No compost is worth buying as none of it has any * guts* anymore ,I’ve just used garden soil mixed with used compost ,a sprinkle of growing crystals ( feed) and some fine grit . It * does* but it’s not great . Plants need peat ,it’s just what they need . Now that it’s not allowed …..yes I know all the reasons given…….until someone invents something,we’ll just have to get on with it and as theAussies say ‘ suck it up’ .
Nice replies thanks. In fact I have got some carrots in a large tub and they are growing really well. Hoping for one at least a foot long. In the ground though I will in future put in a line of seed compost say to a depth of 2" to get them going.
Is it worth loosening the soil beside root crops (when they get established more) to help them grow down?
Not only compost causing germination failure this year, lots of gardeners in the NE are complaining that peas are either failing to germinate all together or those that do are only growing to a12-15in high then stopping, seeds are from different suppliers
Won't bore people writing about my failures this year, it got so bad I started to lose confidence in my ability to grow anything. Apart from the compost, I think a lot of my failures were due to the cold Easterly winds that blew relentlessly for at least a month or so. The wind and the rain certainly didn't help.
More research shows commercial sacks of compost are total rubbish and at £8 a sack of 50L a rip-off. I am lucky that a local horse owner gives the manure away. I shall be grabbing as much as possible in the coming months to make my own for next year. I put it in a bin and a month later it is down half the size. But I am wondering what I should mix it with or even just dig the rotted result straight into the soil. Suggestions welcome. Is it too strong for seeds?
@bcpathome I don't agree that peat is essential [ although I admit to still using it ] There are plenty of successful nurseries who are peat free and producing wonderful plants, and many home gardeners on here have also managed the transition well.
How can you lie there and think of England When you don't even know who's in the team
Well all I can say is that plants grow better and with less faffing about when potting on etc. when we were allowed to use it . I know all the guff about why not , it’s just a remark I made a few days ago , and I still believe that plants grow better in peat mix .
Well all I can say is that plants grow better and with less faffing about when potting on etc. when we were allowed to use it . I know all the guff about why not , it’s just a remark I made a few days ago , and I still believe that plants grow better in peat mix .
I've not seen it in nurseries. Where do you by yours?
Posts
I need to invent a new strategy for next year!
Cambridgeshire/Norfolk border.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border