Dont't buy Westfields multi purpose compost

[afrench108]

Hi veggies, just a little info about the multi purpose compost with added John Innes, I purchased 6 bags from local DIY centre(guess who!!)
chose the WESTFIELD as it was best on offer, and got it home, cut open to sieve for my potting on needs and found the bags full of straw like material, FULL OF STONES and GRAVEL...no use for anything!!! Shop wouldn't take it back so i threw it in my potatoe sacks...what a waste...

It's even worse as i have already potted on using WICKES mpc, all my seedlings are now in green compost...worst one i have ever bought so redone them all..feeling let down and in future i'm sticking to top brands..whatever the cost...

Emailed WEstfields to complain but has anyone else had this s***....

[rustylady]

I don't like John Innes compost. Always get my MCP from B & Q - never had any problems. Having said that, I think you need to get an address for Westfield and register a formal complaint. At the very least you should get your money refunded. All large companies have a time limit for acknowledging complaints, and if you don't get any joy from Westfield then contact your local Trading Standards Office.

[greengas]

I Always get B&Q mpc also came out tops in magazines test with germination rates!

[weekendwellies]

It sounds like something has gone wrong with the sieving system there. And you got a bag of stuff that should have been discarded.

[T8Ter]

I'm with Rustylady and greengrass, B&Q outperforms any compost I've tried previously (at all prices) the closest I've had to match is the Miracle grow, but that's double/three times the price.

[Snadger]

A friend of mine bought 6 bags of the same stuff...........and it IS carp!

What the heck does added John Innes mean? In this instance it means 50% peat, a lot of soil, a tiny bit of sand and a lot of soil conditioner full of woodchippings and stones!

I agree with afrench108 and would like to think there would be some restitution.....but I very much doubt it.

PS Just to say, I use, and rate my home made JI compost but it sure don't look, feel or smell like the aforementioned carp.

This year I got 4 bags of Wickes's own brand 75 Litre bags for £12 and it appears to be good stuff!

[Florence Fennel]

I've used Wickes for the last 3 years as we have a store fairly close by and it's been good. The offer is on at the moment for 4 for £12.

[chris]

I didn't have any gravel in there, but it does have straw in it (in about 10 bags of what I currently have opened). Wasn't *that* concerned about it, as you shoul have seen the 2.5 tonnes of topsoil I had, that was really _bad_. (came with car number plates, glass, plastic bits from toys, grit, rubble, stones, and a sprinkling of compost over the top).

I was using it for spuds too, so that's why I wasn't that concerned... Did find it a bit odd though, as the stuff I had previous to taht didn't look like that.

[Rixy]

I've used Humax mpc for the past 3 years and have found it to be excellent in all respects. Good water retention, no lumps, lovely stuff to use and an excellent price @ £3.75 for a 75 litre bag from the allotment association at Shiremoor .

[ginger ninger]

I given 2 x 20 litre and bought 6 x 20 litre MPC from our local council recycle centre, it's really fine, doesn't smell and hasn't got a bale of straw, twigs or a tonne of brick's in it like the 2 bag's of WESTFIELD I bought from B&Q, I used there seed compost and it was great, so I haven't got a clue what went wrong with there MPC.

[Maddie106]

Hi veggies, just a little info about the multi purpose compost with added John Innes, I purchased 6 bags from local DIY centre(guess who!!)
chose the WESTFIELD as it was best on offer, and got it home, cut open to sieve for my potting on needs and found the bags full of straw like material, FULL OF STONES and GRAVEL...no use for anything!!! Shop wouldn't take it back so i threw it in my potatoe sacks...what a waste...

It's even worse as i have already potted on using WICKES mpc, all my seedlings are now in green compost...worst one i have ever bought so redone them all..feeling let down and in future i'm sticking to top brands..whatever the cost...

Emailed WEstfields to complain but has anyone else had this s***....

I'm glad it's not just me that's finding a load of junk in bags of compost!
I'm on my last bag of Miracle grow, which has been fine, but IS expensive.

I think I'll take Snagers advice and try B&Q's own.
For the information of more mature vines, B&Q do a 10% off card if you're over 60 (but you can only use it on a wednesday), but I'm sure you knew that already.

[afrench108]

Glad i'm not alone... must admit i have just bought the miracle grow for vegetables, and used there seedlings compost. All VERY good with pure material but was expensive..
Today i opened my john artheur bowers grow bags as i empty the bags into 12inch pots for tomatoes, and suprise suprise i found all sorts of sticks and rubbish in there...they are usually very good quality...

Whatever is happening to the compost suppliers

[helly]

I have been using Homebase own brand tomato grow bags and my seedlings are loving it, £1.59 ~66 ltr. i just add small amount of sand and they are away ....

[afrench108]

quic update, FINALLY got correspondance from Westfields, in form of a sample bag and pre paid envelope!!!

Filled it and returned it to Ireland so wait and see...

[ginger ninger]

Shamrock M.P.C is good and is on special at Focus 2 x 75 litre bags for £10. It's moist, crumbly and smells nice as well.