Best Supplier Of Compost 2022

Discussion in 'Compost, Fertilisers & Recycling' started by JWK, Jan 1, 2022.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jun 3, 2008
    Messages:
    32,613
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Surrey
    Ratings:
    +50,451
  2. sandymac

    sandymac Super Gardener

    Joined:
    Jan 16, 2017
    Messages:
    378
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    engineer
    Location:
    durham
    Ratings:
    +917
    don't know the best supplier, i used to use Levingtons M3 but can not get hold of it last two years (i can get it online but refuse to pay £20+ for 60 ltrs) so i have bought 6 bags of Jacks magic to try this year,(50 litrer bags for £3.95 each) I will mix it with 20% worm compost and keep posting on results.
    I have checked a bag and looks to be a decent composition
    Regds Sandy
     
    • Informative Informative x 2
    • ricky101

      ricky101 Total Gardener

      Joined:
      Jun 15, 2016
      Messages:
      3,468
      Gender:
      Male
      Location:
      Sheffield
      Ratings:
      +4,406
      Bought a few bags of Jacks last year but unlike previous years found it to be quiet lumpy and a good few large chunks of bark or root like stuff, almost needed so sieve it first.
      Hopefully it will be back to its regular fine mix this year ?

      Been reading about peat free compost in some of the weekly gardening mags and there are a few recommended, but stockist so far and few between you can only get them by mail order and like @sanymac says , its then about £20 a bag !

      Has anyone found well stocked peat free compost in garden centers that does give good results for seeds and potting on ?
      They say (?) its not good to store peat compost from one year to the next, but bet many will be starting to stock up with peat before the 2024 deadline.
       
      • Like Like x 2
      • john558

        john558 Total Gardener

        Joined:
        Feb 14, 2015
        Messages:
        2,545
        Gender:
        Male
        Occupation:
        Retired
        Location:
        Ramsgate, Kent
        Ratings:
        +9,077
        I only buy a small bag of John Innes 1 and mix this with equal parts of sieved own compost & Coir for seeds.
        For potting on/small plants I mix equal parts of sieved own compost, Coir, some Perlite and feed.
        I do understand some can't or haven't the space for compost bins.
         
        • Like Like x 4
        • gks

          gks Total Gardener

          Joined:
          Feb 28, 2021
          Messages:
          1,750
          Gender:
          Male
          Occupation:
          Production Manager
          Location:
          Cumbria
          Ratings:
          +5,033
          Is the £20 for 60L a delivered price? never seen Levington M3 in a 60L bag, it's always been 75L

          I know ICL have sold the retail side of the Levington compost brand, they now concentrate mainly on the commercial side. The M3 is now a new formula with new design packaging, which now has 20% wood fibre incorporated in the mix and still in their usual 75L bags.

          m3.jpg
           
          • Like Like x 1
          • Informative Informative x 1
          • Tomcat

            Tomcat Gardener

            Joined:
            Nov 20, 2021
            Messages:
            210
            Gender:
            Male
            Occupation:
            Cultivating a sense of humus
            Location:
            Somerset
            Ratings:
            +502
            I have been using Sylvagrow peat free compost ( the one flashed with “ no green waste “ ) for the last couple of seasons , for potting on and mixing with my own compost for containers. Results have been very acceptable, watering needs more attention until you get used to it. Haven’t used it for seeds yet , can’t quite take the plunge ! . I might do a few test trays this year.:smile:
             
            • Like Like x 2
            • Informative Informative x 2
            • sandymac

              sandymac Super Gardener

              Joined:
              Jan 16, 2017
              Messages:
              378
              Gender:
              Male
              Occupation:
              engineer
              Location:
              durham
              Ratings:
              +917
              I allways used the 75litre bags , a 60litre bag was the size quoted online that was another reason i would not buy sounded iffy
               
              • Like Like x 2
              • pete

                pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

                Joined:
                Jan 9, 2005
                Messages:
                51,555
                Gender:
                Male
                Occupation:
                Retired
                Location:
                Mid Kent
                Ratings:
                +95,455
                I've not come across this leavington
                M3.
                Why is it so expensive.
                Is the high price in order to put off the general public from buying it.

                I can't imagine commercial growers paying prices like that for such a small amount.
                 
              • sandymac

                sandymac Super Gardener

                Joined:
                Jan 16, 2017
                Messages:
                378
                Gender:
                Male
                Occupation:
                engineer
                Location:
                durham
                Ratings:
                +917
                It was not normally so expensive i used to get it from my local garden centre for £5-99 per 75litre bag, cheaper if bought in bulk, I got it for £5-00 per bag when buying ten
                Regds Sandy, The £20 + price is what they are asking for in the internet
                 
                • Informative Informative x 2
                • Hanglow

                  Hanglow Super Gardener

                  Joined:
                  Oct 27, 2021
                  Messages:
                  851
                  Ratings:
                  +3,144
                  I tend to use sinclair composts, they seem to be good. Not cheap but I raise all my veg in small modules so it is economical, maybe 2L of compost for 60 plants, and reinvigorate old bought compost with added home made/6X etc. in larger pots.
                  Search Results - link to where I buy them from. Not sure if it is economical to order them for delivery though

                  I did buy one bag of Jack's magic that I have used this year for my chillis, it seems to be good this year, just a couple of stones I had to remove.
                   
                  • Like Like x 2
                    Last edited: Jan 18, 2022
                  • pete

                    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

                    Joined:
                    Jan 9, 2005
                    Messages:
                    51,555
                    Gender:
                    Male
                    Occupation:
                    Retired
                    Location:
                    Mid Kent
                    Ratings:
                    +95,455
                    Bought a couple of bags of this today, not cheap, £5.99 for 60 litres, but I'm buying a bag here and a bag there to spread the cost. Probably not considered environmentally friendly but if they keep making it people will buy it.
                    DSC02332.JPG DSC02333.JPG
                     
                    • Like Like x 3
                    • Informative Informative x 1
                    • gks

                      gks Total Gardener

                      Joined:
                      Feb 28, 2021
                      Messages:
                      1,750
                      Gender:
                      Male
                      Occupation:
                      Production Manager
                      Location:
                      Cumbria
                      Ratings:
                      +5,033
                      To me, its to cheap. It's actually only a fiver for the compost when you deduct 99p which goes to HMRC in VAT.
                      When I visit a G/C or a DIY store, my first thought is, wow, compost is so cheap, yet everything else is over priced.
                       
                      • Informative Informative x 2
                      • pete

                        pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

                        Joined:
                        Jan 9, 2005
                        Messages:
                        51,555
                        Gender:
                        Male
                        Occupation:
                        Retired
                        Location:
                        Mid Kent
                        Ratings:
                        +95,455
                        Well, I get your meaning but then I always thought joinery was too cheap.:roflol:
                        I was comparing it to maybe B&Q or Wickes stuff, which I have never tried I hasten to add.

                        I was looking at buying a bulk bag of multi purpose this year, and when I worked it out I couldn't really find any that was cheaper than the stuff I'm buying in bags.
                         
                        • Like Like x 1
                        • Agree Agree x 1
                        • gks

                          gks Total Gardener

                          Joined:
                          Feb 28, 2021
                          Messages:
                          1,750
                          Gender:
                          Male
                          Occupation:
                          Production Manager
                          Location:
                          Cumbria
                          Ratings:
                          +5,033
                          It's funny you should say that. My mate purchased 10 x 1.8m x 50mm round fence posts from B&Q to repair his chicken pen, it cost him £120. I told him to take them back for a refund as I would do the exact same posts for £35 for 10. He declined as he couldn't be bothered to do a 30 mile round trip to collect 10 posts off me.

                          Charging £12 a post is daylight robbery.
                           
                          • Like Like x 2
                          • pete

                            pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

                            Joined:
                            Jan 9, 2005
                            Messages:
                            51,555
                            Gender:
                            Male
                            Occupation:
                            Retired
                            Location:
                            Mid Kent
                            Ratings:
                            +95,455
                            The fact he didn't want to do the 30 mile round trip pretty much sums things up for me.Although that is not a great distance.
                            Often the shipping charge makes online sales just not worth it for me, especially since you cant see what you are buying.

                            I'd really like things to go back to normal, but they probably wont.

                            Buy local at a good price and go get it yourself when ever possible.
                             
                            • Agree Agree x 3
                            • Like Like x 1
                            Loading...
                            Thread Status:
                            Not open for further replies.

                            Share This Page

                            1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
                              By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
                              Dismiss Notice