The point I am trying to make is that, in the last year or two many peat free composts seem to have become much coarser and more fibrous. Bigger air spaces means less water retention.
For once Belgium gets it right for me. I found a very good peat free compost 70L for £6 equivalent. Actually cheaper than the peat ones. It has compost and coir, all biological. Hopefully something like this will be available in the UK soon and at a reasonable price
We've used Sylvagrow for our seedlings that can be direct sown (because of rabbits, mice, pigeons etc) and it had worked brilliantly. We are very slack about watering too and it seems to be quite effective at holding moisture.
I used New Horizon last year and it was rubbish! Lost lots of plants, including all my tomatoes, don't know if the bags I had were contaminated but even when there was growth it was distorted and slow. I had to pot things out of it and into Jack's Magic in the hope of salvaging something. This year I've tried several types of Melcourt Sylvagrow - with added JI, the growbags, and just now the basket and container one. Plants all seem to be growing well, though I'm still getting to grips with the watering...pots seem to either be dry as a bone or wringing wet at the bottom. My local-ish garden centre sells at 2 bags for £15.
I was wondering, as we all seem to be complaining about the quality of compost this year, is it because the big companies usually import so much that when they have had to make more this year they haven't the capacity to do it, meaning we are being sold half composted material. If this is the case then companies are going to have to up their game to keep up with the demand for peat free, as if we all turn to it they will never cope. P.S. £15 for two bags is a bit dear, for me to change it would have to come down to the three 50ltr for £12 region.
Being a GOW does anyone thing that just maybe they are trying to discourage the amateur gardener so that you’ll have to go to garden centres or online to buy your plants. I remember some years ago they tried to discourage people growing their own potatoes as blight was spreading into the farmers crops, don’t hear anything about that these day though. (Cynical hat off now) .
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
Besides the peat topic, this thread shows just how people can be controlled by the media. Put it out on the news or tv programmes and everybody follows it. Works with anything, not just gardening. Same with plastics, what’s changed, still black flower pots about. Perhaps I should stick with the curmudgeonly thread today.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
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So what are you using?
P.S. £15 for two bags is a bit dear, for me to change it would have to come down to the three 50ltr for £12 region.
I remember some years ago they tried to discourage people growing their own potatoes as blight was spreading into the farmers crops, don’t hear anything about that these day though.
(Cynical hat off now) .
There my cynical hat off too.🙂
Put it out on the news or tv programmes and everybody follows it. Works with anything, not just gardening.
Same with plastics, what’s changed, still black flower pots about.
Perhaps I should stick with the curmudgeonly thread today.