Which is the best value multipurpose compost this year? (2013) Which to avoid?

[greenishfing]

Last year, I bought some of my usual Wickes MPC only to discover that it had changed dramatically and was full of rubbish. I then tried various other brands and in the end bought Asda's own brand (with peat) for my big tomato, cucumber and pepper buckets. I was very happy with the results.

When it came to seed sowing this year I asked my sister what she was using and she'd already planted (being more organised than me) using the last of last years Asda MPC. She said everything was germinating fine so I've used it too and had excellent germination rates.

Knowing however how composts vary dramatically from year to year and having now practically run out of last years supply has anyone tried any of this years stock of the reasonably priced composts.

More to the point which ones, if any should I avoid?

[Veggielot]

Rubbish in compost seems to be a common theme this year in many brands. I have twigs and plastic in my B&Q mpc. I think the general quality/look of mpc has deteriorated with the move away from peat based compost and is something we will have to get use to.

[darcyvuqua]

I used a bag of tescos compost last week as its all I could get seems my plants love it and was no real issues with debris or twigs

[veggiechicken]

I usually buy JAB reduced peat MPC - its 6 x 56ltr bags for £20 at the Garden Group. They have New Horizon peat free at the same price. This was Which Best Buy in 2012.

[4390evans]

I got 3 bags from the quid shop and only for 1 tiny bit of white plastic and a couple of twigs and all my stuff is coming along grand. ( I say quid shop they were reduced from £3.99) 15ltrs

[SarzWix]

I bought 3 bags of JA Bower's 50l MPC for £10 from the GC the other day and its terrible stuff, never again! It absolutely stinks, especially when it gets warm, so the propogators have had to be moved. It's also coarse, full of huge lumps of bark, makes your hands totally black, and the icing on the cake? Two lumps of metal with sharp edges which could have cut my hands if I hadn't have been riddling it through a sieve

Erin has been the nicest to use, but has lots of coir. New Horizon is the nicest of the peat free;

[BigJim]

Although it's very peaty, I've stuck with B and Q this year for seed sowing. There has been the odd foreign object but they have been big and obvious so I haven't needed to sieve. Everything seems to grow well in it. The 125 litre bags are the best value at 4.78p a litre, as opposed to 5.55p a litre under the 3 x 60 litre for £10 special offer.

[WendyC]

I bought Miracle Grow Expand n Gro after reading good report from Which.I wouldn't buy it again. Firstly it is meant to expand to 50 litres, I think I got about 35 litres. Also a real faff to soak and stir and leave until ready to use. No popping out to repot something quickly. Finally it smells horrible.
Agree with comments about JA Bowers multipurpose. Will stick with New Horizon in the future.

[veggiechicken]

I must have been lucky with my JAB as I've used 3 bags and they've been fine. The odd twiggy bit but nothing out of the ordinary.

[Madasafish]

This year I have used B&Q Verve with added John Innes.

No foreign objects, few lumps, good germination.

Quite acceptable.

[mrswadders]

I'm using homebase MPC and MPC plus this year as usual, having been using in for years now and always get good results, have not had any 'rubbish' or big twigs etc so far and i'm probably on my 5th 120 litre bag!!!!

[darcyvuqua]

I bought 3 bags of JA Bower's 50l MPC for £10 from the GC the other day and its terrible stuff, never again! It absolutely stinks, especially when it gets warm, so the propogators have had to be moved. It's also coarse, full of huge lumps of bark, makes your hands totally black, and the icing on the cake? Two lumps of metal with sharp edges which could have cut my hands if I hadn't have been riddling it through a sieve

Erin has been the nicest to use, but has lots of coir. New Horizon is the nicest of the peat free;

I lost a lot of chillies this year thought it was me over watering but when I binned the chillies the compost was full of mould and absolutely stunk I saved a few by changing the compost and washing the roots

[Mikey]

My JAB like Sarz is really poor, I had a good variety of products, metal foil, plastic, silicon sealant, bark and wood chips. My pumpkins, sweetcorn, and courgettes don't seem to mind though, so the 3 for £10 doesn't seem too bad on the whole.

[The Large One]

As above
B&Q Verve has been the best i have found this year...
125 litre bag £5.98
which is good as in my setup this year i need 30 bags of it

[Bren In Pots]

I also buy the 125ltr B&Q Verve for sowing seeds then I mix it with my own compost for potting on.