Peat free.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Because I don't have any soil and concrete slabs would take some mixing.

Potty.

[Olorin2001]

John Innes composts have known constituents, so where ever you buy them, what ever name in on the label you know what your getting. Multi-purpose and other fancy named composts have no standardized formulation, so what your buying is pot luck at best. Might I suggest that if you want to be peat free then try coir (coconut fibre) comes in compressed block that you hydrate and add your own soil, perlite, sand and such to construct a compost - plus the fertiliser of your choice. So you have a know product to work with, repeatable year on year.

[iam]

before the introduction of peat based compost people used to collect soil from mole hills and mix it with course sand if you wish to sterilize the soil you can put small amounts into the oven of microwave (in my case while my wife is out) the soil is basically used as a means of retaining moisture.
I suppose I should remember that not every one can step out their back door into a garden or the countryside.

[Two_Sheds]

Might I suggest that if you want to be peat free then try coir

Most of us have, and found it lacking. It dries out far too quickly. I've tried it in all kind of mixes, but I can't get on with it.

I know it's a by-product, it gives employment to the locals, and tends to travel by boat rather than air-miles ... but I don't like it.


I prefer to use my own, locally gathered, zero air-miles, leafmould. It just isn't ready this year (it takes 2 years to get a really good crumbly texture).
2011's gatherings are still looking like leaves. I need to empty them out on the lawn, mow it all, with the lawn clippings, and re-bag it.