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Problems with commercial peat-free compost

bobsparkesbobsparkes Posts: 12
in Problem solving
My own home-grown compost produces weeds, so I use commercial peat-free compost for my seeds (and have done for years). This year, though, my seed trays have produced lots of seedlings that are NOT those of the seeds that I sowed. Where I planted two seeds, half a dozen sprang up, some of them grass seedlimgs! Where I can recognise my own seeds, I can pull up the others, but some seedlings could not be recognised until about the four-leaf stage. It was a real time-waster. Where can I buy a good seed compost that does not produce weeds? 
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  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    There have been many threads about dreadful peat-free compost this year and recommendations are few-
    https://forum.gardenersworld.com/search?Search=peat-free+compost


    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • MikeOxgreenMikeOxgreen Posts: 812
    Make your own, but make it better. Try to avoid putting weeds/seeds in there in the first place and getting it hot so it kills any.

  • RedwingRedwing Posts: 1,511
    MikeOxgreen said:
    Make your own, but make it better. Try to avoid putting weeds/seeds in there in the first place and getting it hot so it kills any.

    That's what is really hard @MikeOxgreen.....the getting it hot part.  Unless you have acres of garden you don't have enough compost material, also machinery to keep turning it, it won't get hot enough to kill the weed seeds....so easier said than done. Volume is important and most of us don't have that.

    Also the comment about avoiding putting weed/seeds in, I feel that shows a lack of practical experience.  You're gonna get seeds in your composting material, however hard you try not to.
    Based in Sussex, I garden to encourage as many birds to my garden as possible.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    @Redwing, I've wrapped my three daleks in fleece and bubblewrap which has worked a treat and keeps the heat in. I also use old bathmats over the tops for insulation, doesn't look very elegant but does the job.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • debs64debs64 Posts: 5,184
    I have a small garden and no room for compost bins so I buy my compost and I don’t like the peat free stuff. They really need to improve it judging by the amount of negative comments on this forum 
  • bcpathomebcpathome Posts: 1,313
    IJust wish they would give us the choice between peat free and peat added .I honestly think this enforced peat free thing is not making much difference to the amount of peat areas . Lots of people make their own and enjoy the making and using of it ,however not everyone has the space and the amount of things to compost. 
    It really is unfair that this peat free stuff has no guts in it and we have to add things to it …Pearlie and miscellaneous etc to make it of any use and it’s no cheaper ,it really should be .Rant over .
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    I speak as a still peat user, but trying slowly not to be.

    I think it is totally wrong that we should be allowed to destroy vital habitats, that have a major impact on preventing climate change.

    Many successful commercial plant nurseries are peat free, so we should all be striving to do the same.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • MikeOxgreenMikeOxgreen Posts: 812
    Redwing said:
    MikeOxgreen said:
    Make your own, but make it better. Try to avoid putting weeds/seeds in there in the first place and getting it hot so it kills any.

    That's what is really hard @MikeOxgreen.....the getting it hot part.  Unless you have acres of garden you don't have enough compost material, also machinery to keep turning it, it won't get hot enough to kill the weed seeds....so easier said than done. Volume is important and most of us don't have that.

    Also the comment about avoiding putting weed/seeds in, I feel that shows a lack of practical experience.  You're gonna get seeds in your composting material, however hard you try not to.
    You just aren't trying hard enough, read here for a start: https://www.hotbincomposting.com/
  • MikeOxgreenMikeOxgreen Posts: 812
    debs64 said:
    I have a small garden and no room for compost bins so I buy my compost and I don’t like the peat free stuff. They really need to improve it judging by the amount of negative comments on this forum 
    You have a garden, you have room for a compost bin. It's just that you can't be arsed.

    https://www.wilko.com/wilko-composter-220l/p/0507719?gclid=Cj0KCQjwqPGUBhDwARIsANNwjV59TYLP7LS_U3vvWhOqZtGS0QaoXr_By4Rv3j0IbHNGEOtROs-mctMaAriMEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

    The only people who can't compost are those with no garden.
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    Where do you get off on being abusive to other posters on here.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
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