The trouble is, coir and the other substitutes don't work as well. And there are questions about coir as well, including the transport from the tropics (until global warming allows us to grow coconuts here...) So what's a conscientious gardener to do?
Verve was awful last year, wood and twigs and roots, I bought some this year because I needed loads and it was cheap, 375 litres for under £18 and was pleased to find it was really good, maybe they had a lot of complaints and improved it?
I am trying Lidl's peat free compost at £1.50 per 25l it is very cheap.
Takes a bit of getting used to, it is packed as a solid 'brick' inside it's bag, so the first job is to break it down thoroughly, by which time it is twice the volume.
It does have quite a lot of large fibrous matter, however unlike the coir based it keeps it's moisture very well (though the top dries out so you need to stick you finger in to check you really do need to water.
So far only my tomato seedlings have spent any time in the compost & I have to say so far they are best I've grown, moving along at quite an astonishing pace.
I have always drifted back to peat based despite my best intentions because the peat frees have always been so disappointing, however I am cautiously optimistic with this one and can definitely recommend giving it at try, and for £1.50 its worth a go. However please do remember it is a different beast to the lovely soft peat compost we all so love, so persevere.
Durstons seed and cutting compost seems very nice. Crumbly and fine. Also appears to stay damp quite well. Time alone will tell how it is for the thing it is actually designed for....seed germination and growth But one or two are popping their heads up.
GW mag this month has a very interesting trial on seed and cutting compost. Very interesting results
Make our own I guess, but coming up with sufficient 'loam' has put me off so far, also it will be full of weed seeds.
I only use bought compost for sowing seeds and things in pots, I hope to try my hand at making usable potting compost once I have sufficient leaf mold - a hot compost bin will hopefully deal with the seed problem,
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But only 4% of that peat is used by horticulture. The rest is used as a fuel for rural areas in Ireland and power stations.
I agree, Piper & Amy.
The trouble is, coir and the other substitutes don't work as well. And there are questions about coir as well, including the transport from the tropics (until global warming allows us to grow coconuts here...) So what's a conscientious gardener to do?
Verve was awful last year, wood and twigs and roots, I bought some this year because I needed loads and it was cheap, 375 litres for under £18 and was pleased to find it was really good, maybe they had a lot of complaints and improved it?
I am trying Lidl's peat free compost at £1.50 per 25l it is very cheap.
Takes a bit of getting used to, it is packed as a solid 'brick' inside it's bag, so the first job is to break it down thoroughly, by which time it is twice the volume.
It does have quite a lot of large fibrous matter, however unlike the coir based it keeps it's moisture very well (though the top dries out so you need to stick you finger in to check you really do need to water.
So far only my tomato seedlings have spent any time in the compost & I have to say so far they are best I've grown, moving along at quite an astonishing pace.
I have always drifted back to peat based despite my best intentions because the peat frees have always been so disappointing, however I am cautiously optimistic with this one and can definitely recommend giving it at try, and for £1.50 its worth a go. However please do remember it is a different beast to the lovely soft peat compost we all so love, so persevere.
Really?
Even so, we should preserve what's left
Durstons seed and cutting compost seems very nice. Crumbly and fine. Also appears to stay damp quite well. Time alone will tell how it is for the thing it is actually designed for....seed germination and growth But one or two are popping their heads up.
GW mag this month has a very interesting trial on seed and cutting compost. Very interesting results
for an interesting discussion on peat usage.
http://www.glendoick.com/glendoick-garden-centre-details.php?PageID=57
Very interesting.
If this is all correct, then the trick is making sure your manufacturer is using the peat from the sustainable sources.
Though I do wonder, if we use our own and then have to import, how sustainable is that!
Also if a ban is coming, we will need to find adequate peat free alternatives anyway.
Make our own I guess, but coming up with sufficient 'loam' has put me off so far, also it will be full of weed seeds.
I only use bought compost for sowing seeds and things in pots, I hope to try my hand at making usable potting compost once I have sufficient leaf mold - a hot compost bin will hopefully deal with the seed problem,
Time will tell!