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peat

pauty141-aoxdmNGpauty141-aoxdmNG Posts: 9
in The potting shed
Peat should be used in seed, potting and ericaceous composts, it is the only medium that gets excellent seed germination and root growth and lots of plants need it to grow i.e. rhododendrons, can you imagine a world without them? There is a lot of misinformation about peat, if farmed in a sustainable manner, and most of it is, then there is no problem, gardeners only use 1% of all peat used in the UK, no other industry (99% of peat is used by others, not gardeners) are being asked to stop using peat, it will be a tragedy for gardeners if there isn't a compromise, why why only gardeners it's a travesty.
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Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    You better go grab your tin hat!

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    First post, controversial, a WUM perchance?
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    My thought exactly.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • steephillsteephill Posts: 2,841
    Rhododendrons do not need peat. I have dozens in my garden and they have never been near peat.
  • Bee witchedBee witched Posts: 1,295
    I garden on heavy clay and also grow rhodies .... no need for peat, just lots of homemade compost and leafmold.

    Bee x
    Gardener and beekeeper in beautiful Scottish Borders  

    A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I'd agree with you @punkdoc - a likely WUM.
    None of my rhodos, pieris or camellias etc have ever had peat either @steephill. There's a huge misconception about those so called peat/acid loving shrubs. Neutral soil is fine - it's only if it's nearer the alkaline end of that, that you might be concerned. I'd be growing different plants if that was the case though. 

    Oh - and the figures I've seen are different. 5% used in horticulture, not 1%.
    It does beg the question though- who's using the other 90 odd %  ;)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • izzy8izzy8 Posts: 147
    Earthquakes, floods and famine are what I class as tragedies ,  having to use peat free compost doesn't even come close. From what I  gather the government intends to phase out peat in compost by 2025 so we had better learn to manage without it.   I can only speak for my own garden but I've been buying peat free for a couple of years now and found no difference in germination and growth. Just a thought
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    These folk say that rhodos are perfectly happy without peat ... and they should know ...
    https://glendoick.com/Rhododendrons-how-to-grow  :)

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • LiriodendronLiriodendron Posts: 8,328
    "Bagged retail growing media accounts for 70% of the peat sold in the UK."  www.gov.uk, 18 December 2021
    Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Interesting @Liriodendron. It does make you wonder who tots up the figures, doesn't it?
    It's like that saying about statistics - 'there's lies, damned lies, and statistics'  ;)

    One of the most famous outlets for rhodos @Dovefromabove :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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