Multipurpose compost and where to get some/any?

Daisymaisy

I tried our local B&M today but they had sold out of the 50 ltr bags which their website says are 3 for £10 but was not shown in store.   I will eke out what I have for now and keep trying when I can tie it into an essential trip out.  No compost was available on click and collect from B&Q until today so they may be slowly adding products to their click and collect list to see how it goes.   I'm sure customers will be asking for them as the growing season gets into full swing so we may still see the 125ltr bags offered in the coming days.  I'll miss the reduced damaged 125ltr bags of B&Q compost which, in past years, I've picked up for £3 a bag    - those were the days...

KxMx

I had resigned myself that gardening for me would be trimming shrubs and re-seeding front lawn as I have materials that I bought last year, seed and approximately 60l of compost.

Just found via Facebook a local nursery is doing plant deliveries as they cannot survive unless there are orders coming in. 
Minimum £20 of flowers, you can have two bags of compost on top (very reasonably priced) and delivery is free.
😁

Daisymaisy

B&Q now has the 125ltr bags available for click and collect  . If anyone buys some please post a review of quality and whether your seedlings and plants thrive, sulk or perish as previous recent reviews on their website were disparaging to say the least.  

ancientmum

I've ordered chicken manure on B & Q click and collect.  I would have difficulty moving large bags of compost when I got them to the allotment, so this is a compromise.

Daisymaisy

ancientmum said:

I've ordered chicken manure on B & Q click and collect.  I would have difficulty moving large bags of compost when I got them to the allotment, so this is a compromise.

Pelleted chicken manure is great as a fertiliser for leafy veg on the outside beds at the allotment and I am reviving some of my old compost using some but my main use of compost is for sowing seeds and potting my polytunnel tomatoes and peppers so I need a few large bags.   No good planting tomatoes outside on our allotment they always get blight (even the blight-resistant variety I planted).   Hope you get a bumper crop this year  .

Davesnave

B&Q have just rung me to ask when I'm picking up my compost, because they're "snowed out with stuff."

I pointed out that I'm over 20 miles away in the middle of nowhere, so I combine all my shopping in one visit to town, in line with government guidelines, but that didn't cut much ice.

"So you'll come and get it tomorrow then?"

I didn't like to say that I'll be opening one bag in the car park, and if it turns out to be carp, they'll be getting the other 5 back again!

Daisymaisy

Davesnave said:

B&Q have just rung me to ask when I'm picking up my compost, because they're "snowed out with stuff."

I pointed out that I'm over 20 miles away in the middle of nowhere, so I combine all my shopping in one visit to town, in line with government guidelines, but that didn't cut much ice.

"So you'll come and get it tomorrow then?"

I didn't like to say that I'll be opening one bag in the car park, and if it turns out to be carp, they'll be getting the other 5 back again!

  You should have reminded them you have 7 days to collect before they assume you don’t want it and refund you.  Looking forward to your review of the current offering.  

Davesnave

Daisymaisy said:

Davesnave said:

B&Q have just rung me to ask when I'm picking up my compost, because they're "snowed out with stuff."

I pointed out that I'm over 20 miles away in the middle of nowhere, so I combine all my shopping in one visit to town, in line with government guidelines, but that didn't cut much ice.

"So you'll come and get it tomorrow then?"

I didn't like to say that I'll be opening one bag in the car park, and if it turns out to be carp, they'll be getting the other 5 back again!

  You should have reminded them you have 7 days to collect before they assume you don’t want it and refund you. 

 I did, but that didn't help much. The response was they'd run out of trolleys to put things on, as if the lack of them was my fault!

I can sympathise, because the stores closed for a time and the floor staff are now caught in the rush of customers playing catch-up once they realise click & collect is up and running again. However,  the grey suits who set up the systems should be managing the logistics better;say by asking for collection in 3 days rather than 7.

[Deleted User]

Do any of you posting about compost realise just how unessential this is in the current crisis? 

I'd question  B&Q even  selling  this at all at the moment, as encouraging sales of non-essentials is hardly  responsible. 

Apparently, the stores are deluged with Click & Collect purchases of paint rollers, tree bark and other non-essentials and with huge queues in their car parks to collect them

Davesnave

Moneyineptitude said:

Do any of you posting about compost realise just how unessential this is in the current crisis? 

I'd question  B&Q even  selling  this at all at the moment, as encouraging sales of non-essentials is hardly  responsible.

Personally, I'd say compost is inessential in the sense that I don't need it to survive, but given that I'm growing around 150 - 200 tomato, cucumber and other veg plants for local people to plant in their gardens, it will be useful to have it. Raising the plants locally means no one has to go far for them. It's a regular thing and many would normally be distributed via the village Market. I have more customers this year because buying seeds on line is virtually impossible just now.

I also have a stack of decorative plants, grown from plugs for my daughter's wedding, which isn't happening now. I could just bin them, but in a few weeks there might be a chance to sell a few arrangements so she can re-coup some of her losses. Who knows, they might also bring a little pleasure into someone's life.

People's mental health affects their well-being, so I can see there's a case for supplying decorating materials, if they help stave off some of the boredom and feelings of helplessness many stuck at home are feeling. It must be hell in a flat with kids to educate/amuse.