good value multi purpose compost

Dustykitten

On an eco note, where possible please try to buy peat free compost.

lynzpower

davethorp wrote: »

I just got 4 bags of 60l compost from homebase for £11.50 (actually for free as I used my nectar points)

Homebases composts came bottom of the Which? Compost trials this year

can you let us know how you go on with it

ALIBOBSY

Dustykitten wrote: »

Often that sort of compost is best as a soil conditioner. What do you want to plant? Seeds need quite fine compost, tubs on annuals, shrubs?

Our council actually call it soil improver rather than compost. Good to add to beds as it is full of fibres to help drainage etc, not much cop for seeds.

ali x

Jnelhams

I always found John Innes Seed Compost the best and the others 1 -3 especially good for top heavy plants in plastic pots, trouble is it is hard to come by and is Heavy compared to soil-less composts. Unlike the various types and brands on the market only the John Innes are made to a specific standard regardless of where you buy them, the only thing to remember is ALL composts go stale in time, so fresh stock should be sought out.

misskool

Dustykitten wrote: »

On an eco note, where possible please try to buy peat free compost.

I would if they made one was that any good. Every time I try one the compost either dries out too quickly or just doesn't seem to keep plants as healthy as the peat based ones. If you can recommend an excellent value for money one I'll be happy to try but they are impossible to keep moist (IMHO).

Jnelhams

John Innes uses only small amounts of Peat compared to others, and stays wetter longer.

CandyB101_2

I've just brought some more multi-purpose compost from B&M, 40 litres for £1.99, it says 'with added John Innes'. It's not the finest of composts that I have had in the past, but my pansy's are blooming well and at that price I'm more than happy

I recently tried a bag from Homebase (light brown bag) it was horrible, very woody, just like it had come out of the compost bin too early.

Jnelhams

CandyB101 wrote: »

I've just brought some more multi-purpose compost from B&M, 40 litres for £1.99, it says 'with added John Innes'. It's not the finest of composts that I have had in the past, but my pansy's are blooming well and at that price I'm more than happy

I recently tried a bag from Homebase (light brown bag) it was horrible, very woody, just like it had come out of the compost bin too early.

Never come across with "added John Innes" - John Innes is a specific mixture dreamt up by the John Innes Institute. You can google it for loads of info on the stuff.

morg_monster

I'm going to have a new raised bed to fill next week and sadly no home made compost to put in it (yet) or topsoil on offer ... Think we need about 600L, omg.

I too found the B&Q 125l for £6.98 and there's also a local garden centre with westland MP compost, £4.99 for 120l at the moment which I though was good. Hopefully this will do me OK for this growing season and then for next spring I'll dig in some manure etc to it over the winter, maybe we'll even have some of our own compost by then!

Jnelhams

morg_monster wrote: »

I'm going to have a new raised bed to fill next week and sadly no home made compost to put in it (yet) or topsoil on offer ... Think we need about 600L, omg.

I too found the B&Q 125l for £6.98 and there's also a local garden centre with westland MP compost, £4.99 for 120l at the moment which I though was good. Hopefully this will do me OK for this growing season and then for next spring I'll dig in some manure etc to it over the winter, maybe we'll even have some of our own compost by then!

Try looking at Wilkinsons website they do bulk amounts of topsoil as do Wicks.