seed compost

[solway cropper]

When I was last in B+Q about 3 weeks ago I got some of their seed compost. It's rubbish....full of lumps and bits of twigs up to 4 inches long. Had to go into town today and went to Aldi to check out the fruit trees. Not much left but I did buy a 20l bag of seed compost for a quid and it's fantastic. Very fine and with no lumps...perfect. Trouble is it's a 30 mile round trip to get some more

[Pies]

I don't use seed compost i just sieve MPC. B and Q's is rated very highly

[solway cropper]

MPC will have more in the way of nutrients which is why specific composts are produced for seeds. I suppose the idea of multi-purpose compost is that it is all things to all men and it does most things reasonably well, but if you want a bit more control you should be looking to tailor the compost to what you're growing.

[Flobalob]

I bought a couple of bags yesterday also. Used it this morning..excellent.
Also bought a plum tree. Looked at the lemon trees but they were infested.

[emilymup]

Last year I tried lots of different types of MPC - I bought about 60 bags all of various kinds. Was disappointed with all of them except for Wickes own brand. They were the best by far!

[esrikandan]

The MPC ASDA sell is as good as the Wickes stuff. Wouldn't suprise me if it's the same, but I don't bother with anything else (ASDA or Wickes). The Peat-Free stuff I've tried it is just rubbish.

As far as potting/seed compost is concerned, I just sieve out MPC and always have good results. I tried seed compost a few years back - made no difference at all.

[solway cropper]

Regarding MPC. The reason the John Innes formulae were developed is because plants have different nutrient requirements at different stages in their growth and ideally need a compost which satisfies those requirements. I suspect the reason that seeds do well in sieved MPCs is because most of them have very little nutrient value. That's the reason I always mix shop bought stuff with proper home-made compost before potting on.

[Daz]

Hi
We mainly use MPC and tend to get it from a Elwell's, they mix it on site and it is always dry and very very good stuff.
The thing that gets to me is the places that sore it outside and it is soaking wet and even has a green covering when you open the bags, and this is at places that should or do know better.

[Alison]

All my seeds and plants go in New Horizon Peat Free Multipurpose and it's great. Advantages are that I only need to store one type, it's peat free and so I don't have to feel guilty for raping the planet. Down side is that it costs more but I usually buy it when it's on offer and if you're buying loads of different types it can add up to more anyway.