Multipurpose compost and where to get some/any?

[Deleted User]

Davesnave said:

 Where did I say that and why the melodramatic description? 

Have you  forgotten stating "How silly of me; the print off said there would be assistance with loading" ?  Even if you had been offered assistance, then you would have been wise to refuse it. 

With regard the "melodrama" (which this definitely isn't)  I was attempting to emphasise exactly why I think the stuff should not be classed as "essential". 

 By all means take the genuine risk while shopping for food, that's difficult to avoid, but not for paint rollers, plants  and compost! 

 As I said, B&Q have furloughed around half of their workforce effective tomorrow, so don't expect it to get any easier....

Davesnave

Moneyineptitude said:

Davesnave said:

 Where did I say that and why the melodramatic description? 

Have you  forgotten stating "How silly of me; the print off said there would be assistance with loading" ?  Even if you had been offered assistance, then you would have been wise to refuse it. 

No.

I wouldn't class leaving the goods on the front apron of the store as "We are happy to carry your items from the store to your car." (ie assistance with loading)

I don't think any of us expected the assistants to actually put it inside. We were just confused.

Is this really so hard?

elsien

Moneyineptitude said:

-taff said:

Luckily I bought mine before the lockdown.

and that should be the only point...

In other news, garden waste collections have been suspended for the duration in most areas. As such, wouldn't it be sensible to make compost from this waste?  

That does presuppose you have the space. I have one nearly full compost bin, a small garden and some seriously overgrown bushes. More compost bins not an option. 

Davesnave

elsien said:

Moneyineptitude said:

-taff said:

Luckily I bought mine before the lockdown.

and that should be the only point...

In other news, garden waste collections have been suspended for the duration in most areas. As such, wouldn't it be sensible to make compost from this waste?  

That does presuppose you have the space. I have one nearly full compost bin, a small garden and some seriously overgrown bushes. More compost bins not an option. 

Compost that comes from a bin, or in my case from a huge heap, is OK for the larger plants when they've toughened-up, but I wouldn't be putting small tomato seedlings into it due to the likelihood of fungal rots and similar being present. Mine, made mainly from stable manure, is great soil conditioner, but it doesn't have balanced nutrients in it either.

-taff

Mines not bad but I'd have to do a whole lot of sifting and nuking in the microwave to be satisfied that there won't be errant weed seeds in there. I don't fancy that really. Yes, I spread mine around on the various beds or the front garden. I don't use it to grow my tomatoes, they're special and deserve something better

Davesnave

OK quick update on the 50litre New Home compost: it's OK for my current needs, but if you're looking for fine stuff, free from twigs and the occasional stone, forget it.

Combined 50/50 with Westland's 'Jacks Magic,' which is rather fine and slightly cleggy at the moment, it produces a reasonably open mix. It's nothing like the last 125litre bag of Verve I had.

A recurrent problem with most composts now is variability and a tendency to add too much recycled municipal green waste. There are good reasons for substituting peat, but that's a whole separate thread!

phoebe1989seb

We (well, DH as I waited in the landy  ) picked up some compost for veg at our nearest B&M a few days ago. We'd already stocked up on seed compost for flowers before the virus/lockdown but have created extra veg growing space since.

The attitude of staff to the social distancing rules at B&M is in stark contrast to those as B&Q - or at least what I witnessed whilst waiting for DH to return with his trolley. A youngish bloke came out of the store with a few bags of compost and a large box containing an all-weather rattan corner sofa set. He was accompanied by a staff member (male, in his early twenties by the look of him) who definitely wasn't keeping 2m away. Between them they proceeded to stuff the lot into said bloke's car and when it wouldn't all fit they jointly removed the sofa from its packaging and - together - squeezed it into the vehicle, during which time they were no more than a few cms apart 

Having put our compost into our vehicle, DH then adjourned to Lidl where he reported a member of staff being loudly reprimanded by her supervisor for approaching customers she knew and touching them.......

Farway

Davesnave said:

A recurrent problem with most composts now is variability and a tendency to add too much recycled municipal green waste. There are good reasons for substituting peat, but that's a whole separate thread!

In my Lidl ones they've substitute pieces of plastic for peat

elsien

Davesnave said:

elsien said:

Moneyineptitude said:

-taff said:

Luckily I bought mine before the lockdown.

and that should be the only point...

In other news, garden waste collections have been suspended for the duration in most areas. As such, wouldn't it be sensible to make compost from this waste?  

That does presuppose you have the space. I have one nearly full compost bin, a small garden and some seriously overgrown bushes. More compost bins not an option. 

Compost that comes from a bin, or in my case from a huge heap, is OK for the larger plants when they've toughened-up, but I wouldn't be putting small tomato seedlings into it due to the likelihood of fungal rots and similar being present. Mine, made mainly from stable manure, is great soil conditioner, but it doesn't have balanced nutrients in it either.

No. mine's normally used as a mulch or soil conditioner. I would usually get some horse manure to add to the mix as well but didn't have the opportunity this year before things ground to a halt. 

elsien

elsien said:

Davesnave said:

elsien said:

Moneyineptitude said:

-taff said:

Luckily I bought mine before the lockdown.

and that should be the only point...

In other news, garden waste collections have been suspended for the duration in most areas. As such, wouldn't it be sensible to make compost from this waste?  

That does presuppose you have the space. I have one nearly full compost bin, a small garden and some seriously overgrown bushes. More compost bins not an option. 

Compost that comes from a bin, or in my case from a huge heap, is OK for the larger plants when they've toughened-up, but I wouldn't be putting small tomato seedlings into it due to the likelihood of fungal rots and similar being present. Mine, made mainly from stable manure, is great soil conditioner, but it doesn't have balanced nutrients in it either.

No. mine's normally used as a mulch or soil conditioner. I would usually get some horse manure to add to the mix as well but didn't have the opportunity this year before things ground to a halt. 

I did get some of the seed compost from Lidl this week (while doing essential shopping for two people in isolation, if that makes anyone feel any better about it) - only small bags though so no use if you're growing lots but I'll report back with the findings in due course.