B&Q compost

[Ken the Chef]

Has any one else had any problems with the B&Q VERVE compost.
I have used B&Q compost for the past few years without any problems, but this year I have had many.
1. poor to no germination
2. slow groth.
3. a lot of dieback after repotting on
4. stunted groth.
I have had to knock all the compost off before planting on.
the Tomatoes were a good example; once into a good compost they shot away.
Any more examples of this????????????

[Matt94]

Nope its been great for me - good germination rates, good texture ect, and all the plants like toms, cuc's ect are growing well (as well as can be with the current weather!)

[chris]

I don't use it anymore, I tried it again with their rebrand but it's the same as it was previously (peat free wise). Full of bark, extremely difficult to re-wet if the pot has dried out.

I've mixed what I have left with new horizon peat free.

[The Large One]

iv'e switch to verve from an unsucsessful Wickes batch and found it to be the best of anything currently available. if i pot my chilli's on in the compost on its own then it can form a crust and difficult to re-wet but a quick poke around works fine but 99% of the time i add perlite for better drainage and find it perfect for what i'm using it for

[rustylady]

I've found that generally the standard of most composts has gone down in the last couple of years. Maybe because there is more demand it's not being left to compost for long enough?

[Ian_5]

I've found that generally the standard of most composts has gone down in the last couple of years. Maybe because there is more demand it's not being left to compost for long enough?

cost engineering i suspect... they want to supply at the same price so they remain competitive but overheads are increasing, I guess they maintain there margins by using cheaper (and probably inferior) materials.

[hollychap]

i got a bag to try after it was recomended by a neighbour who wont use anything else , it came in handy when i earthed up my tatties

[Potstubsdustbins]

After getting a load of Wickes rubbish, their standard has gone right down. I tried a bag of Verve peat in this year and was most impressed much better than their last offerings.

Colin

[Shadylane]

The New Horizon was garbage this year, no oomph whatsoever but I suspect that was because it was left out in the rain for all the nutrients to leach out. It weighed a ton and was sopping wet when I bought it. I recently bought some Vital Earth and that is just horrid. I think it should be re-labelled as wood chippings not compost.

[veggiechicken]

Actually, its the first time I've tried New Horizon and I'm not very impressed but I didn't want to say anything as it seems to be so popular on here. My seedlings just didn't thrive in it.

[Two_Sheds]

The New Horizon was garbage this year ... I think it should be re-labelled as wood chippings not compost.

I'm the first to stand up and recommend NH, however: this batch I'm using is really, really woody. It's also got pebbles, glass & plastic in it.


I think companies are now trying to make stuff "on the cheap"

[veggiechicken]

I think companies are now trying to make stuff "on the cheap"

On the cheap, and peat free because that's what they should be doing. So we end up buying any old rubbish to satisfy our consciences but not our pockets or our crops. We're caught between a rock and a hard place, folks, and I don't like it!!

[realfood]

Ken you do not say what type of verve it was. I am using the peat type verve and everything is growing fine in it.

[smc999]

Homebase mpc everytime for me.
I've bought it for the last 5 years after trying just about everything else on the market.
Never had a problem with germination, potting on etc.

[Ger-annie-um]

I've used violet farm mpc for the past 3 years and it's lovely stuff. 3 bags for a tenner (although they are only 60l) I found J A Bowers and the new wickes one awful, I had to sieve it and threw a lot away. Anyone close to Chepstow garden centre..........give it a go