peatfree compost

Discussion in 'Compost, Fertilisers & Recycling' started by glenj, Mar 21, 2024.

  1. Nel_Staffs

    Nel_Staffs Gardener

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2024
    Messages:
    35
    Gender:
    Female
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    South Staffs
    Ratings:
    +45
    I know @fairygirl . :sad:
    Such a shame as it is such good quality .
    I'm lucky enough to have two stockists within a 20 minutes drive, I'd never have heard of it otherwise.
     
  2. fairygirl

    fairygirl Total Gardener

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2020
    Messages:
    2,888
    Occupation:
    retired
    Location:
    west central Scotland
    Ratings:
    +6,498
    I'm not that bothered. I think it also depends on what you grow as to how good or bad some of the composts are. I re use previous year's spent compost for seed sowing, and use collected soil to add to any bought compost. I make compost, but I have large pots for the annual climbers, and it's not always enough, or it isn't always ready early enough to use.
    The peat free stuff I've had, has been ok for mixing with other things, but I know many people have found it really poor, and I expect the high demand during the Covid period, due to 'new' gardeners, meant a lot of stuff was for sale when it probably shouldn't have been.
     
    • Agree Agree x 4
    • LunarSea

      LunarSea Front Garden Curator

      Joined:
      Jan 29, 2024
      Messages:
      209
      Gender:
      Male
      Occupation:
      Retired
      Location:
      Peak District foothills
      Ratings:
      +1,333
      Are you sure it was peat free? I can find their MPC with reduced peat but they don't seem to list a peat-free one currently.
       
      • Like Like x 1
      • Fat Controller

        Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

        Joined:
        May 5, 2012
        Messages:
        27,987
        Gender:
        Male
        Occupation:
        Public Transport
        Location:
        At me 'puter, GCHQ Ashford Office, Middlesex
        Ratings:
        +52,664
        Oddly, I think Wickes is going to win my order as Compost Centre can't deliver for 8-9 weeks
         
      • Fat Controller

        Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

        Joined:
        May 5, 2012
        Messages:
        27,987
        Gender:
        Male
        Occupation:
        Public Transport
        Location:
        At me 'puter, GCHQ Ashford Office, Middlesex
        Ratings:
        +52,664
        • Informative Informative x 1
        • amancalledgeorge

          amancalledgeorge Super Gardener

          Joined:
          Mar 13, 2024
          Messages:
          313
          Gender:
          Male
          Location:
          Currently London, soon North Wales
          Ratings:
          +902
        • amancalledgeorge

          amancalledgeorge Super Gardener

          Joined:
          Mar 13, 2024
          Messages:
          313
          Gender:
          Male
          Location:
          Currently London, soon North Wales
          Ratings:
          +902
          As for Melcourt products check with any National Trust garden centres if you have any nearby as they seem to carry it around the UK.
           
          • Like Like x 1
          • waterbut

            waterbut Gardener

            Joined:
            Mar 15, 2024
            Messages:
            177
            Gender:
            Male
            Occupation:
            Retired
            Location:
            Portsmouth
            Ratings:
            +215
            Read and tried with great success. Mix ratio of 5 parts general compost with 1 part garden centre bag of manure or ANO manure and some perilite if you can be bothered.
            John Innes No1 for seedlings or any compost bag that has the word seedling on it. I have even read about people who scatter their seeds over perilite with no additives.
             
            • Like Like x 1
            • glenj

              glenj Apprentice Gardener

              Joined:
              Mar 21, 2024
              Messages:
              7
              Gender:
              Male
              Ratings:
              +6
              Thanks for the replies,very unsure whether to use the compost for the dozens more seedlings i need to transplant,i m not sure if i mixed some horticultural grit(perlite to dear)with the levingtons this would help,it did seem very"clammy" for want of a better word and not that open,or maybe that made no difference it was the stuff they put in it is the problem.
               
            • glenj

              glenj Apprentice Gardener

              Joined:
              Mar 21, 2024
              Messages:
              7
              Gender:
              Male
              Ratings:
              +6
              Hi,thanks for reply,i read the bags carefully before purchase and it said ideal for seedlings etc,it is added john innes not a specific john innes brand.
               
              • Agree Agree x 1
              • LunarSea

                LunarSea Front Garden Curator

                Joined:
                Jan 29, 2024
                Messages:
                209
                Gender:
                Male
                Occupation:
                Retired
                Location:
                Peak District foothills
                Ratings:
                +1,333
                Aha ..... couldn't find that anywhere else. Thanks. I used to use the original Jack's Magic so I was looking if they did a peat-free one. Once a big brand takes over though I think they use any of the former names at will. Westland took over New Horizon and that one is also described as "Naturally Peat Free". Homebase stock Westland composts but their Jack's Magic is only 'peat-reduced'.
                 
                • Like Like x 1
                • Bluejayway

                  Bluejayway Plantaholic

                  Joined:
                  Mar 13, 2024
                  Messages:
                  758
                  Gender:
                  Female
                  Occupation:
                  Retired
                  Location:
                  Wales
                  Ratings:
                  +2,595
                  The Sylvagrow peat-free has been favourite with me lately too.
                   
                  • Like Like x 1
                  • glenj

                    glenj Apprentice Gardener

                    Joined:
                    Mar 21, 2024
                    Messages:
                    7
                    Gender:
                    Male
                    Ratings:
                    +6
                    Thanks for the reply,no conservatory is west facing and it hasn t been that warm until last few days,as mentioned i ve already transplanted one batch in peat compost(bord da mona)with some old perlite i had left over and they are thriving,the batch in the peat free levingtons mpc never showed any scorch marks or to much or little water,when i finally discarded them yesterday it was more stem rot at the base and they were very healthy seedlings and same variety as the ones doing well.
                     
                    • Informative Informative x 2
                    • Like Like x 1
                    • amancalledgeorge

                      amancalledgeorge Super Gardener

                      Joined:
                      Mar 13, 2024
                      Messages:
                      313
                      Gender:
                      Male
                      Location:
                      Currently London, soon North Wales
                      Ratings:
                      +902
                      Here's last year's Jack's Magic that doesn't mention the actual level of peat but it still had some. Hope the peat free version is as nice to grow pelargoniums with.
                      PXL_20240321_140759132.jpg PXL_20240321_140929950.jpg
                       
                      • Agree Agree x 1
                      • Informative Informative x 1
                      • pete

                        pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

                        Joined:
                        Jan 9, 2005
                        Messages:
                        51,549
                        Gender:
                        Male
                        Occupation:
                        Retired
                        Location:
                        Mid Kent
                        Ratings:
                        +95,434
                        Agree @amancalledgeorge , I have some of that. It still contain some peat.

                        I've bought peat (pete) free in the past and they still make me pay for it.
                        Maybe I should complain to trading standards.:biggrin:
                         
                        • Funny Funny x 3
                        • Agree Agree x 1
                        Loading...

                        Share This Page

                        1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
                          By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
                          Dismiss Notice