[mumofstig]

Yesterday I ordered 6 bags of the old style Jack's Magic (and yes Growster most places are already selling only JM peat-free  )
It'll go in the shed for next spring's sowing - I'll see where we go from there...

[Growster...]

Yesterday I ordered 6 bags of the old style Jack's Magic (and yes Growster most places are already selling only JM peat-free  )
It'll go in the shed for next spring's sowing - I'll see where we go from there...

Good idea to keep it in the dry, Mum!

I left a couple of bags out in the rain, and they soaked up so much water through those tiny holes, I could only just lift them! Needless to say that the bag of peat-free I did buy to try out, stayed as dry as a bone!

My GC had another load delivered of proper JM last week, and although I already have six bags saved up, I may well pop a few more in the boot again soon...!

[AnneB]

Yesterday I ordered 6 bags of the old style Jack's Magic (and yes Growster most places are already selling only JM peat-free  )
It'll go in the shed for next spring's sowing - I'll see where we go from there...

I'd be wary of buying compost to use next year.   This year I had some left over from last year and I have noticed a massive difference between plants grown in that and those grown in this year's compost.  Kept in the dry too.
This year's compost has produced significantly better results.

[Growster...]

I think you're right about compost a year on, Anne, and I can easily add a bit of Miraclegro or similar to the mix of older stuff to build up the nutrients, but the water retention doesn't seem to be affected this year.

My stash of JM is outside by the shed with limited exposure, but the top bag gets quite wet! I may just cover it all up this year, and risk the spiders and snails jumping out at me next year...

[mumofstig]

I think you're right about compost a year on, Anne, and I can easily add a bit of Miraclegro or similar to the mix

If anybody buys compost at the beginning of the year for early sowings, it is often what's left from the year before (although they won't tell you that) so I've got used to topping up nutrients, a tad, as a matter of course.

[Hampshire Hog]

One of my local garden centres was selling bags of peat.
Shockingly perhaps I should buy some if they are still there.
I could reassure my conscience as it will be put back in the ground!

[rowlandwells]

we've been trying  peat free against peat based but I have to say the peat based has come out on top you see I don't believe in adding all things to sub standard compost or peat free in this case to make it grow plants or seed and when people say they get good results from certain compost's its probably far more expensive to buy per bag than the peat based

at present we are buying our peat based  for £17.00 for 3 60ltr bags Dobbies peat free is about the same price but only 50ltr bags not 60ltr so its going to be very interesting to see what the compost companies come up with to substitute the beat based standard as I know many of my fellow gardeners are not happy with peat free compost's and I know some  commercial grower are not looking forward to using peat free
although they have extended time to use peat based I'm looking forward to those compost suppliers/manufacturers coming  back to Snowdrops with there answer for a good peat free compost at an affordable price 

[Growster...]

Went to B&Q for something else today - all peat-free stuff!

Back to the local GC, PDQ....

[Goosegirl]

I found that my peat-free compost (Sylvagrow) was difficult to ascertain if my plug plants needed watering because after I'd potted them up the top soon went dry but the bottom might have retained more moisture than I thought despite the weight test for watering. Cue - quite a lot of my plug plants either died off or just stood still, the rest just romped away. Maybe I'll mix some BFB in the compost next year.

[Florain]

I had the same problem with watering seedlings (using the weight test) and lost a lot before I realised what was wrong.

[Alank]

Every peat free compost I've tried has been rubbish compared to traditional peat based I've honestly not been impressed with any of them.

[Growster...]

I found that my peat-free compost (Sylvagrow) was difficult to ascertain if my plug plants needed watering because after I'd potted them up the top soon went dry but the bottom might have retained more moisture than I thought despite the weight test for watering. Cue - quite a lot of my plug plants either died off or just stood still, the rest just romped away. Maybe I'll mix some BFB in the compost next year.

That fits with what I was told at my GC the other day! Additives may well be the answer, because coir is definitely getting the thumbs-down here, especially as much of it's carted all the way from Asia after being processed to the hilt!

I've just found that Sylvagrow is in stock at the place where we buy some locally priced comestibles, but I only got back from there on Tuesday, and the freezer is jam-packed full, so another visit isn't imminent! Will look again next time!

Aaah well, 'Hyproponics Investigation' here we come ----- I wonder if Thanet Earth* runs a Bursary course...

* Thanet Earth here...https://www.thanetearth.com/

(They even supply our local Tesco)!