Compost

Would it be all right to mix some multi purpose compost with JI No 3, to make it less heavy ... It is already gritty so I don't want to add more, but it seems rather heavy.

 

Yes, I have always said the traditional John Innes recipe is only okay when the soil part used is top soil. I tend to think there is to much subsoil used in some John Innes compost brands nowadays making the compost to heavy.

I personally think 7 parts soil to 3 parts peat and 2 parts sand or grit is to heavy anyways. Most people who grow for exhibit and make there own John Innes Compost also agree, they tend to cut back on 1 or 2 parts soil and increase the peat content by 1 part.

I wonder if I am allowed to use John Innes Compost on the packaging in future or if it will be John Innes Type Compost as there will be no peat in the recipe.

 

Thank you both

 

I nearly always mix the two, I dont like the texture of either that you buy, and straight from the bag only works for me with seed sowing, although I'm beginning to wonder about that these days as MPC is mostly not very good.

 

Too much chopped wood waste and Lord-knows-what-else! There's a question nearly every day now on the FB Gardening In France group about beetle larvae in pots and they're all emanating from MPC that's almost pure chopped wood.

 

I,ve got some that is mostly rotted string, for want of a better description.

 

I certainly wouldn't buy MPC from a supermarket or a DIY outlet now. The only good stuff with a peat content available here is sold by a local nursery. It's what they use for their sowings and potting-on. Not cheap, but at least I know I'm not importing plant-chomping pests