I still use peat based compost but last 2 years I’ve also been trying wool compost on the advice of a person (HW-Hyde) I met at a show and it’s been great. Last year I did not re pot my lillies, strawberries, bush raspberries etc and they all did really well. And this year the toms were grand compared to a peat based compost (Humax grow bag) Downside is that they are not cheap. However they also do a 2x compost that you can mix with used compost and works well making it a bit more economical- just commented on another post btw.
if anyone produces an alternative which is A: as good, and B; similar cost, I might swap but the cynic in me thinks that suppliers are cashing on environmental concerns and charging more for a peat free product which is inferior to the peat based products.
That's my view on electric cars too. Ridiculously expensive by comparison to their petrol/diesel counterparts and have battery technology which means the battery packs have to be replaced every few years. Who would buy a 'normal' car if the engine had to be replaced every 3 or 4 years?
if anyone produces an alternative which is A: as good, and B; similar cost, I might swap but the cynic in me thinks that suppliers are cashing on environmental concerns and charging more for a peat free product which is inferior to the peat based products.
That's my view on electric cars too. Ridiculously expensive by comparison to their petrol/diesel counterparts and have battery technology which means the battery packs have to be replaced every few years. Who would buy a 'normal' car if the engine had to be replaced every 3 or 4 years?
Well that's the thing about progress...someone has to pioneer it. They may not be perfect but it's heartening how electric cars are becoming mainstream despite the decades of fossil fuel company lobbying to governments. The same with peat, I have always used peat free compost and don't think I'm missing anything. But each to their own.
I don't use peat generally, but my soil is pH8 and I have a long-felt yearning for R.ponticum "Luteum". I'm growing them in a small border which I've doctored with "Moorland Gold" from the Organic Gardening Catalogue. It consists of fine peat particles which naturally wash down into the streams that drain upland peat bogs, and is recovered from the filtering systems in reservoirs.
The government has issued a response to this petition now. It sounds like steps are being taken to fund research into alternatives which is good. Apparently though if this doesn't reach 100000 signatures by the time the election is called then it gets scrapped anyway and has to start again.
"Some things I can control, some I can’t. I can control what I use in my garden".
Amen
and
....what I use in my
kitchen
wardrobe
travel etc
"It's not my problem and not responsibility" gets to be a very boring and unconstructive line. You'lll notice how it always someone else's fault, job, buck.
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compost on the advice of a person (HW-Hyde) I met at a show and it’s been great. Last year I did not re pot my lillies, strawberries, bush raspberries etc and they all did really well. And this year the toms were grand compared to a peat based compost (Humax grow bag) Downside is that they are not cheap. However they also do a 2x compost that you can mix with used compost and works well making it a bit more economical- just commented on another post btw.
People aren't willing to stop using peat compost because gardeners only account for around 4% of its total use.
Gardeners also account for only around 1% of weedkiller use...
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/27/ireland-closes-peat-bogs-climate-change
called ... what’s the betting the government’s response is just electioneering ....
Cynical? Moi? 😇
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.