Best Supplier Of Compost 2022

Discussion in 'Compost, Fertilisers & Recycling' started by JWK, Jan 1, 2022.

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  1. pete

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

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    Bought a couple of bags of this today, it seems ok.
    Bags are a bit bigger than most from garden centres.:smile: DSC02536.JPG
     
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    • JWK

      JWK Gardener Staff Member

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      Nearly 4 weeks on from my simple experiment and I cannot make out any differences between peat free and peat based when potting on tomatoes, chillies and onions. There is a slight difference with these Stock seedlings:

      20220423_121351.jpg

      The right half are in peat free and are slightly smaller. It's probably a tiny difference in the nutrients added rather than the lack of peat. So I am continuing with peat free for the rest of this season.
       
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      • JWK

        JWK Gardener Staff Member

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        Here are the two types of compost used , both made by Westlands

        20220423_121344.jpg
         
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        • Sheal

          Sheal Total Gardener

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          I've bought a couple of bags of this to try. £8.99 at B&M. It's a good, pretty clean mix with just the occasional woody bits in it.

          IMG_6929.JPG
           
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          • Hanglow

            Hanglow Super Gardener

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            I got two of those too. Although mine were 120l bags. Maybe old ones then?

            It has a good texture, quite fine and very little in the way of stones or twiggy bits you get with other cheap composts. I assume its solid digestate from bioreactors as its so uniform and had a very mild smell.
             
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            • Sheal

              Sheal Total Gardener

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              The compost was displayed with a 120 litre label but there were only the 100's available.
               
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              • JWK

                JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                I've bought some more of the Westland peat free and it's completely different stuff inside! It is the same packaging. It actually looks a lot better, none of the coarse grit and it's much darker and smells woody. It is not as compressed so it can be used without having to crumble/break up the lumps by hand. However it doesn't go as far, I only filled 4 big pots compared to filling 5 with the older batch.

                Side by side by side comparison: Old batch on left:
                20220509_144850.jpg

                New batch:
                20220509_144923.jpg


                Old:
                20220509_144936.jpg
                 
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                • pete

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

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                  They seem to be struggling to find sufficient quantities of material from one place and are having to use whatever they can in order to make compost.
                  I think this thread is just pointing out that whatever the make or labeling you won't know what it's like until you open the bag.
                   
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                  • Sheal

                    Sheal Total Gardener

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                    Exactly! I always find an open bag before I buy. ;) :biggrin:
                     
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                    • JWK

                      JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                      So now I know who is responsible for all those split bags.
                       
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                      • Sheal

                        Sheal Total Gardener

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                        It's a long commute from here @JWK - John, but I thought I'd be doing you and others a favour. :biggrin:
                         
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                        • Hanglow

                          Hanglow Super Gardener

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                          Bought some of this from homebase. 3 for £10. 50 litres is not true though, more like 35l bags. Smells like manure, it's very black and I think a mix of manure and green waste. Was quite dry which made lifting it easy at least. IMG_20220515_095702768.jpg IMG_20220515_095656403_HDR.jpg
                           
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                          • Sheal

                            Sheal Total Gardener

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                            Potted on some seedlings in the 'new to me' compost today. I'm happy with it at the moment but will wait and see how well they grow.

                            IMG_6929.JPG

                            IMG_6952.JPG
                             
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                            • sandymac

                              sandymac Super Gardener

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                              Looks good, will be interesting to see your results
                               
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                                Last edited: May 17, 2022
                              • pete

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

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                                Just a update on this 100% peat compost.
                                Although it feels fine and soft I've noticed plants growing in it are going yellow, don't think it contains much fertiliser.
                                 
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