which compost?

Wow!! Thank you very much. So interesting now I have a fuller picture. It reaffirms my belief that forums like GC are one of the most precious assets that having a computer can bring. Really enjoyed learning about your Box project Kristen

 

I think I'm mad ... :patpat:

 

Just read this review on B n Q MPC I feel like I am going round in ever decreasing circles looking for a decent MPC !

Date:26/03/2012
Reviewer: objectiveshopper

Overall Rating:

Poor
"Not sure what the other reviewers were looking at, but this compost was AWFUL. Contained stones, bits of plastic, sharp wood like split canes and large pieces of uncomposted carboard/hardboard. I have bought this B&Q own brand for the last two years and it was a good value compost, which probably makes my disappointment even greater.
Avoid if using for anything other than filling the bottom of large tubs. Unfortunately for time reasons I had to use it, otherwise it would have gone straight back."
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It is beginning to seem as old stock batches are used up and the later batches come into stock they are all going down hill this year.
Will report back on my batch from
http://www.sturmanscornandseed.co.u...-compost/P120-multi-purpose-compost-60-litres
Its not cheap but has always been top shelf quality even their growbags are A1

 

When I bought mine at the garden centre there was a bag of J Arthur Bowers cut open (in the middle, deliberately, not a split bag) so I could see and feel the contents. Seemed exactly the same as last years. Maybe they are doing that because of the amount of chatter and disappointment on other brands this year?

 

my local garden centre have open bags of all the compost and manures .... this should be mandatory in all garden centres IMHO, then you can see what you are buying (especially if buying in bulk)

went to B&Q and Homebase this morning (to buy Provado vine weevil killer and some scotts lawn feed)....

there were no open bags of compost

 

I agree with you Dim on the fact that local GC's have got their brands of MPC open for customers to make their decision about which to purchase. Trouble is that when they go to the big names, they will not always have this on display due to loses they will incur and the big boys lose out financially. Such a shame that the world has come to this.

 

Anyone come across a Multi-purpose Compost called "SureGrow".
My local Farmshop has them on sale at £7.50 for 3x60kg bags.

 

Sometimes when walking past the piles of MPC , I have been known to stumble. Putting my hand out to save myself could put a small tear in one of the bags
Well sod them , if you are paying good money for their product you should be able to see it . You don't want to be returning 200 litres of compost ! Also Scrungee will probably get the ripped bag for £0.50 :WINK1:

 

For my seeds this year I tried Westland's Surestart Seed & Cutting Compost and I'm on my 3rd bag; its brilliant stuff, nice and fine, very soft, only bits and bobs in seem to be small pieces of vermiculite/perlite etc.

I'm achieving excellent germination rates with all my seeds with this compost.

I got mine from Wilkos; just under £3 (£2.68 I think?) for a 20l bag ~ 10/10 for me


Back to Multi-Purpose, I'll be needing some more soon, so if Wickes now have their 2012 batch on sale, I won't be getting that, has anyone used Aldi's MPC??, our local store is selling it like the proverbial "hot cakes", everytime they put a new pallet out its all gone within a couple of days.

 

I have bought a bag of Westland Surestart seed compost from Asda . It does look brilliant ! I am trying some more Petunia Wave seeds in it now , after having some poor germination with the B n Q Verve seed compost .

 

"just under £3 (£2.68 I think?) for a 20l bag"

Seems expensive? (although smaller bags will be, no doubt ...)

My local garden centre £14 offer for 4-for-3 on 56L bags of JAB works out at £1.25 per 20L

 

Kristen the Westland Surestart is a seed starting compost . I bought the Westland normal MPC on a 3 for 2 offer that was full of wood chips a la Wickes !

 

Sorry! Didn't realise that. I use Westland John Innes Seed Sowing Compost for my seeds, it comes in 10L bags (well, the one I have has 33% extra "free"), and a single bag lasts me the whole seed-sowing-season.

 

I've just brought 3 bags of 60l durstons multi purpose compost for £10
Used it for the last couple of years with no problems at all.
There are the odd couple of twigs and bits but nothing to complain about