Peat Free Compost

Miracle-Gro Moisture Control Potting Soil, for pots/containers.

Brilliant.

Same as Casdon - the top is like concrete. It’s heartbreaking. I can’t imagine how much watering they’re going to need this summer & so far it’s mainly hanging baskets. Half the begonias haven’t put in an appearance!. I can’t remember the first brand I bought but just opened a different one today so am keeping my fingers crossed. A bit of a disaster and waste of money thus far.

It is so difficult. I agree that peat free is not as good until I drive past the areas that the peat is dug up from and see the devastation.

I make my own compost that I put back on the garden but I like to have pots filled with bedding plants in the summer and I found peat free compost was useless last year. The pots were very dry all the time and I didn't get the usual growth in the plants. I am avoiding it now for as long as possible.

I had Sylva grow last year and the results were poor. I contacted the RHS who recommend and they say it must have been a bad batch. I have bought more this year and I think that the tomato leaves are showing signs of nutrient deficiencies. Might just get some Miracle grow and mix it up.

My results this year have been very poor. I think very cold nights for such a long period have contributed to poor growth but I have yet to find a peat free that is any good. It comes out of the bag, not frothy and light like peat but in heavy compacted lumps. My tomatoes that I have grown successfully for more than half a century are sitting in the greenhouse sulking! You have to be so careful with watering. I have to stick my finger deep into the pot because the top dries to a hard crust and one would think it needed water but the bottom it is still root- rottingly wet. The last lot was Westland, I have yet to find any that is satisfactory, my own compost is too rustic for seeds! At our gardening club we have asked our last three speakers and non of them had found a good peat free alternative although one was using his own mixture that included a lot of leaf mould.

I used completely last year, just bought it from Wicks, their own brand but I added some Rotted Farmyard Manure to it. It was fine no difference.

I make compost for the borders and mulching but can't use it for seedlings - as it's far too rich. I did buy a huge sack of perlite last year (bought online, didn't realise just how huge) and it's quite good for seedlings as it retains some water.

I've used the coir compressed blocks for a year now and found them to be really good. Yes, you have to place them in a container and soak in 20 to 25. litres of fresh water - I don't use rain water for this - and then you're good to go. Not been disappointed at all with the results.

Any veggies that are planted out in to the raised beds get a pre-treatment of organic manure/dressing prior to being planted out, last year we were giving runner beans away by the bagful.

I volunteer in a NT garden and they use Solva. Plants are always good.

I haven’t any spare soil to use with my compost materials so have to buy bags

Whitewavemark2

It is dead easy to make your own and free!

I can’t generate enough for my needs though Whitewavemark, and I’ve got a large garden, it’s even more difficult for those without. I grow a lot from seed, and that’s where the problem is I think - it’s all the potting on. Let us know what you think of the MiracleGro when you can?

I’ve never succeeded in making useable compost , and now I have such a small area I can’t gather enough vegetation to try again
Some clean garden soil might mix with the peat free to make it useable ?

It is dead easy to make your own and free!

This is why commercial growers won’t use peat free compost, because quality is very unpredictable and may contain chemicals and all sorts of disease agents. It’s probably best used for large plants or mulching not seedlings.

Peat is scheduled to be banned for commercial use in 2025 trails are bring done with synthetic rooting mediums that are inert, any nutrients are added as needed.

Casdon

Which one did you use posset? I’m keen to hear too if anybody has found a good one. I had the Westland New Horizon one last time, and it doesn’t retain water well - and the top sets like concrete when it dries out.

It is Growmoor (probably to trick you into thinking "Growmore") I'm such a cheapskate and tend to go for the "buy 2 get 3rd free" deals - perhaps I should cough up a bit more in future!
I always make my own compost but it is never nearly enough.

We make our own compost where possible, but ran out , so I also bought miracle gro peat free. Not sure how things are doing as it was all planted just before our holiday.

The best we've found is Jack's Magic, bought it in Whats 2 bags £14. In our local garden centre it's £2 more.

You could try wool compost, produced in Cumbria. No peat. Expensive, but we found it worthwhile.

I’ve used Miracle Gro this year and it seems to be fine, I usually use Jack’s Magic, but couldn’t find any locally, tried a coir based one early last year, a waste of money.

I have been using Miracle Gro peat free compost. Everything did ok last year. I’ve planted my pots again this year and bit too early to say. I’m no gardener though!

I’ve used Bulrush compost for some time after I noticed our local nursery which produces super plants uses it. There is now a peat free version which, for me, produces good results. I also have had dire results with some versions of peat free stuff over recent years, resulting in hanging baskets being composted within a month! Sometimes I mix some J I into the mix. It is more difficult to get the watering right, as it tends to look dry on top even though damp underneath.

I m an awful gardener as I never read up what to do I buy whatever’s on offer and stick the seeds in then they have two choices come up or don’t bother I use B and M s 3 bags for £12.50 and it says Peat reduced
The only thing that hasn’t germinated this year is something I was trying for the first time Aubergines and absolutely nothing has happened they have not shown a whisker

The label on some of the young plants I bought this year recommended NOT to use peat free compost, which disappointed me. I shall follow this thread with interest.

Which one did you use posset? I’m keen to hear too if anybody has found a good one. I had the Westland New Horizon one last time, and it doesn’t retain water well - and the top sets like concrete when it dries out.