Have I bought the wrong compost?

[Herbsandveg]

I'm a novice gardener, and I've bought some compost for the seeds I have to sow indoors for this years veg. This sounds OK, you'd say, but I've actually bought three bags of John Innes Potting Compost instead of (what I think) is compost more suitable for sowing in.
Have I made a mistake with this, or will the seeds be perfectly OK in this mixture? Any advice anyone could give me would be very gratefully received...

[KittyColdNose]

Last year I just plopped seeds in a compost from Homebase. It worked for me. Saying that, it was my first real attempt and although, for me, it seemed a success I have nothing to compare the results with.

[rustylady]

What seeds are you intending to sow?

[Herbsandveg]

Have I bought the wrong compost?

What seeds are you intending to sow?

Hello RustyLady

I'm planning to sow basics veg such as carrots, leeks and chard, plus tomatoes, and also seeds from the James Wong collection as recommended in his Homegrown Revolution book.

[zazen999]

Carrots should really be sown in situ if you don't want odd shaped specimens. Or in loo rolls and put them into the soil before the tap root hits the bottom [which it does really quickly].

I use multipurpose for everything; I find John Inness far too heavy. I did find a source of peat free JI No 1 for seed sowing and although it was fab, I still cut it half and half with multipurpose to add a bit more 'lightness' to it.

[Herbsandveg]

Have I sown the right compost?

Thank you for that, Zazen

I think I'll use the John Innes for potting out, as intended, and I'll get a different type for seed sowing.

I'd still welcome any other moments, so I'm not now ignoring you, RustyLady, and also anyone else who had a comment...

[rustylady]

No problem Herbsandveg. That's how the Vine works - we all chip in with our little bit, and then you sort through the replies to see if any of them help.

I don't really like John Innes compost, as Zaz said it's a bit on the heavy side. I use Multipurpose compost for everything, rather than buying separate for this and that.

[Darwin.]

I'm using some multi purpose and I've been told to mix in a little sand, that's for the seeds. For planting out into the greenhouse I have multi purpose mixed with farmyard manure (bags now, not the real stuff) and perlite.

I'm a novice like yourself though so I'm probably messing up.

[roitelet]

Which John Innes did you buy? No 1 is for pricking out seedlings, Nos 2 for potting on and No3 for large pots.

[Aberdeenplotter]

As Roitelet indicates, there are different types of John Innes compost. You will probably even see one type marketed as John Innes seed compost. Seeds don't need or like to high a concentration of fertiliser so best to avoid that whether using John Innes based, peat based or whatever.

I mix John Innes 3 with peat based multi purpose compost and use that as the base for my mix for potting on my show onions and leeks.

Someone else has said sow carrots direct. Zaz I think? I totally agree.

[Bigmallly]

Having never used it H&V, I cannot comment. I did however find this bit of info which may be useful:

About John Innes

[Two_Sheds]

I'm planning to sow ... carrots... chard

Carrots like warm soil, it's a bit early ime. Plus you can't sow them into modules or pots or seed trays. As Zaz and AP said above, they have a tap root and need to be sown where they will grow (it's called sowing direct).

I've found that chard does better with a direct sow as well, it tends to bolt if I transplant it.

[Alison]

Anything I sow inside just goes in standard peat free multi purpose, if there are any twiggy bits I break them up by hand or save them for larger pottings. I don't really like JI, as others have said it's rather heavy and the only varieties I've seen have been peat based which I avoid for environmental reasons anyway. As you've already bought it then I'd say use it but mix it 50 / 50 with something lighter.

[Herbsandveg]

Thank you!

Thank you very much to everyone for all your help and very thought provoking answers. Just one more reason why I love this site so much!

[Bigmallly]

If it's heavy as everyone has stated, would mixing it with vermiculite help?........Just a suggestion.