Best Supplier Of Compost 2023

Which compost was used for the really healthy looking one @pete

Once the ban kicks in I bet there's going to be a lot of trial and error until we all find a good mix for all the growing stages.

 

That's a great point @Loofah

I wonder how my Quadgrows will cope with a different mix, will be interesting to see.

 

That's the problem, I cant remember.

 

No, During email correspondence I had timed appointments to meet the site managers, two where not even there when I arrived. At one site I was even shown around by a bloke who is employed as a fitter.

If you were to replace the peat with PAS 100 the transport would be a main issue, you would need three times more vehicles to move the same volume of PAS 100 compared to Peat.

The Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Association state of the 423 million acres of peatlands in Canada 42,000 acres is harvested for the horticultural sector. Not all those acres are harvested annually, with enzymes and live sphagnum moss rejuvenates the bog to its original state within 25 years. All this, it takes thousands of years to rejuvenate a peat bog is over the top and was based on the extraction of burning peat for energy.

Also according to the CSPMA even though peat moss is harvested from 42,000 acres, millions of acres are not being harvested. So, as peat bogs are seen as a living entities, they are believed to grow 70% more peat moss than what is harvested each year.

 

We used to hear from the timber suppliers some really cockeyed figures made up to make their business appear sustainable.

The times over the last 50 yrs I've heard the old statement that this or that timber is out growing what we are cutting down.

Makes me wonder why so many timbers that were common place are pretty much not seen anymore.

 

Here are some of the images of the the root system of the patio plants that where potted in to peat free pot bedding compost.














Some plants take better to the compost than others, but I am not sure if it is the compost or fine tuning how we water that is the reason. Compared to our general multipurpose we use Osmocote in pot bedding but there is also more feed, 70% more which makes a big difference.

 

Maybe worth watching.

Peat Vs Peat Free Composts - Part 2 - The key to success? - YouTube

Miracle Gro peat free comes out on top in the below link, but I think it is more to do with slow release prills whether it is Osmocote or Multicote they used. I personally think that is the main reason for the better results as it release's feed over a 4 month period.

The Verdict is In: Which sub £10 Potting Compost Wins the Battle in 2023? - YouTube

Compost Comparison - The Results! Shocking!!!! - YouTube

 

Today I had a meeting with a guy who has designed our compost bags in the past and we have made the decision to discontinue our multipurpose compost. Not only that, we will no longer be making John Innes Seed, N01, 2 & 3 and will just be doing a John Innes Seed & Cutting compost and a John Innes potting compost. Trying to make a multipurpose compost suitable for seed sowing and general potting is raising to many issue's.

Just like the links below, which makes things even more confusing for the general public. The same brand compost but all different. What is the first thing that you notice is different between all of them.


Miracle-Gro All Purpose Compost 50L | Wilko

Miracle Gro All Purpose Growing Compost 20L : Amazon.co.uk: Garden

Miracle-Gro Premium All Purpose Compost 50L | Garden - B&M (bmstores.co.uk)

 

It seems they are doing what 'leading' brands do; use their 'Brand' image to label a product blended to suit not the application but to match the pricepoint of the seller.The omission of ingredients makes this possible.
Some might think this is misrepresentation but it is widespread and nothing is done.

 

Main thing I'm noticing is yellow looking young plants.
It appears that you need to start feeding seedlings much earlier.
I've bought various bags of all kinds and it just seems that the peat free stuff is not holding onto fertiliser and its probably just washing straight through.
Some isn't making good root systems, but that maybe me overwatering, its often either soaking wet or so dry the water runs straight through.

Makes me wonder if adding controlled release fertiliser from the start, even with most seedlings could be the way to go in the future.

Having said all that, the 100% peat stuff I have isn't great either, the texture might be better but I'm still getting yellow growth.

Maybe they have all reduced the fertiliser as a cost cutting exercise.

 

Valid point, each retailer wants the compost to be cheaper as they make the money on the plants. However, even though you say the omission of ingredients makes this possible, the feed is different and is clearly pointed out on the packaging. On the reverse of the packaging what they can be used for is different on one product. The one in Wilko has feed for 6 weeks and is suitable for seeds, seedlings and cuttings along with other general potting, yet the feed in the other two are different and last longer. Also on the reverse, there is nothing to suggest using this as a seed compost, this has been omitted and is worded more towards a general potting compost for plants.

Now we are having to go peat free, using base fertiliser which tends to be cheaper is leaching, if your sowing seeds we can't put to much more in and at the current rate we are using is insufficient when potting on.
We are going full circle and going back to a "Seed & Cutting" compost and a general "Potting Compost". The general Potting compost will have a slow release fertiliser, one that releases nutrients when watering and the other that works off temperature over a 6 month period, it will be made from composted bark coir and a small amount of PAS 100, we will add other additives for those who buy in bulk. The Seed & Cutting will be mainly made from coir with perlite and a small amount of sand, we will probably use a mini slow release fertiliser that will release nutrients when watering.

Using slow release in peat free is the only way I can get it work, but it comes at a cost

 

I've just planted out my sweet corn and I had 5 trays each with 6 plants in separate cells.
Each tray had different compost, one was 100% peat, the others various types of peat free.
I was expecting big differences, but in growth they all looked pretty much the same, yellow.
Germination varied the two best were the peat based and a westland one with BIO3 whatever that is.

To be honest I should have started feeding about a week after germination, I know that the weather has been cold and gloomy but growth has been very slow.