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

djohn2002uk

I shan't go for peat free either unless there's no alternative. Tried some from Dobbies couple of years ago (only because they had over stocked and I bought 11 25lt bags at 37p a bag) and it was rubbish and performed just like Leifs view of peat. Just dried out very quickly and didn't hold water when you tried to wet it again. I ended up mixing it with Godwins multi purpose.
I still find Godwins multi purpose and thier grow bags as good as anything and we can get 3x70lt bags for £11 locally.
One thing is not to let it dry out to the extent that it struggles to hold water.

A._Badger

djohn2002uk wrote: »

I shan't go for peat free either unless there's no alternative. Tried some from Dobbies couple of years ago (only because they had over stocked and I bought 11 25lt bags at 37p a bag) and it was rubbish and performed just like Leifs view of peat. Just dried out very quickly and didn't hold water when you tried to wet it again. I ended up mixing it with Godwins multi purpose.
I still find Godwins multi purpose and thier grow bags as good as anything and we can get 3x70lt bags for £11 locally.
One thing is not to let it dry out to the extent that it struggles to hold water.

A couple of drops of washing up liquid will help re-wetting.

Pixiechic

Great tip with the washing up liquid, thanks

I've had a great day today in the garden, managed to fix the greenhouse, sown lots of my salad seeds and I've now used up all of my peat compost.

I shall get some New Horizon peat free this weekend and see how it is in comparison. I will get some fine sand because my clay soil could do with some too .

I will let you know how I get on

Yorkie1

The amount of sand you need to improve clay soil is so disproportionate that you shouldn't get your hopes up about it. Addition of organic matter makes far more difference.

We have peat-free New Horizon compost in our allotment shop, as well as Clover peat compost.

Many growers have tried NH for growing seeds, and have either given up completely or had to mix it with peat compost for an acceptably small structure.

I'm sticking with Clover until I have absolutely no choice.

A._Badger

Yorkie1 wrote: »

Many growers have tried NH for growing seeds, and have either given up completely or had to mix it with peat compost for an acceptably small structure.

I'm sticking with Clover until I have absolutely no choice.

Don't try to blind the peat lobby with practical experience! They know far better than the rest of us, after all...

Leif

I find NH perfectly fine for germinating and growing chillis, tomatoes, courgettes, rocket (fine seed) and other stuff, and for potting up ornamental plants. I prefer to use my own compost, but there is a limit to how much I can make.

A._Badger wrote: »

Don't try to blind the peat lobby with practical experience! They know far better than the rest of us, after all...

You have a very aggressive and confrontational writing style. Rather than belittle other people with such childish put downs, and use abusive terms as you did in another thread, why not just tell us what you have found. :mad:

A._Badger

Leif wrote: »

I



You have a very aggressive and confrontational writing style. Rather than belittle other people with such childish put downs, and use abusive terms as you did in another thread, why not just tell us what you have found. :mad:

And you have a patronising style based on what is, clearly from your posts, really very limited gardening experience. This is coupled with an awfully high opinion of yourself - witness the hard time you have been giving those posters to this forum who are concerned about the proposed changes in EU seed regulations.

Frankly, I'd put you on ignore (I'd hardly miss any useful information!) but it's worth keeping an eye on the stuff you post, if only on a pro bono basis.

savemoney

I always reuse my compost I tend to throw it in Dalek composter along with organic matter which I use in my raised beds and pots all accept seeds, still always seem to buy a few medium sized bags each year plus I give some of my own compost to MIL as her soil is poor. I have no problem using peat free other than bits of twigs and some plastic I just throw them away. My main issue is damn weather and everything is late this year

Looking forward to moving and get a decent sized garden and GH here is hoping. Lost hope in ever having an allotment 4 years wait this Summer

Leif

A._Badger wrote: »

And you have a patronising style based on what is, clearly from your posts, really very limited gardening experience. This is coupled with an awfully high opinion of yourself - witness the hard time you have been giving those posters to this forum who are concerned about the proposed changes in EU seed regulations.

Frankly, I'd put you on ignore (I'd hardly miss any useful information!) but it's worth keeping an eye on the stuff you post, if only on a pro bono basis.

Do you enjoy being abusive? :mad:

Regarding the phrase "Don't try to blind the peat lobby with practical experience!", one of the posters in this thread who posted in support of peat free compost runs a garden centre. That rather suggests that the reality is more complex than your posts might suggest.

I recall that you used to frequently tell us that several stove installers who used to post in these forums were dishonest, and that we should believe you, not them, on the grounds that you have owned a couple of stoves. That is despite the fact that they had installed hundreds of stoves, and some of us thought that their experience was of value. Sadly the last time I looked, you had frightened them away with your aggressive posts.

Regarding the EU seed thread, I don't see why I or anyone else should take media statements from activists (such as organic farming campaigners) at face value. The thread starter had clearly not read the proposals before starting the thread, and I don't think you have either. There is much to worry about in the proposals, but the original post was misleading.

Pixiechic

Yes, I would need a lot of sand for my beds! Had I dug the beds over in Autumn and prepared the soil earlier, it would all be easier now . I know now for next year tho!

I am interested in peat free, maybe making my own compost to add to it will help but that's for next year! I can't add any of my own soil to it as at the moment, my flower beds have been dug and I now have smallish clumps of very play dough like consistency soil! I moved an established plant yesterday out of a container into the soil and I ended up 'moulding' the soil round the plant!

I started to break down the soil with my hands (i have got gloves but they weren't helping) as it was the only way to break it up. Got three deep thorn splinters now! Tweezers wont get near them, off to try a researched candle wax trick to try and draw them out...... Oh the joys of gardening

I will get some New Horizon today and report back. As I grow mostly from seed it will be interesting to see how they go!