[Mark's Sussex Allotment]

Afternoon All,

I heard mixed things about Verve (Been and Queue'd) compost, but at £6 for 125 litres, I thought I might give it a go.

What are peoples thoughts?

[mumofstig]

I really don't like the peat-free one but the one the ordinary one's not too bad - it's what I've been using in the school garden.

[Eightball]

I don't get why it's so cheap. I've been looking around and even places that sell 1 ton bags work out to be more expensive. You would have thought buying in bulk would be cheaper....

[Mark's Sussex Allotment]

It's crazy cheap!!

£6 for 125 litres.....

Most are £6.49 for 56 to 60 litres....

This is double and some!

I can riddle it, and see what I get and condition soil or stick rest on compost heap.

At that price.....

[engineer]

Been using Verve multi for the past 4years, as it say's multi, Luvly stuff, if you want a fine compost for seeds just put it thro a riddle, general potting on, use it as it is. Local garden centre 4x50ltrs  £10 a bargain  it say's peat reduced, but if you want a peat based product there is still plenty in it!

[gavinjconway]

I use it all the time - but I do sieve it as it has loads of horrors and lumps in it. I then mix in some home made sieved compost and sieved garden soil... Then a couple of handfuls of BFB to give it some feeding power.. I end up with about 2 big bag fulls and it is enough for my yearly potting up needs.

[engineer]

I use it all the time - but I do sieve it as it has loads of horrors and lumps in it. I then mix in some home made sieved compost and sieved garden soil... Then a couple of handfuls of BFB to give it some feeding power.. I end up with about 2 big bag fulls and it is enough for my yearly potting up needs.

Yes Gavin and I don't think the quality is going to get any better from any supplier 

[gavinjconway]

Yeah - I have tried all sorts and they all have bits of all sorts in...

[Fairy Plotmother]

I use verve as my base. I riddle it for seeds and use the "rubbish" for the bottom of pots or in the compost bin.

[engineer]

I use verve as my base. I riddle it for seeds and use the "rubbish" for the bottom of pots or in the compost bin.

Snap. 

Yeah - I have tried all sorts and they all have bits of all sorts in...

I agree Gavin and the quality of all compost is only going to get worse

[GrowinGrowinGone]

I was using some of this today left from a bag I had from last year, it's full of twigs, lumpy stuff that's uncomposted, and bits of plastic.  As compost goes, I think it's utter junk.  It also has problems with absorbing water, it just seems to float on top.  If you sieve it then I guess it's got less junk in it...but it shouldn't have the junk in it to begin with IMO.    I think it should be labelled a soil conditioner rather than a compost.  If I had to rate it out of 10 for quality I would give it about a 5/6.

[engineer]

GrowinGrowinGone, if you have problems with water absorption then the compost may have dried out slightly, the best way to re-wet is to water with a soap solution.

[lettice]

I've been using this for many years and had no problems with it at all.
My Dad gets it for me on a Wednesday and gets another 10% off

I use it for all my seed/cuttings compost and also mix with my own compost. garden soil and previous years potato bag soil for growing my potatoes in bags.

I use as the base soil for growing my cucumbers and lettuce in the greenhouse.

[compostqueen]

I like the Verve seed and cutting compost. No horrific lumps or bits in it either. I wonder if they sieve it more thoroughly being as it's for seeds.  I keep it in a warm room for a a few days before sowing in it as cold compost is death to seeds!  My seeds have germinated quickly so no complaints about it so far.

[3759allen]

i use verve all the time, even for doing seedlings. great stuff and quite often on bulk offers

i can't justify paying all the money for other makes of MPC. i don't mind for a special compost.

i did make the mistake of buying some homebase cheap MPC as b and q had no verve in stock and i was desperate. what a absolute load of garbage, never again