You can't beat peat

I know the subject of peat in compost is a much discussed, controversial, and sometimes heated subject but here's an extract from an article in the Amateur Gardening Magazine regarding a new trial on peat based compost and peat free composts:

"Consumer Watchdog "Which?" trialled 20 leading brands of compost for raising plants, [13 peat based composts and 7 peat free composts]. Researchers confirmed that compost with a high peat content was best for raising seeds and young plants.

They awarded "Best Buys" to Westlands Surestart Seed and Cuttings Compost and J Arthur Bowers Multi-Purpose Compost, which have peat contents of 80 and 75 per cent respectively. Westslands Multi-Purpose Compost with added John Innes [60 per cent peat] scored highly too.

But two leading peat free composts were slapped with "Don't Buy" awards - New Horizon's Organic and Peat Free Seed and Cuttings Compost, and Pro-Grow General Purpose Peat Free Compost.

The Magazine said that plants raised in New Horizon's Organic and Peat Free Seed and Cuttings Compost were "pathetically small, while "seedlings and young plants were of an unhealthy colour."

They said of Pro-Grows's General Purpose Peat Free Compost "The quality of our plants varied from reasonable to dreadful depending on the bag of compost we used. The worst seedlings barely grew at all." Which Gardening Editor, Ceri Thomas, said "To date, peat free and low peat composts available to amateur gardeners haven't been as good as the best peat based ones for germinating seeds"

As I said, I know this is a much discussed subject, and one that is close to gardeners hearts as it is vital that we get the best sowing and growing composts available but I thought you all might like to be brought up to date.:D

 

Well, here's Which? Gardening's Trial Result scores, Ziggy, just to clarify things a bit. This is also an extract from Amateur Gardening Magazine:

PEAT VERSUS PEAT-FREE COMPOSTS - TRIAL RESULTS:

How peat based composts fared:

J Arthur Bowers Multi-purpose compost with added John Innes [75% Peat] Score = 88%

Westland Surestart Seed and Cuttings Compost [80% peat] Score = 88%

B&Q Sowing and Cutting Compost [75% peat] Score = 75%

Westlands Multi-purpose compost with added John Innes [60% peat] Score = 75%

How peat free composts fared:

New Horizon Organic and Peat Free Vegetable Compost. Score = 63%

New Horizon Organic and Peat Free Multi-purpose Compost. Score = 50%

New Horizon Organic and Peat Free Seed and Cuttings Compost. Score = 13%

Pro-Grow General Purpose Peat Free Compost. Score = 13% "

Well, that's how Which? Gardening rated them. I must admit that the only one of the above I use is B&Q General Purpose Compost, as I can get it in bales of 125 litres:D

 

Sorry Pete, I missed you post while doing my last one. No, I've read the article again but there is no mention of feeding in it. I presume that that's because most peat based composts have some level of food in there anyway. although I don't know about Peat Free compost I presune they're the same.

 

According to the RHS, who now condemn the use of peat, it adds structure, has unequalled water retention, and adds acidity to the compost.:D Personally, I would abandon the use of peat if I could, but there is no proper alternative to it so I'll keep on using it.:D

 

Including, as you say, weeds:D Good for you, though, for making your own compost.

 

A friend of mine makes his own compost from a collection of Plastic bins and then, for sowing, he puts it in a Microwave to sterilise it and kill the weed seeds.........seems to work.:D