This has been very interesting-has anybody had any recent experience of the Homebase compost or even Asda etc-as Wickes and B&Q are out of the mix it seems-these were my first port of calls in recent years-I can forsee a slightly torn bag scenario before purchase
Hi All. It seems as though there is absolutely no control over what goes into a bag of compost. What qualifies a bag of rotted down vegetation to be deemed a "compost" or "Multi-Purpose Compost". There should be an accurate description or chemical composition to contol what can be sold as a compost, and given the millions we spend as a nation on this stuff, a British Standard should be applied or the retailers can simply bag up any rubbish and get away with it.
You are right marshmello, someone well respected in the gardening world needs to champion the cause.
Well, I have been relatively lucky with Westland MP compost - but it is still pretty horrible stuff compared to what one could expect a few years ago.
I understand the arguments about peat being used, but in Ireland they burn peat to produce electricity - and gardeners account for, I believe, something like 4% of peat, so we are hardly the major culprits with this issue.
If I had lost seedlings like some of the posters here, I, too, would be furious. But I just soooo wish I'd been in B & Q to see the compost on the floor. Excellent! It needs more gestures like this to get the point across. And a "name" to spearhead a campaign would be good, too.
I used B&Q peat-free compost some years ago and found it to be pretty useless. In my opinion, most of these peat-free MP composts are failry poor, especially for seed sowing. Some of them are so bad they must surely infringe the Trade Description Act. Why we gardeners have to be penalised when Ireland still burns thousands of tons of real peat in their power stations is beyond my understanding.
Anyway, I have been using Homebase MP compost for a few years now and have found it to be reasonable and reliable, and if you sieve it first, not a bad seed compost. New Horizon MP (composted bark judging from the smell) is OK for potting-on, but to be honest, I wouldn't use it on its own. It's great as a soil conditioner though (if a bit pricey)
I agree with all the posts and this is a very serious issue. I've tried various local "peat free" composts from a variety of nurseries and garden centres and none of them have performed well. I experienced nearly all of the above problems; seedlings not growing, roots rotting, nasty green slime etc. forming after 2-3 days of sowing seeds/potting up, one batch of compost dried to the consistency of a concrete brick after just 2 days! And it had been well watered!!!
If you're growing fruit and vegetables this is also a health issue - although by the sounds of it no one has had much luck getting their plants to the stage where they can actually harvest the crops.
I reckon this needs to be investigated much further, and it'll take more than tipped out compost on the floors of the DIY sheds, although that's a good start!
Here's an article from the States, and I have this feeling that something similar is going on over here with our compost:
I have found both Homebase and B&Q seed sowing compost to be reasonably good, but homebase MP compost to be fairly poor, especially used in containers. Always get a greenish layer on top and have hit and miss results. I usually mix it with my sandy garden soil for perrenials in containers but might have to mix some in for bedding plants too.
I have just ordered a composter and shall endeavor to make as much of my own as I can. It's worth checking your local council for offers on compost bins. I did this on directgov and found my council (Suffolk Coastal) has special offers.
As I understand it, the Which best-buy advice refers to B&Q composts tested up until 2011. I have always used their multipurpose and had good results from it in the past. I believe they are now selling two types: the stuff in the old purple bags (which I assume is last year's stock) and the new 'Verve' compost.
My mother tells me that she read an article about the poor quality of Verve compost - that it contained lumps of wood, pieces of plastic and other rubbish. I haven't seen the article myself.
I am using purple-bag multipurpose this year and am experiencing variably germination. Ricinus has been fine (tough enough to overcome anything?) but none of my cosmos has germinated and I planted several trays of it.
Posts
This has been very interesting-has anybody had any recent experience of the Homebase compost or even Asda etc-as Wickes and B&Q are out of the mix it seems-these were my first port of calls in recent years-I can forsee a slightly torn bag scenario before purchase
If it's any consolation, the B&Q seed/cutting compost still fine.
I prick things out into JI2 usually. Have got some of the MP, only a small bag, so will take care for what/when I use it. J.
haha G.C....wish I had of been there !!!
Yeah, I've just bought a bag of B&Q seed compost....lush it is !! The problem seems to lie with multi-purpose.
We need a celebrity to be the face of a campaign.....I'm being serious, it seems to work for other causes !!!
Hi All. It seems as though there is absolutely no control over what goes into a bag of compost. What qualifies a bag of rotted down vegetation to be deemed a "compost" or "Multi-Purpose Compost". There should be an accurate description or chemical composition to contol what can be sold as a compost, and given the millions we spend as a nation on this stuff, a British Standard should be applied or the retailers can simply bag up any rubbish and get away with it.
You are right marshmello, someone well respected in the gardening world needs to champion the cause.
Blimey I am starting to become a rebel !!!
GC
Well, I have been relatively lucky with Westland MP compost - but it is still pretty horrible stuff compared to what one could expect a few years ago.
I understand the arguments about peat being used, but in Ireland they burn peat to produce electricity - and gardeners account for, I believe, something like 4% of peat, so we are hardly the major culprits with this issue.
If I had lost seedlings like some of the posters here, I, too, would be furious. But I just soooo wish I'd been in B & Q to see the compost on the floor. Excellent! It needs more gestures like this to get the point across. And a "name" to spearhead a campaign would be good, too.
I used B&Q peat-free compost some years ago and found it to be pretty useless. In my opinion, most of these peat-free MP composts are failry poor, especially for seed sowing. Some of them are so bad they must surely infringe the Trade Description Act. Why we gardeners have to be penalised when Ireland still burns thousands of tons of real peat in their power stations is beyond my understanding.
Anyway, I have been using Homebase MP compost for a few years now and have found it to be reasonable and reliable, and if you sieve it first, not a bad seed compost. New Horizon MP (composted bark judging from the smell) is OK for potting-on, but to be honest, I wouldn't use it on its own. It's great as a soil conditioner though (if a bit pricey)
I agree with all the posts and this is a very serious issue. I've tried various local "peat free" composts from a variety of nurseries and garden centres and none of them have performed well. I experienced nearly all of the above problems; seedlings not growing, roots rotting, nasty green slime etc. forming after 2-3 days of sowing seeds/potting up, one batch of compost dried to the consistency of a concrete brick after just 2 days! And it had been well watered!!!
If you're growing fruit and vegetables this is also a health issue - although by the sounds of it no one has had much luck getting their plants to the stage where they can actually harvest the crops.
I reckon this needs to be investigated much further, and it'll take more than tipped out compost on the floors of the DIY sheds, although that's a good start!
Here's an article from the States, and I have this feeling that something similar is going on over here with our compost:
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/mar/08/city-settles-compost-suit-with-dow/
Hello Gardener's World, anybody listening to our cries for help here?
One very frustrated gardener.
I have found both Homebase and B&Q seed sowing compost to be reasonably good, but homebase MP compost to be fairly poor, especially used in containers. Always get a greenish layer on top and have hit and miss results. I usually mix it with my sandy garden soil for perrenials in containers but might have to mix some in for bedding plants too.
I have just ordered a composter and shall endeavor to make as much of my own as I can. It's worth checking your local council for offers on compost bins. I did this on directgov and found my council (Suffolk Coastal) has special offers.
As I understand it, the Which best-buy advice refers to B&Q composts tested up until 2011. I have always used their multipurpose and had good results from it in the past. I believe they are now selling two types: the stuff in the old purple bags (which I assume is last year's stock) and the new 'Verve' compost.
My mother tells me that she read an article about the poor quality of Verve compost - that it contained lumps of wood, pieces of plastic and other rubbish. I haven't seen the article myself.
I am using purple-bag multipurpose this year and am experiencing variably germination. Ricinus has been fine (tough enough to overcome anything?) but none of my cosmos has germinated and I planted several trays of it.