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can anyone recommend a good quality peat free multi purpose compost please
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my plot march 2013http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvzqRS0_hbQ
hindsight is a wonderful thing but foresight is a whole lot better -
WPC F Hobbit, Shire police
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Yep, I thought it was a leg pull too
I would recommend New Horizon Peat Free (and so does Which?)
Two Sheds sponsored by New Horizon - not really, but it ought toAll gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.Comment
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S*d the housework I have a lottie to dig
a batch of jam is always an act of creation ..Christine Ferber
You can't beat a bit of garden pornComment
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Yep, its good stuff.Originally posted by Two_Sheds View Post
To see a world in a grain of sand
And a heaven in a wild flowerComment
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Originally posted by hawthorns View Post
What do you want to do with it ?
If it is for bulking out a raised bed or replacing clay sub-soil then any bags on the market will suffice.
If it is for serious growing then you need to be more choosy.
Use peat for starting seeds or just buy seedlings (grown in peat) from garden centres. With peat comes consistency.
Once your seedlings have grown strong enough in peat they will be able to handle most (but not all) peat-free composts on the market.
I have tried a few of the peat-free composts on the market over the last few years and found that when I like a type and get good results a second bag of the same stuff bought a few weeks later is nothing like the first.
If you go round B&Q in spring you will find bags of compost that customers have torn open to feel the compost inside. It seems to me that peat-free composts are generally left on the pallet in favour of the peaty ones nearby.
My advice, since, in my experience, there is no consistency in peat-free compost is you need to open the bag before buying and decide yourself.
.The proof of the growing is in the eating.
Leave Rotten Fruit.
Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potasium - potash.
Autant de têtes, autant d'avis!!!!!
Il n'est si méchant pot qui ne trouve son couvercle.Comment
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They asked for peat-free.Originally posted by teakdesk View Post
I have no problem starting all our seedlings, including teeny lobelia & petunias in peat-free multi-purpose (sieve it if you want, that helps with ensuring no big lumps get in).
Again Horizon has come on really well - try it.
To see a world in a grain of sand
And a heaven in a wild flowerComment
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Originally posted by smallblueplanet View PostThey asked for peat-free.
D'oh.
My bad!
Oh, hang on... I just realised I asked "What do you want to do with it ?" before saying how peat-free can be used successfully after obtaining strong seedlings started in peat.
And answering accordingly that each bag of peat-free, in my experience, is different and needs opening and examining before purchase.
D'oh
.The proof of the growing is in the eating.
Leave Rotten Fruit.
Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potasium - potash.
Autant de têtes, autant d'avis!!!!!
Il n'est si méchant pot qui ne trouve son couvercle.Comment
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I use the Westlands multipurpose stuff too, and never had any probs getting seeds to germinate.Comment
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Originally posted by FionaH View Post
I can only go by what I have witnessed.
I have witnessed many people tearing bags to feel inside; I have never seen a bag put on display after being ripped in transit or by a forklift but I would not discount it happening in dubious retail outlets.
However, I doubt a good retailer would display a damaged bag and expect to get many sales - maybe I am naive?
Oh my bad, it's people like you ripping open stock you are not going to buy and leaving them un saleable!
Never done it... never needed to... just felt the bags torn by other people... or maybe they were put out by the unscrupulous retailers hoping to off-load bags ripped in transit and by their forklifts?
I trust you weren't really accusing me of doing a criminal activity ?
.The proof of the growing is in the eating.
Leave Rotten Fruit.
Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potasium - potash.
Autant de têtes, autant d'avis!!!!!
Il n'est si méchant pot qui ne trouve son couvercle.Comment
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Teak, calm down dear.
My seeds germinate in NH peat free, no problem. Videos in my signature Hawthorns if you want to look
I did get some B&Q peat free which was very twiggy - I could've seived/riddled it first, but I just used it to pot some trees in (they haven't died yet)All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.Comment
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FYI A pallet may contain 60 bags of compost. Removing split bags from the bottom is far too labour intensive in the middle of the very busy growing season. They are usually left until the pallet reduces then used for potting on garden centre plants or given free to cutomers and staff.Originally posted by teakdesk View PostI have never seen a bag put on display after being ripped in transit or by a forklift but I would not discount it happening in dubious retail outlets.
However, I doubt a good retailer would display a damaged bag and expect to get many sales - maybe I am naive?
Never done it... never needed to... just felt the bags torn by other people... or maybe they were put out by the unscrupulous retailers hoping to off-load bags ripped in transit and by their forklifts?
I trust you weren't really accusing me of doing a criminal activity ?
I am quite certain of this as I work in a VERY reputable independant garden centre
Anyway to get back to the point, if TS reckons her stuff germinates well, then it does. I have learnt to my cost about discounting the information given by experienced growers on this site
Last edited by FionaH; 24-02-2011, 09:50 AM.WPC F Hobbit, Shire policeComment
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I have been using one produced by a Yorkshire company made from composted green waste. I find it very good and I use it for everything - seed sowing, potting on - I can't fault it. It's even usually on offer for 4 bags for £10 but occasionally 5 for £10. What's not to like? Your local council may do one. It's sterile as it's digested at a high temperature (unlike a home composter).Whoever plants a garden believes in the future.
www.vegheaven.blogspot.com Updated March 9th - SpringComment
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A garden centre near me has an open bag of compost stood in front of each stack of bags so customers can see/ feel what each compost is like. Good use of the ripped bags?
Another fan of New Horizon here.Whooops - now what are the dogs getting up to?Comment
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