When do you start you garden etc... (best, green)

[AlisonL]

Originally Posted by karmathecat

Does anyone know if rabbit doo will harm our small patch of grass? There are little brown nuggets all over, and the grass is starting to green...?

Best free fertilizer you can find.

[mortimer]

AlisonL claimed:

> Best free fertilizer you can find.

Oh yeah? What about cat poop?
In addition to making the deposit (for free) they till the soil (for free).

[Vinegaroon]

Originally Posted by mortimer

AlisonL claimed:

> Best free fertilizer you can find.

Oh yeah? What about cat poop?
In addition to making the deposit (for free) they till the soil (for free).

Cat feces as fertilizer has values of approximately 0.7% Nitrogen, 0.25% phosphate and 0.02% potash.

Compared to cattle manure cat feces contains 2 and a half times more nitrogen content, equal the amount of phosphate, and half the amount of potash.

However, cat feces contains diseases and parasites harmful to humans, e.g., toxoplasmosis, an intestinal parasitic disease. The hazards to human health of cat feces outweighs its value as a fertilizer.

[mortimer]

Vinegaroon stated:

> ... cat feces contains diseases and parasites ...
> ... outweighs its value as a fertilizer.

(Just asking here since I don't know.)

I assume that the risks are only for recently 'deposited' fertilizer.

The diseases and parasites don't actually transfer to the plants
other than being carried on the surface like ordinary soil.

I would also assume that the diseases and parasites don't survive
long in the soil.

[domino]

Originally Posted by mortimer

AlisonL claimed:

> Best free fertilizer you can find.

Oh yeah? What about cat poop?
In addition to making the deposit (for free) they till the soil (for free).

But cow poop comes in economy size.

[chrokee69]

Here in Missouri we can't start anything until the middle of April and then that is quite unsure with the weather and all. We have had snow storms and ice here in that time frame. But since we had our house fire back in Feb. I haven't had the urge to do the garden yet. For we are still trying to clean up and get another house in place of the other one. I won't start until after April 15 though

[chrokee69]

And i forgot to say that i use chicken poo and hay mix. The neighbor says that is the best to use and i have seen his garden.

[Vinegaroon]

Originally Posted by mortimer

Vinegaroon stated:

> ... cat feces contains diseases and parasites ...
> ... outweighs its value as a fertilizer.

(Just asking here since I don't know.)

I assume that the risks are only for recently 'deposited' fertilizer.

The diseases and parasites don't actually transfer to the plants
other than being carried on the surface like ordinary soil.

I would also assume that the diseases and parasites don't survive
long in the soil.

The parasite can survive in cat feces for up to 2 weeks. Toxoplasma gondii eggs can survive buried in the soil for up to 18 months.

[PaddyMac]

If I get some chicken manure, how long do I have to "mature" it. I know that fresh manure will do more harm than good, but I'm not sure how long to let it sit?

[mrgoodwx]

Originally Posted by Hunter Wold

We can have a freeze in June, but, I have started getting the soil ready, setting up more fence..(more deer around now and rabbits)...
But getting it all ready...will take me a month to do.
And then start some seeds in the outbuilding....

Rhubarb is up as well as some garlic.

Maybe start some root vegies in April...

We are at 6800'...

Would like to hear your tips re fertilizer etc. I like to use Chicken stuff if I can get it..

HW...

People might find the following link handy. It covers a number of locations, although...it's amazing how different the growing season can be over short distances in complex terrain.

NWS ABQ - Spring Freeze Dates

You can cursor over a spot or grab the tabular link.