Best Multi Purpose compost 2015...Your thoughts please.

Just popped in to our Wickes today and had a look as there was an open bag, still very woody and fiborous at our store, not suitable for seeds as it suggests on the bag!!

 

I've bought Arthur Bowes John Innes No3 this week and have used it today; very pleased with it. I don't use much mpc, I've been very disappointed with what I have bought though regardless of make or price, even returned some last year.

 

Westland West Plus Multipurpose Compost 4 Month Feed - 60L - £2 at Homebase (reduced from £5).

Has anyone tried this? Is it this cheap because it's rubbish?

 

I was also disappointed by Asda's multi purpose compost but I've always been happy with J. Arthur Bower's John Innes No 3.

 

I bought Westland last year but can't remember whether it was this type. I was disappointed, it was very lumpy and woody. However, it does depend what you want it for and I used it to topdress a flower bed (I'd intended to use it to pot on). I did notice when I thinned out that bed in the autumn that the soil texture was good but of course can't say that the compost was the reason.

 

I last picked up some Arthur Bowers mpc a couple of years ago and it was terrible, VERY woody, stones and even bits of plastic in it and it didn't smell too rosey either

 

Before I found the OakTree compost I mentioned above I found Clover mpc a top quality product too but the OakTree is in bigger bags, cheaper and for me slightly better still

 

Thanks @westwales. It says it's a mix of peat and wood fibre but I don't know what % of each or what else is in it. If they've any in stock tomorrow I might accidentally burst an edge and see what it looks like.

 

I looked for small size bags last year with no luck until I asked. I was told that they were stocked inside the shop to protect them but the same compost stored outside in larger bags was allowed to get wet. As both sizes seemed to be in the same quality bags I didn't see their logic but I do now look for sacks which have been carefully stored, under cover if possible.

 

Maybe they would be willing to open one? I was cheeky enough to ask a garden centre to do that for me once & they were quite happy to do it.

 

I'm using Arthur bowers seed and cutting compost at the moment and its pretty good. I've used b&q peat compost the past year (the 125L bags) and found it good enough for my needs.

 

Lots of these smaller MPC companies can be difficult to locate in some areas . I have never seen Oaktree . I do use Clover - super stuff The nursery 3 minutes from my works sell it . I can drive right up to the MPC pallets , he loads them into the back of my car and off I go !
The back up if I can't get Clover is B and Qs Verve which I find is very good.
The Clover nursery is Woolston Nursery , Warrington area just off junction 21 M6, if you are around this area.

 

I've been using it and I really like it