Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Seed Compost: Is It Necessary?

Collapse

X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Seed Compost: Is It Necessary?

    I've always sown seeds in multi puropose compost without much trouble.

    However, this year I'd like to grow more non-edible plants. Plus, the 5 bags of MP compost I've just bought are full of clumps and little bits and bobs not condusive to sowing.

    Therefore I was going to try some seeding and cutting compost from Wilko. Is it really necessary and does it improve germination and performance?

    Or should I just invest in a sturdy garden sieve?

  • #2
    I have always used MPC. No probs, pick out the lumps and add to compost heap to rot down a bit more.

    I bought proper seed compost once = didn't get on with it, tbh.
    All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

    Comment


    • #3
      I'm a multipurpose babe too! It's fine - it holds nutrient, air what more do you want?
      Whoever plants a garden believes in the future.

      www.vegheaven.blogspot.com Updated March 9th - Spring

      Comment


      • #4
        If you don't like the lumps; get a little sieve from wilkos and sive it - put the retained stuff in the bottom of seed trays/modules and put the fine staff at the top. Then you aren't losing any.

        Comment


        • #5
          I sieve my compost as if I've making scones, ie breadcrumbs. Rub it between your fingers to get the lumps out. Stubborn lumps go in the compost bin again
          All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by Two_Sheds View Post
            I sieve my compost as if I've making scones, ie breadcrumbs. Rub it between your fingers to get the lumps out. Stubborn lumps go in the compost bin again
            Pretty much what I do although I use grow bags as compost. Any lumps that won't crumble go back in the bag and are used for later potting up when a bigger pot is used.

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by zazen999 View Post
              If you don't like the lumps; get a little sieve from wilkos and sive it - put the retained stuff in the bottom of seed trays/modules and put the fine staff at the top. Then you aren't losing any.
              That is precisely what i do no problems then crumble the lumps up with your hands before you sieve it and there is not so much to put in the bottom of the tray ...jacob
              What lies behind us,And what lies before us,Are tiny matters compared to what lies Within us ...
              Ralph Waide Emmerson

              Comment


              • #8
                My Grandad used to mix his compost with silver sand to improve drainage and make it go further and my dad mixes his just with some sharp sand.
                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 porn

                Comment


                • #9
                  Seed compost is finer and has less nutrients thats all! (Their I go, stating the blimmin obvious again?)
                  My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
                  to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

                  Diversify & prosper


                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by Snadger View Post
                    Seed compost is finer and has less nutrients thats all! (Their I go, stating the blimmin obvious again?)
                    Well someone's gotta do it
                    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 porn

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      I use MPC mixed with perlite, I crumble it all together like cake-making, very theraputic - I also sieve if really fine stuff is wanted. I top (when seeds are sown) with vermiculite.
                      aka
                      Suzie

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Another one who uses sieved multi-purpose compost for little seeds, the bigger seeds just get the larger lumps picked out.
                        Location....East Midlands.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          I just use straight multipurpose, no sieving but I do pick out the twiggy bits. Think some varieties are better than others for lumps etc.

                          Some of us live in the past, always talking about back then. Some of us live in the future, always planning what we are going to do. And, then there are those, who neither look behind or ahead, but just enjoy the moment of right now.

                          Which one are you and is it how you want to be?

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            This is my first year using seed compost & must admit I have had a more succesfull germination rate than MPC. It may just be me being lucky but I will stick with it.
                            sigpic“Gorillas are very intelligent, but they don't have to be as delicate as chimps -- they can just smash open the termite nest,”
                            --------------------------------------------------------------------
                            Official Member Of The Nutters Club - Rwanda Branch.
                            -------------------------------------------------------------------
                            Sent from my ZX Spectrum with no predictive text..........
                            -----------------------------------------------------------
                            KOYS - King Of Yellow Stickers..............

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              I usually just use multi purpose & just pick out the big bits but I've just bought a lovely compost riddle for £7.99 so that I can sieve it & my own homemade compost too. You could just as easily use an old colander as a sieve.
                              I've tried seed compost in the past & find it a bit heavy & badly draining & it works out quite expensive if you're not sowing a lot of seeds & have to buy multi purpose as well.
                              Into every life a little rain must fall.

                              Comment

                              Latest Topics

                              Collapse

                              Recent Blog Posts

                              Collapse
                              Working...
                              X