compost

[libbyloulou]

Why is there no sell by date on ?? i'm sure iv'e had rancid compost 2 yrs in a row from bnq, don't go there no more, changed to another and have good germination this year

[Two_Sheds]

we always get our compost from b.n.q, its always been ok apart from great big undigested lumps of wood, which is a bit annoying but you gets what you pay for.

[Digger-07]

I alway look at how big the stock pile is and get compost after it's been renewed. It might not be new stuff but it's likely to be fresher than the part used pile.

[moggssue]

Probably a daft question, but can compost go off? I just thought it would last for years ... shows what I know hey?!

[rustylady]

If compost is home-made, left in a pile (either covered or uncovered) it will just carry on rotting down into finer and finer stuff. If you're talking about supermarket compost which is packed in plastic bags or bales, with added fertilisers, then the compost itself doesn't "go off", but the fertiliser may well lose it's effectiveness. Germination is a funny question, the fault may be in the compost, or it may be in the seed itself, or it may be in the conditions you provide. It can be quite unpredictable. This year I've used B & Q multi-purpose compost again (I've found it very good for the price) and some of my seeds have done very well and some have been absolutely pathetic. Seed has been fresh (or I have bought fresh seed when the old ones have failed). Squashes, tomatoes, chillies have been excellent, brassicas a bit iffy, and sweetcorn has been pathetic despite buying fresh seed, so maybe it's the weather?

[Digger-07]

I'ved used New Horizons peat free compost for everything this year and had very good results with seeds and transplants. Even the toms are doing well in it.

[vertangie]

BTW Aldi has 40 litre bags of organic compost for 1.99 a bag. Don't know if it's peat free though.

[Stacey]

I used Homebase Organic compost. Do all composts smell like farms? I can handle OH not too keen lol. is it a good idea to pay out for organic or not? At least nothing in that can go off i suppose xx

[Stacey]

whats the difference between peat free and not? and i am so going to aldi tomorow

[Stacey]

oh wait is 40 litres alot? I am baaaad with things like that. just say if its a small,medium or large bag lol.

[snohare]

Medium, Stacey - about 4 buckets worth...8 supermarket carrier bags...0.00015 % of an Olympic swimming pool...
Peat free stuff doesn't entail the destruction of peat bogs. (With the atttendant, large carbon emissions caused as the area dries out.) Although many manufacturers suggest that they use peat from peat bogs that are not "vulnerable" ie have lots of biodiversity, the plain fact of the matter is that if you destroy an area upstream or downstream of another, more species rich, "valuable" peat bog, you adversely influence its biodiversity. Personally, I have found that shop bought compost, particularly this year, is pretty variable. Some of the really cheap stuff is actually recycled potting compost from growing centres. I think the companies are struggling to get enough raw materiel to meet demand, and I heard of one very well known brand where a large quantity was not sterilised properly and full of weed seeds that germinated !
Some of the organic peat free stuff is wonderful, some of it is a wee bittie woody. If you have a local council that produces compost from garden waste collections then that can be fabulous. (And dirt cheap. : )

[Digger-07]

Another concern about the use of peat is where it comes from. Because we are more concerned in the west about destruction of the environment many firms are now getting the raw material for their compost from eastern europe. On the one hand it can help the local economy but only if the supplier is ethical about the way it's bought. The major down side to the trade (apart from the destruction of the planet) is the number of 40 tonne lorries it takes to transport the peat to the factories and then the bags to the garden centre.

[SarzWix]

I've had some real problems with compost this year, tried some 'peat free' and had iffy germination, and the ones which did germinate struggled until i potted up into an ordinary multi-purpose. Then I saw 'Gem' Multi Purpose with added John Innes on special offer (3 for 2) at the garden centre, so bought them, Unfortunately, everytime I've used it, I've ended up with loads of weeds popping up among the seedlings, I think either dandelion or dock as the roots are ridiculously long. Very disappointed, so I'm now trying my own compost mixed with garden soil and sand - if I'm going to get weed seeds might as well get them free! Results pending....

[Alison]

I've used New Horizons peat free compost for everything this year and had very good results with seeds and transplants. Even the toms are doing well in it.

I've used that for the past 2 or 3 years and it's always good stuff. A bit more expensive than the standard multi purpose stuff but I can't find any other peat free that are any good and I made a conscious decision to avoid peat a few years ago. I think that this one has won various surveys.

[Digger-07]

Good for you and the planet Alison,

The local "expert " at the gardening club always looks at those of us that value ecology as a bity cranky. It's amazing how many of us are thinking of forming a new group because of the lack of any concern with some (committee) members of the old group!!