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 bought Verve from B&Q, and have also found it good, although I have mixed it with some sand, and grit when potting on seedlings. Top marks to B&Q in that respect.
I watched the GW programme and my first thought was for people who haven't got the space for all the additional stuff you are supposed to add to it. Monty adds stuff such as leafmould etc.
As far as l can ascertain, there is no such thing as guaranteed quality from bag to bag ? I am still using reduced peat compost that l stocked up on last year, and plan to reuse it as much as possible.
Having tried various peat-free composts with dire results, I defaulted back to Sylvagrow with JI this year as it's been the best by far up till now. This year my seedlings have just sat in it....I've been putting it down to lower temps, but I don't think it's been colder than last year, and even my tomatoes grown indoors on a windowsill, sown at the same time as usual, have been very slow to grow on. This morning I felt some were big enough to pot on, but root growth was very poor. Very dejected....if I can't trust Sylvagrow (and at that price too...!), what can I trust??
Hey - don't knock that fairydust @Pete.8 - that's my secret ingredient
😁
I thought that might catch your eye!
I have to say I've also used the Verve stuff in the past and it's been ok, but I've not been to B&Q recently. It does seem to be the inconsistency that's the main problem, and while that happens with some peat products, many of them were always reliably good - at least the ones I used were. Jack's Magic was the best one, although the stuff I got from the local feed mill was superb. The price seems to have become horrific too, which is another problem. I agree with you too @AnniD re the space to have lots of different products. Not everyone has that room. The biggest problem with Sylvagrow is that, while it's often recommended, you can't get it everywhere @KayJ.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
It's not available around here, Silvagrow. Two years ago I swapped from Verve to JA Bowers, as Verve had become very woody. Using JA Bowers again this year and the first two bags have been fine, dark ,rich looking, and not too woody. What may become a problem is this, it will be used for tomatoes this year, the build up of disease will make it unwise to use again next year, and I have no other soil to exchange it with to use on another crop ( I usually put it on the beds as mulch) so am thinking the harvest in 2024 maybe down.🤔
Yes, it's the variability between batches of supposedly the same stuff that is irritating. You get something that works, buy it again and it's rubbish.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
I think the general quality of compost has decreased, as quickly as the amount you get in a bag, over the last decade. I remember opening bags and seeing lovely dark brown, fully composted, soil which was easy to use. If I open a bag now it's a fibrous lump full of wood chip and random clumps. I sieve it for seeds and end up with more in the sieve than through it. Last year we bought exclusively peat free and it was absolutely dire. I used my own home made stuff this year for seeds and haven't had to many problems but lots of friends and people down the allotment have had poor results with peat free and some even lost everything they potted up into it as we don't think early batches are ready for sale when they are bagged.
This is the first year I’ve bought peat free and I was apprehensive after reading all the horror story’s on here but I’ve been pleasantly surprised. It was on a 3 for £20ish from Homebase. I have opened 2 of the 3 both the same quality , but as they’re probably from the same batch it will be interesting to see what new bags next year will be like. I’ve used it for seeds (tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet corn, peas, cosmos, rudbeckia, honeywort and loads more). All have germinated, I haven’t let it dry out so can’t say what’s it’s like when it’s dry, but I’m happy with it. I just hope it’s the same next year.
Like @SherwoodArrow I used Westland multipurpose peat free with added John Innes. I used a fine sieve to sieve for seed germination with vermiculite added. I've had no problems whatsoever. I have approx. 500 bedding plants, Tomatoes and cucumbers all on the go using this stuff with no issues.
The top does dry out but when moved aside the underlayer is moist most of the time when used in smallish pots.
I've used 5 bags so far and quality has been consistent.
I'll happily use it again especially as I got 3 for £15 ( I bought 12 bags)
'The power of accurate observation .... is commonly called cynicism by those that have not got it.
Just to pick up on a couple of things. Garden Which do extensive trials nearly every year. They have highlighted the variability too, something I have noted is they quite frequently say they can't report on some brands because they have been reformulated since they started the trials. Other issues highlighted are that what's good one year isn't always that great the next time. Sylvagrow seems to be one of the most consistent, but as mentioned not available everywhere. The RHS went peat free for everything except a few very specific plants, several years ago. I think they use Sylvagrow. Ireland banned peat extraction recently so Bordna Mona and Clover have had to switch. Moorland gold is a peat based product that comes from water filtration so is exempt, but you need a bag of gold to buy it!😱 I agree we all need more guidance from the real experts, and I don't mean the ones on TV.
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Top marks to B&Q in that respect.
As far as l can ascertain, there is no such thing as guaranteed quality from bag to bag ?
I am still using reduced peat compost that l stocked up on last year, and plan to reuse it as much as possible.
I have to say I've also used the Verve stuff in the past and it's been ok, but I've not been to B&Q recently. It does seem to be the inconsistency that's the main problem, and while that happens with some peat products, many of them were always reliably good - at least the ones I used were. Jack's Magic was the best one, although the stuff I got from the local feed mill was superb.
The price seems to have become horrific too, which is another problem. I agree with you too @AnniD re the space to have lots of different products. Not everyone has that room.
The biggest problem with Sylvagrow is that, while it's often recommended, you can't get it everywhere @KayJ.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
What may become a problem is this, it will be used for tomatoes this year, the build up of disease will make it unwise to use again next year, and I have no other soil to exchange it with to use on another crop ( I usually put it on the beds as mulch) so am thinking the harvest in 2024 maybe down.🤔
Last year we bought exclusively peat free and it was absolutely dire. I used my own home made stuff this year for seeds and haven't had to many problems but lots of friends and people down the allotment have had poor results with peat free and some even lost everything they potted up into it as we don't think early batches are ready for sale when they are bagged.
It was on a 3 for £20ish from Homebase.
I have opened 2 of the 3 both the same quality , but as they’re probably from the same batch it will be interesting to see what new bags next year will be like.
I’ve used it for seeds (tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet corn, peas, cosmos, rudbeckia, honeywort and loads more). All have germinated, I haven’t let it dry out so can’t say what’s it’s like when it’s dry, but I’m happy with it. I just hope it’s the same next year.
Failure is always an option.
The top does dry out but when moved aside the underlayer is moist most of the time when used in smallish pots.
I've used 5 bags so far and quality has been consistent.
I'll happily use it again especially as I got 3 for £15 ( I bought 12 bags)
'The power of accurate observation .... is commonly called cynicism by those that have not got it.
George Bernard Shaw'
The RHS went peat free for everything except a few very specific plants, several years ago. I think they use Sylvagrow. Ireland banned peat extraction recently so Bordna Mona and Clover have had to switch.
Moorland gold is a peat based product that comes from water filtration so is exempt, but you need a bag of gold to buy it!😱
I agree we all need more guidance from the real experts, and I don't mean the ones on TV.