I also use Jacks Magic. Good stuff. Crumbly and with good moisture retention. Also got some Durstons grow bags from my milkman last year and the Toms did well. Usually mix up garden compoist with MP and some John Innes to cover all bases! May try a couple of peat free bags mixed in this year but why is PF more expensive?
At the risk of being pulled up for repeating myself, Irish peat used in garden products amounts to only 4% each year, whereas the three Irish power stations burn 3 million tons of it each year. Lots of info on the net.
I remember a few years back being told Coir was the miracle solution to our compost worries and there was enough already lying around as a waste product to meet three hundred years worth of demand.
A few years later we heard of virgin forest being ripped out to plant coconut to meet the demand for coir.
I bought 2 large bags of peat free compost from my local DIY chain, the one that offers Diamond Discount on a Wednesday, and it's awful. I potted on pumpkins, courgettes and cucumbers last weekend in the greenhouse. I watered each morning before work but by the time I got home in the evening, and it's not been that warm, the stuff has dried out to a solid mass.
I'm thinking of mixing it 50/50 with a growbag but does anybody have an alternative solution please ?
dont buy PEAT FREE COMPOST , have done twice , NO germination/all trays covered with white mold after 2-3 days
I don't like peat free compost either, I had to get New Horizon lately and it's rubbish, very 'fluffy' with no water retention at all, even with daily light watering. I'm trying it half and half with John Innes no.3 (the only other compost I have at the moment). I always used to like Jack's Magic but don't think that's good as it was. @Hostafan1, you're spot on as always.
After two years of buying peat free compost ,next year will revert to proper Irish compost, WHY??? Because no germination and after 2-3 days turns into A white moldy smelly sludge, not even safe to grow EDIBLE potato's or veg. NOT CHEAP FROM DOBBIES!!
I don't like peat free compost either, I had to get New Horizon lately and it's rubbish, very 'fluffy' with no water retention at all, even with daily light watering. I'm trying it half and half with John Innes no.3 (the only other compost I have at the moment). I always used to like Jack's Magic but don't think that's good as it was. @Hostafan1, you're spot on as always.
You'll make me blush But trust me, I'm SO NOT! But , as the "yoof" would sayl; " I'll take that "
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I also use Jacks Magic. Good stuff. Crumbly and with good moisture retention. Also got some Durstons grow bags from my milkman last year and the Toms did well. Usually mix up garden compoist with MP and some John Innes to cover all bases! May try a couple of peat free bags mixed in this year but why is PF more expensive?
Nanny, it's dearer because they're going for the gullible consumer market. Or am I just being cynical?
Whew , thanks Tetley. Thought I might get lynched.
It's not that long ago "they" were telling us to stop using John Innes as it was depleting the Surrey loam beds.
Ditto Tetley.
I can't be doing with the " I NEVER, or I ALWAYS, do this." mentality.
If folk want to bury their heads in the sand and believe there is not alternative, that's up to them. I'm happy to keep an open mind.
At the risk of being pulled up for repeating myself, Irish peat used in garden products amounts to only 4% each year, whereas the three Irish power stations burn 3 million tons of it each year. Lots of info on the net.
I remember a few years back being told Coir was the miracle solution to our compost worries and there was enough already lying around as a waste product to meet three hundred years worth of demand.
A few years later we heard of virgin forest being ripped out to plant coconut to meet the demand for coir.
I'm trying it half and half with John Innes no.3 (the only other compost I have at the moment). I always used to like Jack's Magic but don't think that's good as it was.
@Hostafan1, you're spot on as always.
But trust me, I'm SO NOT!
But , as the "yoof" would sayl; " I'll take that "