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Year-old seed compost

butlerjonnybutlerjonny Posts: 23
in Fruit & veg
I have half of a 70L bag of high quality (Klasmann) seed compost left over from last year. The bag has been stored in my garage with the top folded down but not tightly sealed or airtight.  Would it be ok to use to start this year’s seeds, or should I dump it and buy a new bag? I’ve heard people say that compost loses its nutrients over time, and I know that seed compost is low in nutrients to begin with so I’m wondering if there would be enough left in it to get the seeds going.
Thanks

Posts

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    I'd use it for packets of seeds with more than you'd ever need. If they germinate OK, I d use it for the packets with just a few seeds too.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • thevictorianthevictorian Posts: 1,279
    I found the dregs of a bag that was in the greenhouse for several years and used it a couple of weeks ago with a near 100% germination rate. I really wouldn't worry, especially if the compost was dry.

      
  • LiriodendronLiriodendron Posts: 8,328
    Given that seedlings of all sorts of lovely plants germinate happily in my gravel drive, I think the age of your seed compost is immaterial - what matters is that it drains ok, and you keep an eye on the seedlings and prick them out into multi purpose compost as soon as they need it.  Seeds are programmed to grow.   :)
    Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Seedlings need little or no nutrition in the early stages. It’s not until they’re pricked out that they need compost with some nutrients in it. 

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





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