Best Supplier Of Compost 2023

I will mix the whole lot in one go and put the mix undercover. Should they decide not to go ahead, then I will just blend it in when I run a batch of JI through the bagging plant. I am confident they will place the order, with the good percentage of loam, leaching will not be an issue.

 

While in the research and development phase, have you given any consideration to the potential benefits of mycorrhizal fungi in the compost, to boost root performance, at an early state of plant development ? Is it known whether JI composts would have had the MF, from the loam faction, as it is degraded turf ? Would this be a useful ingredient in composts based on PAS100 material, which are typically hot composted at 75-85 deg C, and hence devoid of soil life.Perhaps this is a factor in the often reported deficiencies of the 'peat-free' concoctions regarding root development. I realise this will not help your brassicae grower but for other varieties? (Happy to share any resulting patent royalties, etc !!)
Infradig

 

Possibly, but I am not 100% sure it will make much difference. The problem is a combination of 2 issues leaching and the compost is to dense making it harder for seedlings and cuttings to get a good root germination.

The problem with compost bark and PAS 100, you end up with a very dense product, especially when it has been passed through a fine screen. I would compare it to having a garden with heavy clay soil, some plants will take while most others would struggle.

I am going full circle, from 2025 I will stop producing multipurpose compost. Our new bags have been designed, one is called "Universal Seed & Cutting Compost", the other one is going to be a "General Potting Compost". The seed and cutting compost will be mainly made from coir with composted bark, perlite and 5% loam then added. With adding a small fraction of loam ideally clay, the nutrients will less likely to leach as I would prefer to use base fertiliser than slow release for seedlings. It's just getting the right balance of substrates to have a nice light open mix for good root germination without causing an issue with leaching.

The Peat free John Innes I will be making for the Royal Botanic Gardens is not for seeds or cuttings but for plants that already have good root and top growth, so substituting peat with bark should not really be an issue.

 

Not sure that mycorrhizal fungi would last long in the absence of living plant material. Probably better to either buy and add at planting.

Sadly as you have put the idea into the "public domain" no patent is possible. Remember always patent application first and then preferably say nowt to nobody.

 

Bought a couple of bags of this yesterday, I think its peat based, packed in Ireland and the cheapest one in that garden centre.
It seems very fine.

 

It is peat based, their peat free compost is branded "Moregro".
Most of the peat suppliers in Northern Ireland are based in Dungannon, south west of Lough Neagh is where the peat is harvested.

The peat from that area is to fine, okay for seedlings put not ideal for general potting.

 

I thought it seemed exceptionally fine, I ll have to mix it or save it for seed sowing.

 

A general slow release fertiliser will be fine, the slow release fertiliser that tends to be available to the general public tends to be 6 month longevity, which is what we use the most. For shrubs, trees etc etc we use 12 month longevity, which you can purchase off eBay.

Below is actually a good price, miracle gro tends to sell for £10 plus for 1kg.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gro-Sure-M...l&sprefix=osmocote,industrial,63&sr=1-21&th=1

We use at a rate of 2kg per cube metre, so the above will be enough feed for 1000 litres.

 

That is a good price, I've been buying 900gr for £8 at the garden centres, I think I got one jar for a fiver on special offer, trouble with Amazon is you get hit with delivery charges unless you pay for prime, and I never buy enough off them to make it worthwhile.

 

I promised feedback on this peat free below. It's rubbish! Although the consistency is workable it has no water retention, draining straight through pots.



Having started seeds back at the end of March for both the Papaver below and Asclepias, I initially potted them on in peat based compost then potted them on again with the peat free. You can see the results below. I planted out the Asclepias yesterday and although they were only just ready, they were healthy but had stopped growing. They like dry 'feet' so the free draining peat free wasn't to much of a problem in that respect. However, the Papaver suffered as you can see below and having given up on them they're now in the composter.

Even taking the miserable weather throughout July into account I've never had such bad results like this before. So, it's back to peat based compost for me for as long as I can get hold of it.

 

Going by your photo I am not surprised water is going straight through, it looks like the compost is just made of bark. It states on the reverse of the bag that there is coir in the mix, well it does not look like there is any coir at all in the mix as it looks to coarse, unless the fine coir has washed through to the bottom of the pots. If there is coir in the mix it must of been a very small percentage.

 

This is how it looked before use gks...