Has anyone (other than Which?) done any half-and-half tests?
I've been buying J.A.Bowers multi purpose for years - because my local garden centre (Wyevale / The Garden Centre Group) sells it and thus convenient, plus its cheap - currently it is 5.71p / Litre
The bags of JAB I have bought this Autumn have got a lot of straw in it. I'm not sure whether it will make much difference to me, or not. I guess I should be the one to try the half-and-half test?
I mix the JAB with 10% Perlite to keep it open, and everything seems to grow OK; I start off all seeds in a soil-based J.I. seed sowing compost, so germination not an issue for me ... but maybe I could get improved growing-on with a better MPC? Not sure I would want to spend twice as much though, as I use getting on for 3,000 L p.a. ... actually ... now I do the calculation an extra 5p/L would add £150 which is perhaps not much spread over several 1,000 plants.
I've got some cuttings to pot on, to overwinter, perhaps I should do 10 or 20 in each of several compost types?
I have made a list of the ones available on Homebase website (most are on offer at present)
Price P / Litre
5.69 Homebase Multi-Purpose Compost - 3 x 120L
6.24 Homebase Multi-Purpose Compost - 4 x 60L
9.15 Homebase Multipurpose Compost Plus - 60L (
not on special)
9.99 Westland Multi Purpose Compost With John Innes - 3 x 50L
10.00 Westland Jack's Magic Compost - 2 x 60L
10.00 Westland West Plus Multipurpose Compost 4 Month Feed - 2 x 60L
10.00 Levington Multi Purpose Compost - 2 x 50L
10.00 Miracle-Gro All Purpose Compost - 2 x 50L
12.00 Miracle-Gro Moisture Control Compost - 2 x 50L
So its basically 5.7p Homebase own brand, same price as I am paying for JAB, or 10p for any of the mainstream brands.
Any other type/Brand to consider?? what about the stuff favoured by the Cannabis growers? They have a cash crop that far exceeds the value of a few lettuce plants that I want to start off under cover and plant out
but they must think it is worth it?
31.00 Plagron Batmix - 1 x 50L
25.00 BioBizz All Mix 1 x 50L
20.00 BioBizz Light-Mix 1 x 50 (on offer, normally 25p/L)