From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Hinckley MN

Has anyone ever used a manure hot bed under a coldframe for starting their plants? most people use heating cables, but I was trying to think of ways to heat the soil more naturally. If I dig a 4'x4' x 12" hole then mix in alternating layers of wood chips and poultry manure, mix them well with a mantis tiller and then build an 18" high mound ontop of the hot bed it might work. the wood chips should lock up most of the nitrogen from the manure. It would heat up the soil and add CO2 to the coldframe. balancing the heat for a long heat cycle without getting too hot may take some practice.

3/31/2012 7:31:09 PM

Connecticut

Why do you call it a "French" hot bed.

3/31/2012 9:12:37 PM

formerly RGG

My dad use to use a manure base to start plants and he called his tightly covered growing areas hot beds.They would withstand a hard freeze.

3/31/2012 10:26:03 PM

Goodwood, Ontario, Canada

My cold frames are placed over a mixture of 50% rotting horse manure and 50% regular soil. It's incredibly warm inside so daytime ventilation is essential. I use a small heater for really cold days and nights. The cold frame has lots of humidity and in my opinion is much better than heating cables for growing.

4/1/2012 5:41:54 AM

Hinckley MN

some references to the hot beds talk about french farmers using them to supply the demands of a hungary Paris theough the winter. its an image that stuck in my head. many people all over the world use them.

none of the references I have found talk about growing heavy feeding plants over the hot bed for the entire season. they only refer to seed starting in them.

a 4ft x 4 ft x 1 ft area of just manure would seem like too much nitrogen fertilizer, even for an AG. as long as the bed is hot (150F) it will prevent roots from growing into it. maybe 2 narrower beds not directly under the stump would be better. I seem to remember a reference to growing AGs on mounds next to manure/compost beds.

4/1/2012 8:47:14 AM

Bethlehem CT

I ssed some in 2009 and 2010. They worked well for me. A lot of work to set up but worth it to get an early start. I used fresh cow manure mixed with second cut hay. It heated up really nice. I believe my 2010 diary has the most info on it. I no longer use them because I have been getting away from the early start.

4/1/2012 9:07:18 AM

Connecticut

I think I will try this with grass clipping and some horse manure on one of my sites
Not as hot as cow manure.

4/1/2012 1:23:53 PM

Maine

big moon where could I find that diary with the info? I'm looking to start two of these using fresh horse manure, should i be mixing it with straw, dirt, compost or all of the above? And what's to stop one from using this technique year round?

4/13/2012 1:58:51 PM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq

4/23/2012 2:09:30 PM