Compost Review 2024

I have mainly used non-peat offerings from Aldi and Wickes, as well as some J Arthur Bowers from Homebase (peat IIRC). For potting Westland seeding compost or No. 1 potting Compost with added John Innes (both non peat IIRC)

Wickes was diabolical - full of twiggy stuff; basically looked like a mixture of coir and woodchip and sand. Stuff grew in it markedly worse than anything else.

Aldi was pretty decent, but get the slightly more expensive seaweed enriched stuff. Fairly granular but still a few large-ish twigs. 

J Arthur Bowers was OK - very bog standard middle of the road MPC. Still some large-ish twigs but at least seemed to hold water well.

I really like the Westland seeding compost although a bit pricey. I had markedly better germination in modules that than anything else I've tried.

I guess that when there aren't any supplies of peat-based compost available, more companies might include a water-retaining gel in some form or other. (Is there any around at the moment)?

I use this down at the bottom of pots and hanging baskets, but reckon that it may just be a bit too much for shallow seed trays, as they're always standing in water trays, and there's only an inch or so for the seedlings to reach down to get a drink!

Also, the capillary action of added vermiculite, sand or perlite may be an answer, but all this seems to fly in the face of needing a decent compost, containing a proper mix of organic matter, be it coir, peat or whatever! There's always the option of adding a little liquid fertiliser here and there, which I often do if the seedlings need a bit of a boost - or more to the point, when I've forgotten how long they've been in their trays...;0)

They were trying for years, to make coir work, in different proportions, but it didn't.
Then they tried again with wood/bark chippings, that seemed a bit better but still didn't work as well as peat.

It seems they're now working with composting lot of different things together, which seem to work better...especially if mixed with some  perlite/vermiculite/sterilised top soil to aid water retention.

You can't say they weren't trying, it was very trying for us gardeners