Seed compost vs Westlands Organic Vegetable Growing Compost?

[Racheleonie]

Hello!

I just wondered if I could gather some advice from some gardening veterans? =) I'm a new (and very excited) about-to-be vegetable grower, about to start off by planting some tumbling red tom seeds and a variety of pepper seeds into a heated propagator. I have two bags of Westlands Organic Vegetable Growing Compost and wondered whether if I sieve this it would be suitable for seed sowing? I've seen on other threads that many people just used mpc, but I wonder whether the same applies to the veg growing compost? If seed compost is more appropriate, any recommendations?

Look forward to hearing!

Many thanks,

Rachel

[rustylady]

Hi Rachel. Welcome to the Vine.

I've never used the Westland compost, so can't really comment on it. No reason not to use it though (I use multipurpose compost for everything including seed sowing).

You shouldn't need to sieve it unless it's really lumpy.

Where are you going to be growing your tomatoes and peppers? Do you have a greenhouse?

[Newton]

I use these to create little plug plants to grow on or plant out......I find that using sieved or seed compost best due to the size of the plugs.....they are excellent and lost a long time.....I've had mine for 3 years so far and they are like new......they are in constant use....

http://www.amazon.co.uk/AGRALAN-COMP.../dp/B002SZ09QU

Welcome to the vine Rachel......it's a great forum.....

[Potstubsdustbins]

If its anything like the Westmoorlands I bought a few years back you will need to riddle it to fine it down making it suitable for seed sowing.

Potty

[Racheleonie]

Hello,

Thank you both for your quick and helpful replies.

Newton - thank you for the recommendation, I'll see how I go with this heated propagator and perhaps come back to your recommendation as I begin to grow more!

Rustylady - I don't have a greenhouse, so was just going to stick the propagator (38cm heated one by Botantico) on top of a bookshelf near a window. Then just grow on inside until late May before hardening off and planting out. These plans are based almost entirely on books rather than experience, so advice from experienced gardeners like yourselves is a real gift, please feel free to put me right if there are better ways of doing things! My main reservation with the Westlands veg growing compost is that it is advertised as being very high in nutrients, possibly not so good for seeds?

Many thanks,

Rachel

[rustylady]

Your plans are fine as long as you have windowsill space. Don't forget to take the pots out of the propagator as soon as the seeds germinate.

Whereabouts are you? If you add your location to your profile it will show up on your posts. Conditions vary a lot throughout the UK, so location can affect advice given.

Are you planning to grow any other fruit or veg?

[Two_Sheds]

Westlands Organic Vegetable Growing Compost

... is just MPC with added fertiliser


You're paying for someone to add the feed for you.

[Racheleonie]

Hello!

Thank you Potty and Two Sheds for your replies too! Some tom seeds and sweet pepper ones have now been sown (in John Innes seed compost, I stumbled upon some yesterday in Wilkos!), very exciting!

Rusty Lady - thank you again for your reply and helpful advice. Yes, I've been given (as a wedding present) lots of lovely things to grow! In addition to the tumbling toms and peppers (6 varieties: sweet banana, corno di torro rosso, fresno, jalapeno, purple beauty and red cherry), I'm hoping to grow climbing beans (cobra), savoy cabbage (ormskirk, late), carrots (autumn king 2), and courgette (gold rush, f1). The heated propagator I bought also came with some free seeds - cabbage (greyhound), purple sprouting broccoli, basil, carrots (nantes), tomatoes, salad leaf lettuce mix and herb rocket. Out of those, the broccoli, salad leaf mix and rocket are particularly appealing! Everything I grow will probably end up in raised beds, bags or hanging baskets. I wonder if any of the above go particularly well when planted together?

Thanks so much for your help,
This is a lovely community indeed!

Rachel

[Two_Sheds]

The heated propagator I bought also came with some free seeds - cabbage (greyhound), purple sprouting broccoli, ... carrots (nantes),... salad leaf lettuce mix and herb rocket.

That's interesting, because none of those should be started in a heated propagator