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Peat Free Compost 2024

purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 5,287
in The potting shed
Did anyone watch the Gardeners World programme talk about this subject?
After watching I'm still none the wiser as to how to go on.
The only peat free I tried was a nightmare. It wouldn't retain moisture, was very woody, and stunted the growth of the plant, to others in my regular compost.
According to the programme I will need to add things to it for it to grow to the standards of peat? 
What about seed growing, no mention of that, as the coarse texture of present peat free won't work. 
I know some people are already doing this, so how do you go on, especially if you cannot make your own?
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  • debs64debs64 Posts: 5,184
    I thought the article was very poor. Are commercial growers allowed to use peat? If so what’s the point of banning it for gardeners? Also very little real information about alternatives and their possible disadvantages. Or advantages? I would be happy to see a really neutral discussion with some tests done on seeds, seedlings and well established plants. 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    If that was the most recent show, I've not seen it yet, but I bought a single bag of peat free compost that I'd used last year, and it's been dire for most seed. The only things it
    s been ok for is the dahlia tubers, but they don't need anything special to start off.

    I've already started doing different things. Last year's sieved material from pots, with grit added, for example. My home grown compost is quite heavy, and tends to be rather wet, so sieving that is well nigh impossible, especially at this time of year, but I've also used sieved garden soil with grit, and have been collecting mole hill soil too, much to the amusement of a couple of folk going by  :D
    I used that for raising a little sunken bit of the front grass, and sowing grass seed, and that's doing well. I haven't yet used it for other seed because my mix is already proving to be better than anything else. Even the sweet peas didn't germinate as well as they should in the new compost, and they're far less fussy. The tomatoes all failed, and I resowed with the home made mix, and they started germinating within a week or two, despite my house being colder this winter. 
    When I pot on, I'll add a little slow release food to make up for fewer nutrients that you usually get with commercial compost, so that plants don't stall. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    AFAIK commercial growers can continue to use peat until 2030.
    I wouldn't be surprised if that deadline were extended for commercial growers due to a lack of suitable alternatives...
    So it's just us gardeners that it's being imposed on as of next year.

    Every time I see peat-free composts being used on TV the presenters suggest mixing in a proportion of topsoil, vermiculite/perlite/grit, leafmould, compost, fairydust etc etc
    What I don't' get is why we can't buy something like that which is already blended and ready for use without amendment.
    I've tried peat-free twice - both times with very poor results.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    edited May 2023
    Hey - don't knock that fairydust @Pete.8 - that's my secret ingredient  :D

    I agree - there should be a viable, decent alternative for people, certainly by now, but it's like everything isn't it? No long term thinking. 

    You'd think there would be a J.Innes one of some kind - maybe there is, but I don't look at those products if I'm in a GC, which is rare anyway. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    I bought Verve Peat free from B&Q and have used it for all my seed sowing and potting on this year and my seeds and plants have done really well, even tiny seeds like lobelia. There was a very occasional slightly larger shred in the compost which I just omitted as I filled the trays, but no rubbish such as other people have complained about.
    I knew I might need to adjust my watering, but there have been no real problems. I check the windowsill plants every morning and give a little water if the pot feels dry so the compost doesn't dry out too much and a  deeper watering for the toms and other thirsty plants.
    The greenhouse is now stuffed with seed trays and there are still pots pf seedlings on the windowsills, but some things like the sweet peas and some of the veg have started hardening off now and others will follow. The GH hasn't dropped below zero so far this year, even without heat and I am hoping this might continue, so fingers crossed
  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 5,287
    You are lucky @Buttercupdays my greenhouse has been between -6° and 2° till last week, so no growing on in there yet.
    I wish someone would do a test of all three types of peat free that were mentioned,  so at least we would have an idea of what to do!
    So those of us with small gardens, unable to produce our own additives to peat free, are going to be fleeced cost wise again I suppose. 
  • ShepsSheps Posts: 2,236
    Am I right in thinking that the ban only covers England and Wales?

    If so, will suppliers like Clover, based in Ireland, still be able to import peat based composts?
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    I bought a couple of bags of Homebase. It was recommended somewhere. Not overly impressed. It dries out very quickly. I also have a bag of Coolings professional. Haven't opened it yet.
    Would like to get Melcourt Sylvagrow but haven't seen it anywhere yet. Haven't tried that hard though.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    The problem is that no two bags are the same,  what was good last year could be rubbish this year,  I don’t know why,  but several people have said the same. 
    The one I’ve used for many years is not so good this year.
    My mum wouldn’t have anything but Levingtons Professional but that’s not so good this year. 
    I’ve yet to try peat free for seeds. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Fairygirl said:
    Hey - don't knock that fairydust @Pete.8 - that's my secret ingredient  :D

    😁

    I thought that might catch your eye!

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
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