COMPOST REVIEW 2013

A good idea, Harry, and I have retitled the Thread as you suggested.

 

Right, I am going to be the thicko in the corner - what is the benefit of peat-free versus peat-added (or vice-versa)?

 

None as far as my experience shows. The greens want to save peat bogs and the Irish use it in far greater degrees for their Power Stations than us gardeners.

 

Most people will buy something that they expect to be of reasonable quality, Pete. I don't buy diesel for my car and expect to have to buy an additive to make it go.!! So when I buy compost I expect to be able to use it for the purpose I bought it for. If I'm using it for a plant with special needs which might need the adding of grit or sand fair enough but not when I'm buy a general purpose compost for general purpose!!

 

Yes, it should be okay, Simon. The nutrients in it will still be viable and since you've had it sealed it won't have come to any harm.

 

You're most welcome

 

Nowadays, I'm not sure that price necessarily shows quality. For quite some years I was using Wickes GP and it was cheap and did the job extremely well. This made a considerable saving when buying 6,000L a year.

Last year's Wickes 'new formula' was awful (we did try working with it but then had to repot some plants) so we rejected it. I started shopping around, as did a lot of GC members, but most of the different makes had a similar woody type additive that made them unsuitable.

So, last year, when I was passing an Aldi (don't go near there often) I saw they had some compost for sale at a reasonable price so I thought I buy a bag. It worked pretty well but when I went back they said that they had sold out and didn't think they were getting any more . I had already dumped the bag so don't know who made it!

The store manager couldn't help because he said they get all differnet types as it simply depends on where the company can get it cheaply.

So, I'm waiting with bated breathe on the result of what everyone is trying.

 

Have created a poll for composts but can't edit it like I thought I'd be able - moderator help needed please!

 

I like John Innes which I know is loam based but i add extra grit sand & or well rotted bark or my own compost depends what i am doing really..
If I am needing a mutli for short lived pots then I used J Arthet bowers multi for the last couple of years which is using a "light Peat" & have been very pleased but this year I am thinking of trying this from the internet.. http://www.hayloft-plants.co.uk/Gar...tml?cid=SPAC&gclid=CM628cC-qbUCFYXLtAodoE8A3w Just really intrigued by it's discription but still thinking about it as it is expensive...