of one year old compost to improve soil quality.

In Colorado, the middle of May is our typical last frost but I like to use a few 'walls of water' to get an early start to a couple of tomato and pepper plants.

I would appreciate your thoughts on the quantity (in inch depth per square foot) and how long to wait before planting seeds and transplant.

Thank you,
Wayne

ANSWER:

A two inch layer in depth per square foot of aged sheep compost per year should be sufficient.

If possible, add the sheep manure compost in the fall, and let it mix into the soil over winter. You can till it into the soil in the fall, or wait until the spring. It might be too late for this year, but starting this fall, you can add the compost for next year's garden.

That way you will be sure not to burn any of your garden vegetable plants if there is a "hot" spot in the manure compost.

For this year, I would just go ahead and plant any of your vegetables at the appropriate time after you have the compost well-mixed into the soil.