[BostonInbred]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1253278/Peat-free-compost-best-garden-pots-new-research-shows.html

J Arthur Bowers New Horizon Peat Free Compost declared better than peat based composts.  Not many people have heard of Vital Earth, there a very small company and cant produce the same volume as the larger company.

The main problem with peat free composts is maintaining consistency.  Various people have experimented with various peat substitutes over the years, from shredded carpet to coconut husks, the best candidate used so far is green waste, but the composition and content of green waste varies wildly from month to month, which is no good to a compost makers, they need to produce the same product next year as they do this year, which means consistent raw materials.

Theres another possible peat substitute in the pipeline, called Fytocell. Its a sort of foam with amazing properties, not least being its made  by a cold process (doesnt need much energy to make), its made from the harmless waste products of another industry,  is completely carbon neutral, and degrades to water and oxygen. At the moment its only sold in Holland. I suspect you will start seeing this in peat free retail composts within two or three years.

I sieve New Horizon through a fine sieve and use it as a seed compost.

[Christine]

Ah the problem with peat free is getting a decent seed compost.