[andyw]

This is probably a little late in the day for me but, should my tomato plants be in peat free compost? The reason I ask is I've been using miracle grow compost and recently bought some more, but reading the side is says 70% peat and I thought I read somewhere that it should be peat free, is this the case?

[PembsPanther]

Peat is probably one of the best growing materials around, the only bad thing in your miracle grow is the non organic fertilisers that will have been added to it, the actual peat is fine and will do no harm to your crops, infact some think it will improve your crops.

The frowns you get around peat are for more ecological reasons, have a read of this it will explain it better than I can:

http://www.theecologist.org/green_green_living/gardening/483969/peat_free_compost_why_to_use_and_which_to_buy.html

[mumofstig]

miracle grow compost  is just fine for your plants, all bought composts , except ones marked as Organic, will contain added chemical fertilisers.................so no need to worry 

[Totty]

I would like to use environmentally friendly compost, but imo, the peat free stuff i have used has been absolutely junk, so will be sticking to Vitax or Levingtons. Miracle grow is just fine too.

Totty

[andyw]

Thanks all for your feeback you've my mind at rest.

Cheers

[JayG]

I think someone posted very recently that Miracle Grow compost seemed very expensive for what it is (it's no doubt a high quality product but it's also a heavily-promoted brand and I suppose that all costs money, although given some of the reports in the "2012 compost" thread it could still be money well spent!) 

[andyw]

I only used this as it was two for £10.

[Totty]

The Vitax Q4 compost is £3.30 for 60 litres and is as good or better than miracle grow in my opinion, so it is a good price. Compost is just about the only thing i will not scrimp on though as it is essentially the most important factor in growing nice plants.

Totty

[andyw]

Thank, I will out for this?

[A Reyt Tayty]

The Vitax Q4 compost is £3.30 for 60 litres and is as good or better than miracle grow in my opinion, so it is a good price. Compost is just about the only thing i will not scrimp on though as it is essentially the most important factor in growing nice plants.

Totty

I use Vitax Q4 for my toms. I also use it to set the seed off in due to it being nice and fine. Saying that, my efforts thus far this year have been absolute pants.

[Totty]

I dont use the vitax to sow the seed though. I still use seed compost for that but after potting up i use Q4 from then on.

[mumofstig]

Vitax is your choice for potting on, Totty, but I find most multipurpose composts are alright for potting on
It's more difficult to find one that's fine enough for seed sowing though and that's why we have the 'which compost thread' - where people say whether the one they've bought is ok or not.
It's well worth a read if you haven't already 
http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=88535.0

[A Reyt Tayty]

Vitax is your choice for potting on, Totty, but I find most multipurpose composts are alright for potting on
It's more difficult to find one that's fine enough for seed sowing though and that's why we have the 'which compost thread' - where people say whether the one they've bought is ok or not.
It's well worth a read if you haven't already 
http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=88535.0

Cheers for that. I suppose it may be the cause, but it's what I've used in the past and it's never failed before. My neighbour has used it this year and his toms are away like nobodies business. Different seed to mine though.