Best supplier of compost 2024

I'm not optimistic most MPs will know a lot about gardening. Living in two places (as many do) and spending w'ends attending events with local party officials and constituents probably does not lend itself to paying much attention to gardens or spending evenings in the greenhouse tending seedlings.

 

This debate is so polarised and every time it comes up the two sides seem to be further apart and more entrenched then the last time. The same old arguments about seed starting and whataboutery about other uses of peat and how gardening is small fry.

The issue for me is that once more we allowed the market to propose the solution (yay capitalism) and as usual they came up with an imperfect but cheap for them answer. On the one hand it is imperative to stop using peat but that also means the compost companies are prepared to make compost that takes longer to make as the organic matter takes longer to break done and not deliver a bag of twigs and shredded green waste.

Most people agree that Melcourt produce quality peat free products with very good consistency that unfortunately tend to be pretty pricey but don't know what more we can do, than just ignore the environmental impact of peat and just continue regardless.

I have resigned to the fact that if I buy the cheaper products I will have to add other materials to improve texture or drainage. It's not ideal but can't really fathom chasing peat composts as if they have some magical properties. Sooner or later we have to transition so the time may as well be now. Also worth notifying companies when the product they push out is imperfect. But of course they will always opt for the speediest possible processing.

 

I did a tour of highland park last year and they said they expect it to be banned, or limited, so they are actively trying to find alternative or more efficient ways of smoking the malt.

 

Personally I would just say carry on with peat in seed composts, but I'm prepared to go peat free with larger plants.
I think a cut back in peat use rather than a ban would be the way to go.

 

I've used peat-free ever since lockdown when it was the only stuff I could get....New Horizon, complete rubbish, nothing grew in it....and have tried a number of different peat-frees, Sylvagrow being the best of the bunch, but last year I had a lot of seedlings come up and then not grow at all, even in Sylvagrow, and even with amending (my tomatoes were a stunted disaster!), so I've gone back to peat compost (Betagrow) this year. Cheap and cheerful, and everything so far is growing strongly. Think I'll stick with it until the peat-free products are of a reliably good quality.

 

Just popping in to say that I bought a bag of Notcutt’s Peatfree last week for sowing toms, beans etc and found it very acceptable.

 

For your information: My local Poundland have Coir blocks @ £2.

 

There was a reading yesterday, " A Ten Minute bill" to ban the sale of peat based compost to the horticultural sector, with the bill being presented by, Theresa Villiers, the Tory MP for Chipping Barnet. The second reading is due on the 26th April it looks like it will not go unopposed.

Link below of the first reading if anyone is interested.

Debate: Horticultural Peat: Prohibition of Sale - 16th Apr 2024 (parallelparliament.co.uk)

 

I got some Aldi Enriched Multipurpose today. Pretty fine, couple of twiggy bits, lot better looking than the levington peat free I'd bought for a similar price. I'd start seeds in it. Just used it to repot the squash modules

 

I had a similar experience last year; most of my stuff germinated but then stayed tiny, often not even getting the first set of true leaves. This year I have continued using coir with much greater success. I think the difference is that I have learnt a lot - I'm not sowing too early, I'm making sure the seedlings get off the heat and into good light as soon as they emerge, and I'm doing better with my watering (judging by weight when they need water, and watering from the bottom).

 

I got this from our local nursery which is run as a Charitable trust.
I know £7 per bag is expensive but it's the best I have had in years.
I

 

Sorry for sending too many piccies
Jenny namaste

 

On Monday I bought two damaged 50l bags of the GoodHome peat-free compost from B&Q £3 each reduced from £5.40 or 3 for £15. Labelled to say that the weigh may be less than stated, but it doesn't feel like it. Advantage that I could see the contents. It looks as if it might be OK.

 

From my trial of that product, I concluded it lacked nutrient. Nothing died but neither did they grow !