[wbmkk]

I was lured by price into buying some multipurpose compost from B&M, the Gro-Sure 50ltr All Purpose Compost.

I wanted to start off some vegetable seeds today, so got everything prepared. Agh !! this compost is far too fibrous for seed sowing. I filled my trays up, watered well, then was going to sieve over a thin layer prior to sowing. A similar thin layer of sieved compost was to go over the seeds.

Nothing, (well almost nothing) passed through the sieve

I therefore want to buy some good granular type compost, which I can sieve to provide a base and covering for the seeds.

Which compost do the experts here recommend please ?

Many many years ago, I also grew vegetables and used to use John Innes soil based compost, but I never see that anywhere now. Maybe it is no longer available.

thanks for any advice given

[JayG]

Wilko list JI seed sowing compost, but at £2.75 for 10L it could be one of the reasons most people these days probably use ordinary MP compost, cross their fingers, and hope for the best.

Not bought any this year yet, but B&Q Verve MP compost has done a good job for me for quite a few years now, (I suspect that if any corners have been cut it's on the added nutrient content, but a low nutrient level is a good thing for young seedlings.)

[rowlandwells]

bought two lots of MP compost the other day first Levingtons I didn't rate that at all to many lumps basically US for me so I bought clover from another nursery perfect when put through a sieve for seed sowing


so I'm keeping with clover compost this season good on price good for seed sowings  do you find most compost's  have a quantity of waste when sieved although you can work it in when potting on so lets say you buy 60 LTR  you could find you have 1 or 2 LTR of waste from 1 bag ?

[AlaninCarlisle]

I've bought Humax MPC for the past few years and been very satisfied. I pay around £5 per 60L sack and can usually fit 12 sacks in the car if I lay the back seats flat

[Goosegirl]

Last year I got Jack's Magic compost because it had a lot of recommendations on this forum and was very pleased with it. It has a lovely texture and doesn't stain your hands brown like some other composts do. I'm going out shortly to sow some more seeds that might need some sieved compost on top and can achieve that without having lots of left-over stuff. I know seeds don't need a lot of nutrients to start with, but as many people use MPC maybe they just take up what they need at the time. I don't use John Innes seed compost as I find it too heavy and can easily get waterlogged if you're not careful. 

[Pescador]

I've been using Gro-Sure for a few years with no problems at all.