Peat vs peat-free

**Hazel at the Hill** · 27-11-2013, 12:22 PM

This topic comes up most years Laura, as you'll know - 2012's thread is here, and this year's discussion on the issue is here.

I suspect that the various pros and cons haven't changed all that much.

Although to be fair, VC reported on a new 'blend' of peat-free recently which I for one will be looking out for to test next season.

**Laura Hillier** · 27-11-2013, 12:34 PM

Thanks for those links Hazel, they're really useful

We are currently working on our February issue and we would love to flag this up in the magazine, it is such a popular topic. If anyone can spare a second to cast their vote on the poll, we would really appreciate it.

Thanks!

Laura

**veggiechicken** · 27-11-2013, 12:38 PM

Thanks for the reminder Hazel

Its here http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ost_75421.html
I'll have to look for it in another GC since my local one burnt down last week

**Laura Hillier** · 27-11-2013, 12:44 PM

Oh no! That's terrible

hope they will be able to get up and running again, and in the meantime good luck looking for another one

Laura

**veggiechicken** · 27-11-2013, 12:52 PM

There are other GCs nearby, but that was my usual one - and I have money off vouchers to spend there

Nobody was harmed and that's the important thing

**SarzWix** · 27-11-2013, 01:24 PM

Peat vs peat-free is a real tussle of conscience, for me anyway. I know all the reasons for using peat-free, and I agree with them. But then at the same time, I've had some terrible experiences with peat-fee, including my school gardening group losing half of our plants one spring when they were potted up into newly bought peat-free and failed to grow at all, then turned purple and died. The rest of the plants potted into standard reduced peat compost given to us by a parent, thrived. It's quite hard to convince people of the benefits of peat-free when things like that happen. There's also a study which claims legionella is more common in peat-free, which is a worry when you're working with young children.
So, yes, a real tussle of conscience. We try to use New Horizon where possible because it's never caused us any problems, but it is expensive, and we can't always afford it.

**Thelma Sanders** · 27-11-2013, 03:20 PM

Like Sarz over a few years, trying different types of peatfree, I have lost a lot of seedlings - so now I use compost with peat in, but try to use less of it, by sowing more seed direct into the soil, and by mixing soil with the compost for the bottom of tomato tubs etc.

**Mikey** · 27-11-2013, 03:55 PM

MP compost is good for little else than filling a hole. I've tried seedlings off in it and unless they are strong like beans and peas they don't do well. Sometimes the act of pushing through exposes the seed. MPC is too fibrous and coarse and filled with all sorts of rubbish.

At the end of the day you get what you pay for JI forms a decent part of my home mixtures these days. I only use MPC as a weed suppressant.

**rustylady** · 27-11-2013, 05:30 PM

I think the answer is to make as much of your own compost as you possibly can. This will, of course, be peat-free. I do buy MCP to start off seeds and pot up plants for the greenhouse, but am working to becoming self-sufficient in compost.

**Shadylane** · 27-11-2013, 05:51 PM

I use New Horizon and have found that if I pimp it with fish blood and bone, then stuff grows well. Before doing this seedlings would just sit there for ages and do very little. You can get it round here at three bags for �12, which isn't cheap, but not too bad.

I use homemade compost to spread on the beds. I have used it for potting in the past but now I've decided to try going manure free, I'll need it all for the plot I reckon. Aren't they still planning on phasing out peat compost eventually?

**Bill HH** · 27-11-2013, 09:26 PM

So could someone explain the reasons for not using peat?

**bearded bloke** · 27-11-2013, 09:43 PM

Originally posted by Bill HH View Post

So could someone explain the reasons for not using peat?

Follow the links in the second post Bill,or do a forum search the merits of various composts are well documented

**Penellype** · 27-11-2013, 09:47 PM

Peat is non-sustainable, taking millions of years to form, and harvesting it causes environmental damage to wildlife habitats.

I've struggled with peat free compost and find most of the stuff you can buy is full of unidentifiable rubbish which clogs and goes soggy when watered, plus large, hard chunks of bark. I had particularly bad experiences with Levington seed compost which I have been using for years but which suddenly changed when it became peat free. Large areas of my seed trays simply failed to grow at all. To make sure that this wasn't dodgy watering or something I re-sowed the lettuce, peas and spinach that had failed, and not one single seed grew. Other areas of the same containers grew well, which was a real puzzle.

I'm working on making my own compost - the main problem so far has been the slug eggs and weed seeds, but I am hoping that compost made in the hotbin will eliminate that problem.

**bearded bloke** · 27-11-2013, 09:48 PM

Laura,could you add another option to the poll ? I would say from reading threads that a lot of people (myself included) would tick the box for reduced peat content,which is to my mind the best compromise between seed germination & planetary sustainability

Yes, I always use peat-free	26.09%	6 votes
Yes, I do when I can, but not always	26.09%	6 votes
No, I prefer to use peat	30.43%	7 votes
I use compost with reduced peat content	17.39%	4 votes

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