Bank Loan?

[ChrisG]

I'm (like everyone else I suspect) in the middle of filling containers, potting on, filling Morrisons flower buckets, earthing up bagged spuds etc with compost.

Now I do compost and do buy potting compost in but this year I seem to be buying enourmous amounts. In fact I suspect that I'm keeping the compost companies in the style to which I would like to become accustomed.

I don't begrudge my veggie seedlings the compost but it is costing a fortune. Is it just me or does anyone else have this problem and what is the answer?

Chris

[Sweepster]

Yup

The only answer I can think of is growing stuff in the ground rather than containers - rip up your lawn, get an allotment, stick veg plants in with the flowers? I've just freecycled away 17 paving slabs, and keep finding yet more to pull up, in an effort to make my garden bigger (though my problem is not wanting to sacrifice too much of my flower garden, and it all being rather shady), but I have tons of stuff - beans, potatoes, courgettes, tomatoes, salad - either already in pots/bags, or waiting to go in

[ChrisG]

Growing in the ground is a bit of a problem but I'm slowly gaining ground from her indoors flowers!
I hummed and hawed about an allotment these last 3/4 years now they've all been taken and there is a waiting list!
I have made a raised bed this year and will probabley make 1/2 more for next year but they also need lots to fill them!

[SarzWix]

Yes, the cost of compost is a bit crippling isn't it? It's been bad enough for the last couple of years, but this year is And most of my stuff IS in the ground, but the greenhouse plants are taking loads, and the potatoes in tubs...

[COMPOST CORNER]

I have found Focus DIY's own brand "everyday" (it's their equivalent of Tesco value range) compost to be really good, a few twiggy bits, but on the whole really nice conmpost. They do 50 litre bags for about £2:50 (I think, it's a few weeks since I got mine) and sometimes do buy three for the price of two.

[starloc]

I use the asda 70 litre compost, its 2 for £6, so i get 4 bags a week i use it for most things apart from citrus plants, i add some `blood fish and bone` to it to be sure it has enough nutrition in it as ts the cheapo one, but not had any problems with it

[gojiberry]

I have a lottie, but because I start everything off in modules it does cost me a fortune. I usually buy 3 bags most weeks so a cost of £10 a week. I don't very often buy seed or anything else as I have built up enough pots etc. But then I can think of plenty of hobbies that cost far more than £10 per week. I think a round of golf is more than that.

Ian

[ChrisG]

Don't me started on potato sacks, what a good idea I thought, re use old compost bags, don't take up much room, controlled growth etc etc. Then when I started earthing up I realised that it takes a bag to fill a bag......... DOH!!

[BarleySugar]

I have been lucky the last couple of times I needed compost. My brother is a contractor and has got some work at a garden centre. They allow staff (and contractors) to take away damaged bags for free . He doesn't use it so he hasn't bothered much, but when I was complaining about cost of compost, he got me some bags. Of course you don't get a choice, just whatevers there at the time, but that last lot was John Innes Seed and Potting.
I've almost done now, the greenhouse cues need to go into final pots, but that's the last main job. I gave up on potatoes in pots because of the compost needed, even reusing and some home made wasn't enough. Next year I should have room for some in the ground

[miffy]

Re raised beds taking alot of compost to fill: If you make your bed with planks that are only 6 inches deep and dig up the ground in them then you don't need compost to fill them. One of the past issues of Grow your own had an article on a 'lasagne bed', where you use grass, cardboard and a smaller amount of compost to make a bed, putting in alternate layers.
I am sorry i can't remember which issue it was but that would certainly be cheaper for you and better for the environment as you'd be recycling too.

[Maximillian]

Hi check out thriftyfun.com for lasagna planting

[amandaandherveg]

I'm building another raised bed tomorrow - just as well I was sitting down when I worked out how many litres I need to fill it. Going to use the compost from the spud sacks when the first earlies are ready in a few weeks and top it up with compost from my neighbours enormous heap that she lets me raid.

[Bramble_killer]

wilko's own compost is 15l for 79p. Can't find any cheaper so far and if it's only for potting something on, I usually mix in a bit of the clay soil from the garden as it's great for retaining water and saves a bit.

Spending too much money on compost though, can't wait till my daleks come good next year.

[taff]

I've bought more this year, 6 70ltr bags so far, but that's because I've quadrupled the amount of stuff I'm gorwing, plus I'm growing form seed instead of buyign plants which has taken quite a lot fo compost, but then I console myself with the fact I'll have much more homemade compost next year.

[ardroil]

i get 4 70ltr bags from wicks it was a tenner 6 weeks ago and now its gone up to 12 quid, but it is lovely compost, im on my 4th lot, and i do agree the cost is starting to mount up, and ive no room in my garden for a compost, but we are trying to buy a bit of land behind our house, so fingers crossed,,,,,