Types of Compost?

[mbronco27_03]

Went to Focus today, as I wanted to start planting my little seeds out, so thought I should go buy compost for growing, and low and behold, lots of different composts to buy!!!

Which is best to go for? I was told to go for John Innes No 1. Is this right for vegatable seeds?

I want to try get best result, need advice please!!!

Can anyone help?

Stu

[FionaH]

I just use ordinary multi purpose compost. For sowing fine seeds I put it through a garden sieve to get rid of the lumps and twigs

[Snadger]

I use John Innes type composts for potting on into but find the seed compost dries out very quickly.
Buy a small amount of a few types and see what YOU favour......that's the best way!

[Two_Sheds]

I just use multi-purpose, blended with a bit of coir if I have some; I tried the "proper" seed compost once and didn't like it.

[Eyren]

I use peat-free multi-purpose, but be aware that the quality and texture varies a lot. Westland Organic Vegetable Growing Compost is probably the best I've tried so far - my seed potatoes are going great guns!

On the other hand, even the rather coarse West+ stuff hasn't been a disaster. I reckon that plenty of light, the right temperature and careful watering (neither too much nor too little) are more important than the compost - as long as it's halfway decent stuff, you should get plants to grow in it.

[Fluorescent green]

Hi

I buy peat free compost, but if the seeds are very small I cover with a small amount of John Innes soil based seed compost.

FG

[mbronco27_03]

So does that mean the general consenus is that John Innes isnt any good for seeds then?
I saw a bag 2 x bags of Miracle-Gro All Purpose Compost 50L for £10 or 1 x bag of John Innes No 1 25L for £4.49.

Would that miracle grow be ok for composts? or would it be better to use the seeding one? or buy both and mix it?

Come on people, I need advice here, I wanted to buy it tonight, I'm late getting my seeds in!!!!

[zazen999]

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ost_28437.html

Search 'innes' and you will find all sorts of opinions, the above being the latest.

As Snadger says, it's really up to you in the end which suits you.

I'm using a mix of peat free, my own compost and sand for my seedlings and they go into peat free mixed with well rotted manure when potted on.

[piskieinboots]

As is said above and elsewhere, it is down to personal choice, I don't like JI, I find it too heavy - I use a mix of multi-purpose, perlite and sand - covering fine seed with just MP using a sieve for a very fine coverage.

Remember that the seed has all it needs in the way of nutrients to get it started in life, all we are doing is giving it the medium (water, air etc) to get going

[mbronco27_03]

Fair enough, well in that case, I will try the Miracle-Gro All Purpose Compost, good value as well 100litres for £10. Near to my house used to be a sand and gravel pit, so the soil drains well. no clay, and is easy to dig into!!!
Will buy tonight, and start potting later!

Heres another questions for the peeps - Why is it, I dig over my new formed veggie patch, no stones on surface, and a few days later, its like someone has been scattering stones all over the raised bed!!! Does the rain, the worms, the soil bring them to the surface?

As seen in the two pics I have attached, I now have 4 raised beds that are 3m x 3m.

[piskieinboots]

take care on what sand you use M - I only use horticultural graded

[Sweepster]

Does the rain, the worms, the soil bring them to the surface?

I think that must be the case; the same thing happens with mine. Just when you think you've removed every single stone and bit of glass...

Don't worry too much about types of compost - there is no 'wrong' answer. I initially thought that doing it 'properly' meant using John Innes Seed, then No1, No2, No3 etc. Then I saw a woman on a gardening programme who works as head gardener at some beautiful entrance-fee-charging place - and she uses multipurpose for everything. I buy whichever peat-free has the best multibuy deal at the time, and as a relative newbie I haven't encountered anything I wouldn't use again - you will develop preferences though, and eventually make up your own secret formulas

Your raised beds look ace - bet you can't wait to see them stuffed full of lovely plants

[zazen999]

It's like anything, if you put a handful of soil in a tray and shake it, the stones and larger bits will rise to the surface [same happens when making pastry and you are breaking the butter down prior to adding the liquid]. Either centrifugal/petal forces [depending on which way you see it], the soil heaving through the winter, soil movement through the year etc etc.

[piskieinboots]

Engineer alert....

It's like anything, if you put a handful of soil in a tray and shake it, ......etc etc.

[zazen999]

C'mon...I said it was the same with pastry...

Hmm...might make some cakes or a pie - only 1 more weigh-in before my holiday and I need it today.