Best Supplier Of Compost 2023

i have noticed with peat free it does get more soggy so I have to be mindful with seedlings etc ... ps the smell of the B&Q compost now the bag has been opened has nearly gone ...thankfully

 

still available but only seen them to buy in garden centres

 

As peat is difficult to find now I just wonder what you would use it with.

 

Chempak went in to liquidation and was purchased by Thompson & Morgan sometime ago. The Chempak range can still be purchased at some garden centres but I think very few stock them now.

You could use it to mix with coir, but as Thompson & Morgan sell the chempak for about a tenner I doubt many people would bother even if you could still get peat.

 

Hi, what would you say about "100L Litre Multipurpose Compost Bale Evergeen Pure Peat Based Irish Compost"? I tried to stock a bit for my houseplants before I can't get anything at all. Structurewise is nice.

 

As the Kings speech has now been put back to the autumn, there is still no legislation in place to ban peat.

My peat supplier came to see me on Wednesday and there is still no mandate to ban peat to the horticultural sector in Ireland, there is one though to ban the sales on peat briquettes for burning. My supplier, who makes the mushroom casing is under the impression that if the Irish government is to ban peat extraction for the horticultural sector it will not happen until 2030-35.

If this ends up being correct, then it makes the peat ban on England more difficult to enforce. You literally could have a nurseryman being able to sell ready made peat based composts from outside England to the general public from 2025 when the impending ban comes in to force. However when the ban on growing in peat comes in to force in 2027 then a nurseryman would be banned from growing in peat and selling to the public as they were grown in England but they would still be able to sell peat based composts that have been manufactured outside of England.

They are also proposing that a peat based compost should be readily available for vulnerable or endangered plant species where it is unclear whether a peat free growing media is suitable, ericaceous compost.

Media reporting on peat-ban for the professional Horticulture sector - Defra in the media (blog.gov.uk)

 

There will be many people like yourself who will be stocking up on peat based and peat reduced composts. I know Evergreen are based in Dungannon N'Ireland and have a peat works there but they also have a peat works north of Doncaster at Hatfield. As long as the compost is made in Ireland they will still be able to sell to retailers in England after 2024 even if a ban is made legislation. I have no doubt that peat based composts will be for sale in England, especially ebay for a number of years to come.

 

Do you have a local (Pompey) source you might divulge ?

 

Stockists - Evergreen HorticultureEvergreen Horticulture

If there is a stockist close to you, then I would recommend a phone call to see if they have any in stock. Not many retailers actually know that they can still sell peat based composts due to the "Internal Marketing Act" so they might be switching to peat free and a different brand.

 

I bought only 1 bag on ebay. Will last for a while for me. But good idea that some places may have it on place. I maybe check the nearest locations.
Just wondering how this substrate will perform in pots (wetting wise and structure wise - did a mix for hoyas, potted 1 so far).
Taking into cosideration that 100L bag incl. delivery was £19.99, thought no that bad. Jack magic 50L is now £8.99 already.

 

Clover multi purpose compost 60 litre bag is still available in Wigan
three bags for £15 -- same price as last year.
Farm Fresh Fruit and Veg, Your Choice Fruit and Veg in Wigan and St Helens

If you are in the Wigan area it's corner of Tunstall Lane and Ormskirk Rd
@Sheps photo

 

As clover is manufactured in Ireland, then the retailer in the link will still be allowed to sell that brand in the future.

I was in our local Home Bargains store in Whitehaven today, they have an outdoor G/C and there was roughly 20 pallets of compost for sale, not one bag was peat free.

 

Defra's report states that their research shows that only 1 in 10 gardeners would choose a peat based compost, which I do not believe.

I don't know how to do a poll about compost, but what would your preference be, if all the following types had to be stocked by retailers, so the consumer had a choice.

1: 100% peat based compost

2: peat reduced compost 50/50

3: peat free

 

I'm not keen on just peat compost I think its cloggy and always mixed some sand and grit in or some JI.
I think all composts should be a mix of different things.

 

I would definitely want 100% peat based compost back. I would mix it with perlite, vermiculite, clay pebbles, charcoal, bark etc. depending on certain plants need. For houseplants.