peatfree compost

Stem rot suggests damping off fungi to me.
Perhaps it was too wet, not enough airflow etc.

I'd add some sharp sand to it and see if it makes any difference, I rarely use any compost straight from the bag, even peat based ones which seem to be like peat dust these days.

 

I've been buying Verve 50L bags for £6, probably it could be better stuff but so far I've had no issues and the price is good for me. It holds water well, probably too well, so sometimes I add some sand and/or vermiculite, also mix it with worm castings if I have any, depending on how I feel. B&Q deliver for £6 which suits me fine.

 

I've used the Verve stuff in the past too @Jenny_Aster, and it was fine. Perhaps the plants I grow are less fussy anyway, but I've generally found it to be not bad at all.

 

Oh no, so sad when they succumb @Loofah I'd recommend a Lord Bute if you are out to buy some. The most gorgeous deep maroon flower. I've lost a few but some are resprouting from the roots which is a relief.

 

That was the one I bought some years ago @amancalledgeorge.
I'd always fancied it, even though I rarely grow them.
They did well, then it dropped to minus 7 one night in early November, and I'd forgotten about them being outside...

 

Noooooo....bugeeeeer @fairygirl

 

C'est la vie @amancalled george
I remember it had been quite chilly the previous night or two, but they were against the house walls and had been ok.

Hope you get some @Loofah. Lovely plants. Don't know what the best growing medium would be for them nowadays. Some seem to be tricky for that kind of plant.
I got mine from a nursery called cramden, who specialise.

 

Fibrex Nursery sell a huge selection of Pelargoniums including Lord Bute.

 

The Levington "Organic peat free Farmyard Manure" I got the other day was absolutely soaking. Can't say how it will perform as it's just lying on the beds at present, but it has at least dried out a great deal. I never use bought compost as is and it always gets additions according to what it is being used for. e.g. the couple of courgettes plants we have would get the compost with added horse manure, perlite and a little JI. No logic to it, just something I've either been told or learnt works. Been using peat free as long as it's been out there and never noticed a problem with it, but would not be surprised if it lacks. Interesting grit being cheaper than perlite, must investigate...
Wickes delivered in 2 days and for free. Be careful however as I have noticed if you go over a certain amount with them they actually charge for bulk delivery!

 

It might be better to mix some grit through the compost you have @glenj so that there's good drainage, and then just check carefully, and frequently, as to how damp or dry the mix is, especially as you were saying it was clammy. At least with small pots, you can judge by the weight as to how dry/wet it is, but if the mix is generally a bit heavy, the grit or Perlite will help.
I meant to say earlier - John Innes is a formula, so anything with that on the bags, just means it has soil/loam added. They usually say what they're designed for, and maybe the one you have, slthough stating it's suitable for seedlings, is still a bit too much - it'll always depend on what plants you're growing. Some will cope with a heavier medium, and some just won't, and will succumb very readily to conditions that don't suit them

 

many thanks for the suggestion

 

many thanks for the suggestion,i will try that .

 

Thank you very much for all the replies,i will add sharp sand or grit or perlite to the remaining peat free and only pot a few seedlings at a time.