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  • #1

    Using cheaper brand multi purpose compost

    Wanted to know about other's experience of using cheaper brands of multipurpose compost for growing container vegetables. If fed regularly will vegetable plants notice any difference between cheap and the more expensive brands?

    Up to now I have used the more expensive stuff but I picked up some cheaper multipurpose from Asda recently as they had a deal on. I used it to earth up spuds and sow a pot of spring onions this weekend, but it seemed dry and fibrous in comparison to the more expensive stuff and i now I wonder if the veg will suffer, and whether this compost would have been best used for growing flower tubs!

    Any opinions would be appreciated. Thanks.
    Last edited by cazp; 07-06-2010, 10:40 PM.
    Tags: None
  • #2
    hello cazp, i have always used cheap multi purpose to be honest i have had no problems with it but i buy more expensive for my tomatoes and chilli plants but apart from that everything has the cheapo stuff i normally buy from homebase but this year it has been terrible quality so it was from b&q

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    • #3
      Are you bothered about the destruction of peat bogs? I'm not preaching, I just mean that is more of a consideration (to some) than getting the cheapest MPC.

      As for earthing up your spuds: use grass clippings, just 2 inches at a time though (or it gets too hot)
      All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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      • #4
        Don't think the peat question comes into it. Both cheap and expensive composts, unless declared 'peat free' use about the same. The difference is in aging time. Cheap compost often has to be riddled because it is full of uncomposted twigs and the like.
        Why didn't Noah just swat those 2 greenflies?

        Why are they called apartments when they are all stuck together?
        >
        >If flying is so safe, why do they call the airport the terminal?

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        • #5
          I complained to ASDA about the quality of their compost this year and they promptly gave me my money back.
          History teaches us that history teaches us nothing. - Hegel

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          • #6
            I bough B&Q peat free earlier on in the season and was really dissatisfied with it. On the other hand have since bought B&Q regular MPC and and very pleased with it.
            Imagination is everything, it is a preview of what is to become.

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            • #7
              I have used all the Asda compost this year - I got the 75l bags which were 2 for 6 pounds.
              All of my toms, cucumbers, courgettes, chillis, peppers, lettuce, radish, spring onions, rhubarb seedlings, and aubergines are doing fine.

              I did get one of the grow bags for about £1 and this was very very fiberous. I just used this at the bottom of my plant pots as it was good for not falling through the holes.

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              • #8
                Originally posted by lainey lou View Post
                I bough B&Q peat free earlier on in the season and was really dissatisfied with it. On the other hand have since bought B&Q regular MPC and and very pleased with it.
                This. My peat free bags are full of large pieces of uncomposted wood and twigs. Plus there are pieces of plastic and stones in it. Then bought the "normal" one and there was no problems what so ever. Sort of a put off for peat free products.

                Neither of these were the cheap value range.

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                • #9
                  Wickes stuff is rubbish, B&Q's is good. I'm currently using Vital Earths stuff - really happy with that so far.

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                  • #10
                    I bought about then bags of Lidl cheap and cheerful, supposedly good for sowing seeds! I think not! Rough and fibrous, and I gave up sifting it after the first bag. It's fine as a mulch/soil improver, or in the bottom of pots, but for seedlings I'm using grow-bag compost as it is much finer. I'm going to use the compost bags for growing the Toms instead.
                    All the best - Glutton 4 Punishment
                    Freelance shrub butcher and weed removal operative.

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                    • #11
                      me also for b&q pink bags,i got quite a good deal last wednesday,later in the day,all that was left were split bags,to cut the story short,thanks to son came away with 7 bags,for £9.08 ,that did include my 10% off ,
                      sigpicAnother nutter ,wife,mother, nan and nanan,love my growing places,seed collection and sharing,also one of these

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                      • #12
                        Growbag compost for me, so much cheaper. I tried homebase compost, but its so 'barky n twiggy' just didnt like it.

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                        • #13
                          The peat issue is relevant, I don't want to destroy the environment so avoid using peat. However, with peat free you need to be more selective with which variety you chose so I buy the variety I trust, certainly not the cheapest but no waste and a clean consience.

                          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?

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                          • #14
                            Originally posted by chrismarks View Post
                            Wickes stuff is rubbish, B&Q's is good. I'm currently using Vital Earths stuff - really happy with that so far.
                            I'm getting very good results with the Wickes MPC.
                            Mark

                            Vegetable Kingdom blog

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                            • #15
                              The peat free stuff, Capsid? - was full of bark/wood shavings the last lot I bought. Won't be using it again

                              I had the same issue with Westlands stuff too, so am boycotting that too !

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