which compost should I use?

[neil1280]

After a varied first year im just about to start getting some seeds together to start for the year, I want to grow, pea's, bean's, cherry tom's, courgette's and a few different salad leaves

what compost should I buy? should I buy the more expensive ones?

I also saw some boxes of feeds in poundland, they are so cheap but are they any use?

Thanks, Neil

[Two_Sheds]

I want to grow, pea's, bean's, cherry tom's, courgette's and a few different salad leaves

You growing in containers? You don't need expensive compost, but choose peat free if you care about the peat bogs & their wildlife (there're several older threads on this issue)

As to feed, tomatoes like a high potash feed (I use free comfrey tea on all my crops - again, plenty of older threads on comfrey and organic feeds).

Blood fish & bone is cheap and organic, a good slow-release balanced fertiliser. Growmore is the same but synthetic not organic

Peas & beans fix their own nitrogen in their roots, and salad doesn't need feeding at all. Courgettes are so prolific anyway that I avoid feeding them - I end up overrun already

[pauco]

Well Nei, you just got the best advice from T/S, so good luck with your crops.

paul.

[neil1280]

Yes 2 shed's in containers, and I intend on making a couple of raised bed's on a concrete patio

On that note, if im making a bed on a concrete patio floor should i put something at the bottom of the bed to allow for drainage? some rubble or something?

You put tea on the crops??

thanks

[Two_Sheds]

if im making a bed on a concrete patio floor should i put something at the bottom of the bed to allow for drainage? some rubble or something?

yes definitely

You put tea on the crops??

Comfrey tea, yes

[Potstubsdustbins]

Re your raised bed on a concrete standing I have 2 about 9" deep nothing in the bottom the compost went straight onto the concrete.

If the beds are just stood on the concrete not sealed to it drainage will happen quite naturally excess water will just run off between bottom of the sides of the bed and the concrete.

That way you get maximum depth of growing medium for your plants.

Colin