peat free compost

[Elliesmummy]

maybe this is a silly question but....

whats the differance between compost and peat free compost other than the fact that 1 doesnt have peat in it?

can you only grow certain things in certain ones and which is the best to use for soft fruit and veggies?

[zazen999]

Well, I have been using Peat Free compost and it doesn't hold water well. It's a bit like shredded bark in places and I find it goes mouldy in the bag quite quickly. I have mixed it with home made compost recently.


But, it seems to have grown some of the best and strongest onion seedlings I've ever had. I planted them out today and the root development was wonderful - and the stems were more advanced than expected.

Interesting.....

[Elliesmummy]

thanks for that zazen999,

OH came back from B&Q yesterday with 3 x 70L bags of it for £10, can i use any left overs - if there are any - to dig in beds in the winter? or would it be better added too the compost bin?

[zazen999]

Yes hon, I would. It's so light it really will help to lift the soil and lighten it up.

[Elliesmummy]

Thankies,
i appreciate your help

[Alison]

Peat free compost is more variable in quality than normal compost. Personally I find that almost all of it is rubbish - not bought it for a few years but the B&Q one was particularly bad about 8 years ago when I first tried it. However, there are also very good ones. I chose to avoid peat where ever possible and find that the New Horizons peat free is really good and usually comes out top in surveys. You have to make sure you don't let it dry out by watering little and often but you should be aiming for that anyway so it forces you into good habits.

[plotman]

Unfortunately ive found all peat free compost rubbish. Even the pro gardeners admit its very poor quality and doesnt hold a candle to traditional peatbased compost. I appreciate we need to protect our wetlands, Im on Wilts/somerset border so am well awre of the needs toprotect this envirament. Whats the answer? No idea but the current peat free isnt

[Jenegade]

I agree the peat free compost I've tried so far are rubbish, it turns to dust so quickly! I'll try and find the New Horizon stuff tho, see if thats any better!

[Alison]

Unfortunately ive found all peat free compost rubbish. Even the pro gardeners admit its very poor quality and doesnt hold a candle to traditional peatbased compost. I appreciate we need to protect our wetlands, Im on Wilts/somerset border so am well awre of the needs toprotect this envirament. Whats the answer? No idea but the current peat free isnt

Honestly the New Horizon stuff is much better , have used it for all everything for the last few years from sowing onwards and it's great. You get a few twiggy bits in it that are a bit big for seeds but are fine for more mature plants.

[srodders]

I've used the new horizon stuff and found it good - actually better than general purpose peat based compost. Also tried Gem PF compost and had nothing but weeds in anypot pot with it in. Now I have my own compost bins though I only use (Westland) John Innes for seeds/potting on and home made for everything else. If I needed to buy any it would be New Horizons PF

[zazen999]

Oh - you lot.

I'm going to have to go now and find out which peat-free compost I've got. GRRRRRR

Its raining and horrible out there.


ETA; YUK....but it's Bulrush Multi Purpose Peat Free.

[sesa]

Peat in the compost pile? I'm going to try that, never thought of it. It's not something you hear about in my neck of the wood's I get loads of compost from a landfill in my county, they collect leaves and such from the houses in town grind them up and compost them, it only costs 15 dollars a ton so I get a couple tons every year for the flower gardens and just started the vegetable garden last fall so I will be getting probably another ton. I don't generate enough here at the house to have enough compost to really do the job.

[bluemoon]

I've been using peat-free for a number of years and the B&Q stuff is awful. Good ones I've found are; New Horizon, West +, and Humax. I admit they're not as good as peat based composts, but who am I to destroy a natural habitat for the sake of my garden?

[Hazel at the Hill]

Peat in the compost pile? I'm going to try that....

Please don't - digging up peat is not good environmentally, and nutritionally your own compost will be both superior, and cheaper.

[zazen999]

Peat in the compost pile? I'm going to try that, never thought of it. It's not something you hear about in my neck of the wood's

I'm hoping that you get the point that there are moves afoot to prevent peat bogs being dug up, not promote it.