[Big Gee]

A few years back I got caught out badly with low peat content rubbish (supplied by a big reputable compost company that I'd always used & trusted - until they jumped on the 'low peat' band wagon) Over 70% of my seeds failed to germinate in their low peat muck that was full of things that plants don't like to grow in including badly composted wood bits & and particles of black plastic (I had a  big rant on the subject in one of my newsletters!).
No such mistake after that episode. Thank goodness for Jack's Magic - REAL peat based compost -  from Westland. Jack's Magic is not the cheapest around, but the extra few pence is more than worth it - if you want proper results.

Clover & Murphy's are the other favourites - both totally peat based.

I'll be using Jack's Magic for everything again next year.

[Kristen]

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)