Is there an affordable medium for growing salad leaves, orientals etc?

I use b&q mpc “verve”-their own brand as i really like the texture of it...has been consistent for me over the last 6 or so years. If I’m planting up more mature plants i’ll “invest” in John Innes no3 as it does make a difference I find.

I like the idea of sterilising and reusing-not tried that before, but I do reuse in a way as I empty pots of annuals onto the garden borders each year to contribute to improving my heavy clay soil.

 

For seed germination I either use the baggy method or seived MPC with sand and vermiculite (this mix allows seedlings to be grown on in the pot for longer as the roots seperate easily when dunked in a bowl of water).
For growing in pots I'm finding MPC mixed with Poundland coco coir, slow release granules, vermiculite works well with most things.
Poundland sell cost effective vermiculite.

 

Just been to poundland - hardly any gardening stuff in the local one - no vermiculite, no coco coir - maybe after the valentines day junk is gone they'll bring in more gardening stuff. Went to wilko and bought some seed compost and vermiculite. (and a £1 climbing rose and £1 blood,fish and bonemeal from £land).

 

Mine neither at the moment. I did get a healthy looking root of Iris siberica 'Lavender' and a big packet of licquorice torpedos though!