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Thousands of tiny seedlings, could it be the compost?

JacquimcmahonJacquimcmahon Posts: 1,039
in Plants
I seem to have thousands of seedlings popping up in my pots. I’m wondering if they could have been in the peat free compost I bought. Not only am I not happy with the growth of my intended plants but I now seem to be invaded with these seedlings. I’m tempted to let a few continue growing just to see what they are..
Marne la vallée, basically just outside Paris 🇫🇷, but definitely Scottish at heart.

Posts

  • didywdidyw Posts: 3,573
    Tempting as it might be, I doubt if anything they would turn out to be anything you would want.  Get them out while they are still tiny and not competing with your plants for nutrients!
    Gardening in East Suffolk on dry sandy soil.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Weeds!  I've tried several kinds of peat free compost this year and been very disappointed by the quality.  Even the seed compost had great chunks in it and they all have grown weeds.

    The best was some potting compost I bought at Leclerc in spring and I've just found some on offer at the local carrefour market which seems good too - loam as well as all the fibrous stuff and no great chunks.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • didywdidyw Posts: 3,573
    I'm afraid I succumbed to a bag of compost with peat in it to pot on some tomatoes as mine were really struggling when I pricked them out into peat free.  I also mixed in some of my homemade compost (very precious, I don't get much from our dalek) and they are thriving now.  I'm eking out the with-peat compost (it is so dark and crumbly!) with either homemade or old stuff from old pots as I pot on/plant out depending on what it is.
    Gardening in East Suffolk on dry sandy soil.
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    I would get out as many of those seedlings as you can. If you really want to know what they are maybe put some in a pot, but my money's on weeds.

    My main problem with peat free compost is the watering. The majority of the plants l have bought are in peat free compost and l am just waiting to get them in the ground.
    The compost looks bone dry on top but  before watering again l thought l'd check and took them out of the pots. The compost is soaking at the bottom which is a PITA when the plants are shrubby salvias.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    I get that when I mix my own compost with bought stuff and I always assumed the weed seeds were from my compost, but they could be from the bought-in stuff. Either way I just get rid of them while they're small. A small weed knife used flat or a narrow filling knife or scraper work well, combined with hand-picking ones that are very near the plant. It would only really be a problem in seed compost, if you didn't know what the seedlings that you'd sown were suppose to look like.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • JacquimcmahonJacquimcmahon Posts: 1,039
    Ok I’m on weeding duty tonight then. I agree the compost is brick hard on top and still quite wet underneath, not easy to judge what’s best watering wise. I also found when I do water the pots the water sits on the top forming a puddle ant takes ages to absorb into the pot.
    Marne la vallée, basically just outside Paris 🇫🇷, but definitely Scottish at heart.
  • Slow-wormSlow-worm Posts: 1,630
    Yes I've found the puddle sat on top/ dry and crumbly on top with certain bags too. I do just as well with garden soil if I'm honest. 
    The first bag of grass seed I bought was full of weeds - no apologies from the company, just a refund. Awful service! I patched it up with some shop bought stuff, and those bits are better quality grass too!
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