Peat free..........

Pixiechic

I have been reading some articles about peat free and I am going to switch due to the wildlife and environmental factors.

I read on the RHS website that government targets are that we are going to be peat free by 2020, I hadn't heard anything about it!

Is there much growing difference between peat compost and peat free compost? Is peat free more expensive? I will still buy it, just wondering about the cost factor.

The guardian suggest New Horizon organic and peat free multi purpose or vital earth multipurpose. The only negative I have read about peat free is that it can be inconsistent bag to bag?

Just wondered if any tips from you more experienced people

Leif

New Horizon is consistent in my experience. Following on from the other thread, I have never used peat based compost, so I cannot compare them. Hopefully someone will comment on that aspect.

sobie

I agree with Leif, new horizon in my experience is very consistant.

There is very little need to use peat anymore, the vast majority of our growers use peat free now.

A._Badger

sobie wrote: »

I agree with Leif, new horizon in my experience is very consistant.

There is very little need to use peat anymore, the vast majority of our growers use peat free now.

So you keep insisting. Amusingly, I notice even the BBC's Beechgrove Garden were using it on last week's episode. I wonder if the BBC's eco-enforcers were alerted?

Many experienced gardeners disagree with you - and I'm one of them. Especially for raising fine seeds, but also in potting applications where, for example, a John Innes formula is sometimes preferable, peat remains the sensible choice.

Pixiechic

Thank you, I've been trying to find out what the actual significant part of peat in growing is!

Thanks A Badger, I will check the BBC Beechgrove Garden online. I don't watch tv really but love Gardeners Question Time on radio 4!

So I might have some issues with seeds and potting with Peat free. I will look into a workaround, maybe adding some fine sand could help?
I shall do some more research.

Thanks all

A._Badger

Pixiechic wrote: »

Thank you, I've been trying to find out what the actual significant part of peat in growing is!

Thanks A Badger, I will check the BBC Beechgrove Garden online. I don't watch tv really but love Gardeners Question Time on radio 4!

So I might have some issues with seeds and potting with Peat free. I will look into a workaround, maybe adding some fine sand could help?
I shall do some more research.

Thanks all

There are several problems with the peat-free composts, Pixiechic. The main one for seed sowing is the lack of a fine enough structure. You could probably help by adding some horticultural sand but the main thing to do is sieve it. Even then, whether you will get a fine enough structure for very small seeds, is moot.

Personally, I have gone back to using JI seed formula for fine seeds and I know I'm not alone.

Potting is a different matter. If you have a subject that needs a robust compost (say a fruit bush in a pot) a JI type will usually offer better drainage and, more importantly, will hold higher buffer reserves of water and nutrient

There may be a peat-free compost that meets these criteria but I have yet to see it.

That said, the quality of peat inclusive composts sold to the public is now so poor that the difference between the two types is narrowing quickly.

Itismehonest

It's incredibly hard to find a really decent compost now. They all seem to be rubbish. The old peat composts were better at holding water, IMO. Saving peat seems to be done at the cost of increased use of water.

savemoney

I been using the B&Q own stuff, and come across thick bits of twigs and several bits of plastic. Latest bit I found today was plastic string the type you get some plastic bags that builders use it looks like material that's sown into bags.

Pixiechic

Thank you, very helpful. I will also get some fine sand in order to grow seed, which is mainly what I use the compost for. I will sieve it first, thanks, I hope it's not too full of chunks and twigs!

Maybe I need to invest in a bigger water butt, I'll see how I get on.

I too recently bought a couple of large bags of B and Q Verve compost. The texture is acceptable but I too have found a lot of bits of plastic and twigs in it. I always break the compost down with my hands now, I don't trust it to be fine enough for seeds. Looks like I could have a bigger issue with the peat free but I will try New Horizon which is most recommended and hopefully, it will be fine

Interesting to see how they get on with it on BBC!

Thank you, great help

poorly_scammo

Durston's compost is good. Quite fine with very few twigs and sticks. Not peat free I'm afraid. For those in West Yorkshire, it's available at Price Pounder BD4.

P.S. Durston's do a peat free version but I've never seen it for sale or tried it.

Leif

A._Badger wrote: »

Especially for raising fine seeds, but also in potting applications where, for example, a John Innes formula is sometimes preferable, peat remains the sensible choice.

In your opinion perhaps, but not in mine.

Back to the OP, peat does have the disadvantage that if it drives out it can be very hard to get wet again.