I’ve always used peat free so have nothing to compare it with (three decades plus). Quality does vary but I’ve usually had no problems with Horizon and Jacks Magic.
I've not seen a peat free version of Jacks Magic. Where do you buy it?
Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
I’ve always used peat free so have nothing to compare it with (three decades plus). Quality does vary but I’ve usually had no problems with Horizon and Jacks Magic.
I've not seen a peat free version of Jacks Magic. Where do you buy it?
I was thinking the same, maybe reduced peat but not peat free, there's a world of difference. The old gardeners used soil, sand, grit and seived leaf mould , and sometimes even bonfire Ash, in varying proportions, but they had access to all these things and space for loam stacks ( and places to cut turf from) . This is ehy the first JI composts came about they were standardised and made available to us amateurs. I would love to make my own but lack the space and resources.
Thank you for all your wise comments. I have made a note of all the recommendations and will battle on. It's so disappointing when you see your beautiful seedlings just wither and die......wont be making all that pickle and jam this year, that's for sure.
I think peat free is blamed for all sorts of horticultural problems when it isn’t caused by the absence of peat. I’ve had no problems caused by Sylvagrow, New Horizon or Homebase over the last few years, or for that matter coir. That’s not to say I haven’t had problems, just they had other causes. Either I got things wrong or an external factor conspired against me.
Most of this "peat free" compost contains various amounts of composted "green waste" and because it has a veneer of ecofriendliness everyone assumes it's lovely all muck and magic material when in truth it can be full of godknowswhat and he isn't telling. The batch of green stuff that made the OP's compost could be full of resilient weedkiller and or other nasties - I'm willing to bet good money that no one has tested it.
I found bags of compost at my local garden centre labelled “old formula, this product will not be available in this form after this stock has been sold” so I assumed it had peat and bought 10 bags, I am going back for more tomorrow because it’s lovely stuff!
I find it annoying that so many other users continue to use peat but we gardeners are banned.
I intend to stockpile what I can for seeds and my precious hanging baskets.
@raisingirl@Allotment Boy sorry my memory for names playing tricks. Rummaged under the greenhouse bench, I keep the old bags to reuse, and they are mainly New Horizon with the odd miracle grow peat free. I don’t know why the Jacks Magic name sticks in my head🙄 I thought they did do a peat free and that my local GC had just stopped stocking it ( it’s only a small one so usually only one make of any compost available but varies across the mixes)
The worst compost I’ve ever had was wyevale peat free a couple of years ago. Full of rubbish including glass!
If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.”—Marcus Tullius Cicero East facing, top of a hill clay-loam, cultivated for centuries (7 years by me). Birmingham
I find it annoying that so many other users continue to use peat but we gardeners are banned.
Private garden flowers are a trivial use for a precious and finite resource. People who's living relies on it are being given a little more time to adjust.
Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
Posts
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
The old gardeners used soil, sand, grit and seived leaf mould , and sometimes even bonfire Ash, in varying proportions, but they had access to all these things and space for loam stacks ( and places to cut turf from) . This is ehy the first JI composts came about they were standardised and made available to us amateurs. I would love to make my own but lack the space and resources.
The worst compost I’ve ever had was wyevale peat free a couple of years ago. Full of rubbish including glass!
East facing, top of a hill clay-loam, cultivated for centuries (7 years by me). Birmingham
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”