Best supplier of Compost 2015/2016

I still have a small amount of Gnat Off (lasted 3 years) - but I also have some of the Provado (assuming it is used as per dilution directions) - and I will try the vapona one too - haven't got too many at the moment - but it is only early Feb - as I have everything in cell trays would be too much of a faff to water from the bottom - pump spray lets me get the hose end into each cell.

@ HarryS - don't think my cats would like your alternative - not many spiders survive here - but I think my cats might come off worse - but a nice idea

S.

 

I only used on established plants " NO SEEDLINGS" I woudnt want you to maybe ? kill all your seedlings , with a strong pesticide

 

Point Taken - Thanks Spruce

S.

 

I always associate fungus gnats with established house plants, never had any with seedings.

Its definitely a problem when growing plants out of season, they rarely cause a problem when things are moving fast in spring and summer.

 

Has anyone tried Jacks Magic compost , made by Westland?
It's mostly peat with added seaweed and seems a bit sandy , mine was very wet though.
I am optimistic and have opened the bags to dry a bit and added some vermiculite......the texture seems great and already have seedlings germinated.

 

Sorry to disagree Pete but the fungus gnats came from B&Q's Verve mpc two years ago, I hadn't realised that whoever screens the soil/compost for them had stopped screening it which is why they were present. I'd had no evidence of them before then. One particular plant of mine didn't get watered for weeks on end but they were still appearing. I'd tried various ideas to get rid of them and nothing worked, which is why in desperation I took the above measure in post #22. Watering from the bottom made no difference either.

Sorry Sumbody, I've not used Vapona, I didn't see the point as it only kills the gnats whilst the larvae continue to hatch in the soil.

 

Roders.....I haven't seen 'Jacks Magic' but I may possibly be using it this year, please read this previous post of mine below.

 

I'm sorry to disagree also Sheal, but you dont buy them in, you create the ideal conditions for them to thrive.
The Larvae live in the top few inches of the compost living and feeding on the rotting down layer of compost, if it dries out, they die, or cannot continue in the conditions.
If you add some JI to the compost it might help, they like peat based stuff.

 

Pete, they also live amongst the roots, not just at the surface, that's proven! If the soil dries out it makes no difference, I know that from my own experience.

Yes, I did 'buy them in' with the compost and I've talked to other people locally that have had the same problem with Verve and have made complaints. Since I've repotted with an mpc produced by another firm I've had no problems. I've also had house plants for 40 years and never had fungal gnats indoors before!

 

@Bilbo675 Is this the stuff? The farm shop I use has 60L bags @ 4 for £12, so 5p/Litre (same cost/Litre as 125 bags of Verve from B&Q). How does that compare with the cost of your 3 x 75 Litre bags?

 

That's the stuff @Scrungee , I paid £13.50 for 3 75lt bags (£4.50 each), so I paid £13.50 for 225 litres and you could get 240 litres for £12, so your farm shop is definitely cheaper

Still I don't mind the extra cost so much if the results are as good as it looks

 

I'm a Clover user from last year , cracking stuff
Scrungee your bags are 60litre , the ones I was buying were 75 litre . Cant recall the price , I,ll need some more next week , so will report back.
We do seem to have several MCP post going again..............
http://gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/threads/clover-compost.59839/

 

Because of the above problems with Verve mpc I decided to start my seeds off in Westlands Gro-Sure this year. It's a good, light (weight wise) clean compost and it just remains to be seen how well seeds and seedlings grow. I'll revert to Verve when potting on.

Gro-Sure