Which compost is good this year?

pawsies

Has anyone used Ambassador?

Considering the multipurpose compost but can't find any reviews!

suisidevw

Good question. Need to buy in bulk so any advice appreciated!

VERVE was ok last year IMO

A._Badger

suisidevw wrote: »

Good question. Need to buy in bulk so any advice appreciated!

VERVE was ok last year IMO

That's interesting! I've used Verve (B&Q as was) for years but last year had some I really didn't think was much good, so (leaving aside John Innes types, which I use for certain plants that need it - like tomatoes) I defected to an Irish brand - Growise, which I found very good, and also quite well priced.

Humax was also quite good last year but is expensive and not as good as it was before the company sold out.

For seed compost, last year I used Westland's seed and cutting (Growsure, maybe?) which was good. Tesco currently has an offer on it and I've bought, though not yet opened, two bags for this year.

Davesnave

IMHO, no ready made compost suits all situations. I expect to do some tweaking, rather like I tweak ready meals.

I've used the B&Q product for as long as I can remember. It's always keenly priced and usually OK. "Which" think so too.

To that, I add appropriate amounts of sharp sand, Cornish grit, Osmacote, manure etc, depending on what I'm doing with it.

alanobrien

I used Verve last year, good price but it wasn't a good product, lumps and sticks everywhere. This year i bought Murphy's in bulk on a 3 for 2 from creative garden ideas. Good price, good product and delivered to.

suisidevw

I'm going to buy a 125l Verve on lunch today and use it this weekend. Will feedback how I get on!

A._Badger

Davesnave wrote: »

IMHO, no ready made compost suits all situations. I expect to do some tweaking, rather like I tweak ready meals.

I've used the B&Q product for as long as I can remember. It's always keenly priced and usually OK. "Which" think so too.

To that, I add appropriate amounts of sharp sand, Cornish grit, Osmacote, manure etc, depending on what I'm doing with it.

I saw some sacks of JAB the other day which had a Which? Best Buy flash printed on them! Not for the first time, I wondered what on earth Which? actually knows about anything.

Agreed about doctoring composts - I do it, too but you might as well start with something halfway decent. The trouble is that the stuff varies so much, from year to year - and even within years, in some cases.

pawsies

Picked up this today in the end. Worth a go at 4 for £10 for organic peat free compost.

wallbash

I emptied my compost wooden bin, only gets done once a year.
I removed the top 6 inches ( starts the next batch)
Got 9 wheel barrow loads, very happy.

Davesnave

A._Badger wrote: »

I saw some sacks of JAB the other day which had a Which? Best Buy flash printed on them! Not for the first time, I wondered what on earth Which? actually knows about anything.

Well, they used to grow things in them for their trials, and I can't think of any better way to test.

However, the 'Best Buy' flashes relate to specific years, so could perhaps be several seasons old.

wellused

Vital earth got a bad press a few years back but it was the Mail. Looking closer the Derby Telegraph has a report about the company too from 2012. Let us know how you get on with it as it seems like good value at that price?