Compost bargain

Discussion in 'Compost, Fertilisers & Recycling' started by RachelN76, Apr 18, 2011.

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  1. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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    I've bought Wickes compost on the recommendation of folk above and am impressed by it.

    Up till now I've been buying the B&Q Multi-purpose, 125 litre for £6.98 which is about 5.5 p/litre. It has been good quality, but the Wickes stuff looks just as good and is much cheaper and a bit easier to handle being smaller bags.
     
    JWK, May 10, 2011
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  2. shiney

    shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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    Just finishing up 3,000 litres of Wickes! :phew:

    Off to buy another 4 bags. :rolleyespink:
     
    shiney, May 11, 2011
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  3. Grumpy

    Grumpy Gardener

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    How much!

    That must have been some wheelbarrer you carried that home in.

    :rolleyespink:
     
    Grumpy, May 11, 2011
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  4. pamsdish

    pamsdish Total Gardener

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    Its all them beans he grows :DOH:

    On a slightly different note .:what:
    I bought some compost from Focus and some of my seeds have done well others no shows but I sowed some seeds I saved of Nasturtium ,pretty hardy seeds, :WINK1:

    What I have got sprouting are purple leaved wonders ,I will take a pic when I get some batteries for camera (left charger in Cyprus, I needed another anyway ):phew:
    Sorry for the thought but it looks for all the world like Japanese Knotweed , I just wondered if that was in compost would it break down in the pile :what:
     
    pamsdish, May 11, 2011
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  5. shiney

    shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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    Hi Grumpy,
    It's all the propagating of plants and making of hanging baskets, tubs etc for our charity plant sale on our open days.
     
    shiney, May 11, 2011
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  6. Fresh Air

    Fresh Air Apprentice Gardener

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    I bought 15 bags of John Innes 55 litres a bag, for a price of 3 for £10 delivered to my greenhouse in the back garden from my local shop.
    I am well pleased with the quality and the service, delivered 15 minutes after paying..
    FA
     
    Fresh Air, May 13, 2011
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  7. Scrungee

    Scrungee Well known for it

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    I also once bought unbranded (you haven't mentioned a brand) 'John Innes' from a local shop many years ago and it was absolute rubbish - basically just heavy soil.

    Unfortunately 'John Innes' is not a standardised 'Brand'/ quality, just a recipe, and can vary greatly in quality, depending on who produces/mixes it.
     
    Scrungee, May 13, 2011
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  8. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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    Thats a real bargain FA, I was looking at John Innes #3 in B&Q and it was 18p per litre (about three times as much as you've paid)
     
    JWK, May 13, 2011
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  9. gcc3663

    gcc3663 Knackered Grandad trying to keep up with a 4yr old

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    Just bought 4x75ltr. bags from Focus on recommendations from below.
    Cost £13.
    The compost looks good. Nice and crumbly. Supposed to be full of nutrients. Hopefully the results will show that.

    Now a bit concerned about "Purple stuff", mentioned by Pamsdish. Lets hope it's her Nastys. Fingers crossed.
     
    gcc3663, May 14, 2011
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  10. pamsdish

    pamsdish Total Gardener

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    I have 2 unidentified plants growing in the compost , :what: I wonder if 1 is seed blown across from tray to tray ,cannot give an explanation for that .:DOH:

    The 2nd I know not what ,will post photos Monday when I get a charger :thumbsup:
     
    pamsdish, May 14, 2011
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  11. Makka-Bakka

    Makka-Bakka Gardener

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    Thought Focus had gone bust, are they still trading?
     
    Makka-Bakka, May 14, 2011
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  12. Bilbo675

    Bilbo675 Total Gardener

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    Our local Focus store is still open......????
     
    Bilbo675, May 14, 2011
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  13. shiney

    shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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    Focus went into administration last week. At present they are keeping stores open but not taking any mail order customers. It's OK to buy in store but don't order anything from them.

    I've just come back from Wickes with another 300 litres of compost. I think we are now heading towards 4,000 litres. The store manager just said to me that I'm their best customer for compost. So I asked for a discount :heehee:. Didn't get it.
     
    shiney, May 14, 2011
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  14. gcc3663

    gcc3663 Knackered Grandad trying to keep up with a 4yr old

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    They went into administration but are still trading, certainly up here and I believe generally.

    ps. Sorry shiney. You were submitting whilst I was still typing.
     
    gcc3663, May 14, 2011
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  15. Lad

    Lad Gardener

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    Since joining my allotment association I have not bought seed compost from any DIY stores. But before I used to buy split bags at my local Rainbow Coop store, but they did not sell them with much off the price.

    By the way my potting compost from heaps must have held 1000 litres, its amazing where it all goes!
     
    Lad, May 14, 2011
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