Best Supplier Of Compost 2022

When anyone comes to us looking to fill beds, then we recommend our John Innes and soil conditioner. Ideally, if they could source soil locally then it would work out cheaper for them, we don't sell soil as we need it ourselves for the compost mixes.

So if you can source some spent mushroom compost, otherwise just add some peat based multi-purpose. The peat lobby and environmentalists can shove it where the sun don't shine.

This link is a good read why peatlands have been depleted, to think in the early 20th century what they burnt in 10 years would be enough to supply the horticultural sector for 100 years.

Peat | Past | Ireland 2050

 

even if its bad, it would do as an under layer, with good stuff put on top

 

I've just ordered John I No1, Hydrangea Colourant, Weed Membrane & Seaweed feed from Homebase and I got free delivery

 

Went to Wickes yesterday to pick up the postcrete for the patio. Their web site advertises - peat free at £6 a bag and peat based at £5 a bag - both 50 litres.

All the peat based was gone - so I purchased a bag of peat free.

I was surprised how light the peat free compost was - I had no trouble slinging a bag into the back of the car.

Time will tell if it's any good.

 

Just bought Jacks Magic compost 4 bags for £24 at our local GC, not a bad price.

 

It's 2 for £12 around here also @HarryS

 

It looks like B&Q have stopped supplying ordinary multi purpose compost and it's all now peat free. There doesn't seem to be any large bags now either.

 

I bought Jacks Magic from our local GC 3 bags for £15, it’s okay but probably last years stock. Put 6 bags in Vegtrug no1 with a handful of FBB per bag a few weeks ago and transplanted lettuce, spinach, radish and spring onion seedlings into to it and they are all doing fine. Vegtrug no1 has the heavy winter frame cover on it and survived the recent storms (tied down with bungees).

Today I am going to fill up Vegtrug no2 with 3 bags of Jacks Magic and 4 bags of topsoil. This trug only has the insect netting frame cover so not as weather protected. Will sow beetroot direct and see what happens. As I bought this JM and topsoil at the same time from the same local GC I expect it all to be last years stock so will add some growmore to this one, as I’ve run out of FBB.

I wonder when this years compost supplies will hit the local GC? I don’t live near a Homebase.

 

Even so, most of it will still of been bagged last year.

Most compost is sold in a 12-14 week window, with very little sold in the winter months. The exception being, commercial and amateur growers who are more likely to buy compost all year round.

The problem is, GC etc etc tend to leave the compost outside, that's fine in the months of March to Mid June when there is a quick turnaround due to the volumes, but it the winter months, hardly anything moves.

So, normally I would sell roughly 150 x 80L bags daily to the general public in the spring months, yet from late November, to mid Jan we probably sell between 80 -100 bags a month. Not a problem if the compost is stored under cover in a cool dry place, but because the bags are perforated for stacking and transit they take in water, hence why ours is always stored under cover.

There is nothing wrong with old compost as long as it is stored under cover, ideally a shed or garage, you will still get good results using it years later.

 

Both of our local GC have their compost outside, Jacks Magic I can lift as it’s so dry but the other Westland vegetable compost and topsoil was so heavy OH had to carry it and he even said the 60L bags were almost too heavy for him. They had soaked up water being outside, so I guess they will have leaked all the goodness out.