It does indeed, but I repeat this years formulations, are MUCH more fibrous and coarse . Even the Dalefoot compost based on wool and bracken, which was a beautiful fine texture before, has big clumps of fibre, and stems in it this year. I am concerned about the ability of these compost to retain water.
I think they have used coir rather than composted bark or green waste in the new JI mix. I don't like it much. Weird silky texture, I swear it foamed when I watered it the first time. I would rather mix soil and cheap composted bark based MPC and maybe a bit of sharp sand.
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour".
I had a B&Q own-brand peat free in 2019 which was very good and not expensive, but the exact same bags in 2020 were much poorer so I can't recommend it. Similar experiences with other brands, New Horizon etc. For me the problem isn't that peat-free composts are necessarily bad, or even that there are differences between brands and between product lines, it's the inconsistency between bags of apparently the same stuff that I find challenging to deal with. Every new bag/batch is a whole new learning curve for watering and feeding. I keep trying but It feels like an ongoing experiment so I couldn't really recommend any of the ones I've tried, even though some bags have been fine (and price doesn't seem to have much to do with it).
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
It must be your water company @philippasmith2 - we're on a meter and there's only 2 of us, can't say we've noticed much difference in our water bills. Wessex Water are generally regarded as good I believe.
Wessex Water here too - I've been on a water meter since moving back to the UK in 2012 so don't have a comparison. I only know our NDN looked into having a water meter installed and decided against it as their charges would increase.
Thanks for info Jenny. The bag I've got at the moment (Manor Farm) says it’s greatly reduced in peat content, but OMG. What a load of other rubbish it contains including green waste, that’s probably come from what people put in their waste bags for the council, coir, which I don’t like for ethical reasons, and other stuff which I don’t regard as much good. Neither do my plants.
We’re on a meter, I had a hard job to persuade my dad to change but his bill reduced by half. Now were here on our own our bill is now no more that £28.00 a quarter and this time was 18.00. cant complain about that.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
Can people list the best peat free compost they’ve used please? Actual specific brands and if possible, the price.
Melcourt Sylvagrow Multipurpose £7.99 (50litre bag) and same brand 'Farmyard' as a soil conditioner £6 (also 50litre) both from the local garden centre (it seems to cost a lot more online at the moment). I've bought their grow bags as well but can't remember the price.
Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
For most seed, that cannot be direct sown, I use a multi-purpose made from purely brown/green composted waste and that works fine, wets easy enough and retains moisture. It’s too coarse for tiny seeds like toms and peppers though and for that I buy a small bag a year of finer compost, it doesn’t say it contains peat, but it probably does.
I think a lot of compost and plastic is consumed unnecessarily by growing on things in modules - just sow direct a little later, according to the weather and protect from mice and birds until they are large enough to cope for themselves. I goggle at people who sow beans in modules, even onion sets which are specifically designed for direct planting! If seeds are too small or require heat to get going, seed trays are far more efficient on compost and last a lot longer than modules. Like @Allotment Boy’s father, I also have a traditional seed bed where hardy, but tiny seeds like leeks can be sown directly.
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
I goggle at people who sow beans in modules, even onion sets which are specifically designed for direct planting!
I do. Direct sown peas and beans are eaten within about 30 minutes and onion sets are pulled out by the pigeons almost as quickly. Nothing to do with the soil, just the rodents, flying and otherwise.
Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
Posts
Actual specific brands and if possible, the price.
I only know our NDN looked into having a water meter installed and decided against it as their charges would increase.
We’re on a meter, I had a hard job to persuade my dad to change but his bill reduced by half.
Now were here on our own our bill is now no more that £28.00 a quarter and this time was 18.00.
cant complain about that.
I've bought their grow bags as well but can't remember the price.
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
I think a lot of compost and plastic is consumed unnecessarily by growing on things in modules - just sow direct a little later, according to the weather and protect from mice and birds until they are large enough to cope for themselves. I goggle at people who sow beans in modules, even onion sets which are specifically designed for direct planting! If seeds are too small or require heat to get going, seed trays are far more efficient on compost and last a lot longer than modules. Like @Allotment Boy’s father, I also have a traditional seed bed where hardy, but tiny seeds like leeks can be sown directly.
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”