Best Supplier Of Compost 2022

I maybe shouted down here, but I've never had any problem using my own shifted 50% compost & 50% Coir for seeds growing........Fingers crossed for next season of course.

 

The price of a bag of seed compost would definitely stop people using it as a mulch or soil improver should it contain peat.
I dont even ever remember buying seed compost, so I'd probably still use multipurpose for my seed growing but I think if peat hasn't got a total ban it should still be available but maybe at a price.

 

Do you get many weeds John?

 

I'm very careful what I put into the bin, never pulled up weeds etc...perhaps I'm just lucky.

 

Strange compost bin John, mine always contains weeds.

 

I'm not saying I don't get any weeds, I do but not that many. I stopped a few years ago putting garden soil in my bins.

 

I dont put soil in mine but my compost always ends up full of annual weed seeds, the old theory that the heat kills them doesn't work for me, it never gets that hot.

 

My bin never gets over 15c. I put the usual stuff plus loads of cooking apples that had fallen.

 

In that case, they should be allowed to carry on using peat, they must apply for an exemption though. Without they will not be allowed, which will result in a fine to them and who ever supplied them.

I will be allowed to supply a grower on confirmation they have an exemption. I will also be allowed to supply a trade horticultural supplier, however the onus will then be on the trade supplier to make sure the grower is permitted to use peat, as the contract is between them and the grower.

The issue really is, can we make enough quality compost to replace peat for both the retail and commercial sector? If we are still going down the route of M/C, then I can't see that happening, especially for the retail sector.

I have already knocked up a peat free mix for trials, I have made peat free in the past, but the main ingredient has always been coir. The current mix is 50% compost bark, which I have put through a 10mm screen, 40% coir and 10% loam. I have already had some aubretia and geranium plugs potted up in to 9cm pots in this mix and will compare them with some set off in our current reduced peat based compost.

I have also contacted a number of allotment societies to take a few bags FOC for feedback. I then will also be sowing some seeds next year alongside the ones I set off in coir to compare with.

 

You probably don't have enough material in the compost bins to generate enough heat.

I turned the front pile of our organic soil conditioner, as you can see by the image below I could hardly see inside the polytunnel due to the steam.



The problem when this is done outside commercially is it is exposed to the weather. Heavy rain fall cools the heaps preventing them from generating enough heat. I put mine under cover in a polytunnel, I don't have to dampen the mix as the steam causes the heap to sweat. This is just bark and spent mushroom compost of which is just bagged and sold as a soil conditioner, I would normally mix in horse manure also but I want to experiment with some next year. Sometime late Jan early Feb I am going to put some through an 8mm screen and blend it with some coir so I can do some trials with seed sowing and general potting.

 

My compost heap is just a mish mash of rubbish from off the allotment, I think it lacks air mostly as I never turn it but just add to it removing after about three years.
I once worked at a place that had a council composing site on the same farm and it was steaming most of the time, likewise the council tip in the park of chippings soon heats up.

Its something I know I will never create so dont really bother too much.

 

I've heard peat free compost being talked about for more than 20 yrs now so what is the problem with the boffins.
Just not been worth bothering until they actually ban peat and then they might get off their backsides.

I've said this before, but what do other countries that cant get peat use.
Most plants imported from S. Europe seem to use clayey soil, but they manage to grow plants in it.

 

Peat, if it is financially viable, they will import it.

Belgium has a population of just over 11 million, yet they export and import more peat than the UK. As Holland is the largest exporter of flowers, Belgium is one of the largest exporters of Azaleas and Rhodendrums.