[jrko]

I've never had any issues with Verve MPC but I wondered if it might be possible to 'improve' it.  It's so cheap if you buy the 125l I thought it might be possible to come up with an improved 'recipe'.

Any thoughts on what could be added?

[Dave NE]

I have never used verve mpc but I am using Wickes mpc and wicking tubs/planters/buckets, you name it. For my onion beds I used the compost straight out of the bag until about 4 inches from the top, then a 2 inch layer of Wickes manure, topped off with 2 inches mpc, the idea being that the roots will find the manure and I wont have to feed them so much but I plan to give some comfrey feed later on to help them bulb up, cheers Dave

[Steveharford]

I too use verve. I usually add sharp sand and powdered Miracle Gro or Phostrogen to add some 'life'into it. I use this for my toms in pots and also onions in the garden.

[cadalot]

I add Coco Peat/ Compost or Coconut Coir which is a natural fibre extracted from the husk of coconut

[surbie100]

I add 1/3 rotted manure and a handful or so of slow-release fertiliser. I am a lot less impressed with Verve, though it's still cheapish (they put the prices up this year). My new bag is quite twiggy and I've pulled out a small handful of gravel from it so far.

[jrko]

So far:

Sharp sand - to break up clay & aid texture (?)
Miracle grow et al: slow release feed
Alt composts: nutrient improvement
Coco coir: not sure - fibre bulk physical soil improvement
Manure: soil motive end & slow release nutrient

[pigguns]

last year I mixed in BFB to verve, but this year I paid more for a better quality one- the texture seemed just wrong.

[Tom Hill]

It has far too many lumps of wood in it to be multi-purpose.  If you want to use it for seed sowing you have to sieve it and what is left makes it very expensive.  Buy a better quality to start with it's cheaper in the long run.

[Christine]

I'll agree with Tom. I moved up to a quality compost last year and had much improved results.

[oldgrunge]

I'll agree with Tom. I moved up to a quality compost last year and had much improved results.

May I ask, what compost you moved up to?

[luke34]

i use levingtons f2+s compost and Clover Multipurpose and as mush leaf mold as possible

[Kristen]

I've stopped buying Multi Purpose Compost in the Big Box Sheds too - too variable, and sometimes lots of wood etc. in it. I assumed using a commercial compost I would not need to add anything, but I find it compacts the same as the Sheds' compost did, although it is very consistent straight out of the bag.

So I've reverted to adding 10% by volume of fine Perlite. This keeps the compost very open, and I think makes root growth / establishment faster.  Can be a snag on potting-on or planting-out as the rootball is more inclined to fall to bits - which is perhaps a good sign that the openness and sharp drainage remains over a prolonged period.

I feed from day one, not relying on fertiliser in the compost.  I use a very dilute liquid feed CANNA Terra Vega (basically because that's what the folk Growing Cannabis plants use, and I figure they have a high value crop and have researched best growth well!). Once the seedlings become "plants" in 9cm pots I use a conventional liquid feed such as Chempak (which I find cheapest, its  a powder which you have to mix up / dissolve, so I'm not paying for the carriage of Water as with liquid fertilisers)

http://www.canna-uk.com/terra_vega

[Dave NE]

I paid 59p per bag extra for the Wickes mpc but it says on the bag it is free from any communal waste etc and so far it is looking good, just need to find someone with a cement mixer for when I add my own home made loam etc, Dave

[JayG]

Don't know what this year's Verve MP offering will be like, or how consistent it has ever been from batch to batch, but I've used it for the last few years and it's been of very good texture, even suitable for seed sowing if you pluck out the odd lumpy bits.

I have my suspicions about the nutrient content though, especially as it's probably the most expensive single ingredient - must repeat my confession of last year though - if you do add something like Growmore to it, don't overdo it, and make sure you mix it in thoroughly (I sprinkled it in a single layer towards the bottom of my greenhouse planters and set back my tomatoes by a couple of months.  )

[Aidy]

Never used the Verve MPC, always used others like wickes as I have found it ok to grow in and bought a more expensive one for the seeds.
However I was told the Verve Seed and Cutting compost is very good so I bought a bag to try, the texture and feel seems pretty good, just waiting on me toms n chillies to pop up.