Getting soil ready for planting

[Cheech]

I'm just about to get my first ever crop started. Because this is my first year I haven't thought to get compost ready before hand. However, I've got plenty of horse manure (fresh) to put in the soil. I'll be planting near a river, and the soil is pretty loamy, because it's mainly broken down plants from the river's edge. Is this good soil to be planting in? Would you recommend that I put some potting mix, dynamic lifter, etc into the soil?

[dexo]

never use fresh manure--wait a couple of days. there is a higher chance of burning the plant with fertlizer straignt from the horses arse. I prefer chemical ferts. Urea. NPK Blue. Super. Potash. potting mix is no use unless your trying to grow in "red dirt". gundja likse drainage. loamy soils can cause root rot. try growing in pots the first season with diffrent mixtures of soil/potting mix/sand, you will find the best mix for you local soil that way.

 

is the river always got water in it? or is it a winter creek?