[LILLILEAF]

when you buy multi purpose compost, it says with added nutrients. Now how long do these last, i did a soil test on a newly opened bag.
potassium very low.
phosphorus very low.
Nitrate very high.
PH I could not get a reading the sample stayed clear not sure what that ment.
It was not an expensive compost £5.99 for 60l bag, so if you pay more do you get better nutrients and a better quality compost?lillileaf

[mumofstig]

Most bags say that they only supply enough fertiliser for about 5 or 6 weeks, after which it is up to you to feed the plants.
Even bags that say 'added JI' aren't any better - he original John Innes compost formulas (from 50 years ago) are here
https://www.gardeningdata.co.uk/soil/john_innes/john_innes.php
I think the problem is that the composted garden waste that most companies use now instead of some, or all, of the peat doesn't hold a lot of nutrients in the first place.
I now only buy compost that doesn't contain 'green waste' and mix it with about a third, by volume, of sterilised sieved soil - IMO that mix works much better.

[rowlandwells]

I agree with you MUM we to don't buy compost with green waste and yes it does indicate on the bags that its only so many weeks feed value as you say around 5-6 weeks

although that's a good idea with the sterilised sieved soil what would be the alternative to that if you haven't got any sterilised soil maybe buy a bag of top soil from the garden centre not sure if that's sterilised

I've found mixing a small quantity of 6x to the compost mix has helped things to grow when potting on

[mumofstig]

buy a bag of top soil from the garden centre not sure if that's sterilised

Yes, the bags I buy are sterilised https://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Multi-Purpose-Top-Soil---25L/p/200247

[rowlandwells]

I'm going to give that mix a go  mum  when we start potting on will let you know how it works for us but it sounds good to me 

PS
do you use the same mix for your seed sowing 

[mumofstig]

Yes, I just sieve a little of the soil over smaller seeds, just to make sure it's lump-free for those 

[rowlandwells]

thanks Mum will give it a try