Thanks for the heads up Geoff, me and the OH went and picked up 5 bags today. I've already dug one in to a bed at the allotment before the heavens opened.
I use Countrywide multi purpose - this year it was 3 x 100l bags for £17- I find it good. Used it for potato bags, top dressing planting etc. Now going to use spent potato bags for a top dressing. I have also used Goodwins - I get it at 4x70l bags for £10. Goodwins also do an easy use horse manure mix at same price as multi purpose compost. Using these is finally beginning to make a difference to my very clayey soil
Goodwins I get from my local low cost shop and Countrywide from the stores of that name.
At one time I would have sworn by 'Humax' it was made by a relatively small firm in Cumbria, now been taken over ,and the name seems to have disappeared from around here.
The co-op was selling some compost from Ireland last year, which I found very good,this year not selling anything,maybe it was a one off deal they did, or only available at the very large stores.
It seems that Which? have been researching the issue, systematically. Their results are published in the January/February issue of Gardening Which. I haven't seen the full report, only a summary of their results...
27 brands were tested, for seed-sowing and raising young plants.
Three brands have been selected as 'best buy'. They are all peat-based...
Sinclair’s J Arthur Bowers’ Seed and Cutting Compost
B&Q’s Verve Grow Your Own Growing Bag
Verve Seed and Cutting Compost and Verve Multipurpose Compost.
Next, also recommended, though not 'best buys'...
Westland Jack’s Magic all Purpose
Westland Gro-Sure Seed & Cutting
Levington John Innes Seed compost.
Best peat-frees, but not as good as the peat ones...
Miracle-Gro Expand n’ Gro
Vital Earth Multipurpose compost.
If anyone subscribes to the magazine they might have some more details, about how good, or bad, all the others were. I don't know which brands came bottom.
Lyon Greene - many thanks for this info. I will certainly look out for Miracle-Gro Expand n' Gro and Vital Earth Multipurpose compost as I try not to use peat if I can. I don't subscribe to Which magazine but I am sure someone on this wonderfil forum will be able to give us more details. Roll on spring.
Thanks for that Gary. I had thought this year I would attempt to be peat free, it's sourcing the stuff around here - eg Vital Earth compost. Was going to have a go with John Innes seed as well, but have just bought a cheapo Wilkinson seed, will see how it goes!
We have not a company where we can pick up compost so we are lucky for many organic matter from our household and garden farm. A small hut (half open walls) is the place "we" producing the compost.look
I had a good old moan about B & Q's grow bags early last year but purchased a large split bag, of their Verve multipurpose Compost at the end of the year and found it to be very good, didn't use it for seed sowing though.
Getting a good seed sowing compost to start seeds indoors seems almost like a lottery...some dry like concrete in the propagator.... so will look out for the Gardening Which mag.
homebase have got jamie oliver branded strawbrry compost 50lt grow bags half price £2.49 a bag also buy 3 get 4th free thats 200lts for £7.47 sure it be good for something,hope so i got 8bags
Posts
Thanks for the heads up Geoff, me and the OH went and picked up 5 bags today. I've already dug one in to a bed at the allotment before the heavens opened.
I use Countrywide multi purpose - this year it was 3 x 100l bags for £17- I find it good. Used it for potato bags, top dressing planting etc. Now going to use spent potato bags for a top dressing. I have also used Goodwins - I get it at 4x70l bags for £10. Goodwins also do an easy use horse manure mix at same price as multi purpose compost. Using these is finally beginning to make a difference to my very clayey soil
Goodwins I get from my local low cost shop and Countrywide from the stores of that name.
B&Q I fell out with last year,
At one time I would have sworn by 'Humax' it was made by a relatively small firm in Cumbria, now been taken over ,and the name seems to have disappeared from around here.
The co-op was selling some compost from Ireland last year, which I found very good,this year not selling anything,maybe it was a one off deal they did, or only available at the very large stores.
This thread was started back in August.
It seems that Which? have been researching the issue, systematically. Their results are published in the January/February issue of Gardening Which. I haven't seen the full report, only a summary of their results...
27 brands were tested, for seed-sowing and raising young plants.
Three brands have been selected as 'best buy'. They are all peat-based...
Next, also recommended, though not 'best buys'...
Best peat-frees, but not as good as the peat ones...
If anyone subscribes to the magazine they might have some more details, about how good, or bad, all the others were. I don't know which brands came bottom.
Lyon Greene - many thanks for this info. I will certainly look out for Miracle-Gro Expand n' Gro and Vital Earth Multipurpose compost as I try not to use peat if I can. I don't subscribe to Which magazine but I am sure someone on this wonderfil forum will be able to give us more details. Roll on spring.
Thanks for that Gary. I had thought this year I would attempt to be peat free, it's sourcing the stuff around here - eg Vital Earth compost. Was going to have a go with John Innes seed as well, but have just bought a cheapo Wilkinson seed, will see how it goes!
We have not a company where we can pick up compost so we are lucky for many organic matter from our household and garden farm. A small hut (half open walls) is the place "we" producing the compost.look
Here
Thanks LG.
I had a good old moan about B & Q's grow bags early last year but purchased a large split bag, of their Verve multipurpose Compost at the end of the year and found it to be very good, didn't use it for seed sowing though.
Getting a good seed sowing compost to start seeds indoors seems almost like a lottery...some dry like concrete in the propagator.... so will look out for the Gardening Which mag.
I think ThaiGer-we are confusing you-there is garden compost that we use for soil conditioner- ie made from rotted down material
And commercial compost that we buy in that is formulated with nutrient for seed sowing and potting plants
Same word but different product and uses
What do you use a seed sowing /potting medium?
homebase have got jamie oliver branded strawbrry compost 50lt grow bags half price £2.49 a bag also buy 3 get 4th free thats 200lts for £7.47 sure it be good for something,hope so i got 8bags