peat free ERICACEOUS compost

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Eightball

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peat free ERICACEOUS compost
« on: May 23, 2015, 11:54 »
Anyone tried peat free ericaceous composts? The only two I can seem to find are one based on wool & bracken which is from http://www.dalefootcomposts.co.uk/ and is 10.99 for 30L + delivery or Vital earths peat free ericaceous compost which the cheapest I can find online is approx £12 for 60L + delivery. It seems remarkably hard to find. Are there any other suppliers I have missed?

Most ericaceous composts are pretty much all peat and  I really loathe using peat (for environmental reasons) but at those prices I don't think I can afford the peat free versions....

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AnneB

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Re: peat free ERICACEOUS compost
« Reply #1 on: May 24, 2015, 10:48 »
Anyone tried peat free ericaceous composts? The only two I can seem to find are one based on wool & bracken which is from http://www.dalefootcomposts.co.uk/ and is 10.99 for 30L + delivery or Vital earths peat free ericaceous compost which the cheapest I can find online is approx £12 for 60L + delivery. It seems remarkably hard to find. Are there any other suppliers I have missed?

Most ericaceous composts are pretty much all peat and  I really loathe using peat (for environmental reasons) but at those prices I don't think I can afford the peat free versions....
I don't know about the Vital Earth one as it wasn't tested, but Which? compost tests this year rated the Dalefoot compost as a "don't buy" for raising plants in and also for pots and containers.  I don't think they were testing it particularly as an ericaceous compost though.
To be honest, I think you will struggle to find ericaceous compost without peat.  Ericaceous plants such as heathers thrive naturally in acidic soil such as peat.  For this reason I think suppliers will often put peat in such a compost.

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Aunt Sally

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Re: peat free ERICACEOUS compost
« Reply #2 on: May 24, 2015, 16:02 »
That's interesting, AnneB.

So, if you don't want to use peat and your soil is too high in pH, it's probably best not to grow ericaceous plants. 

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AnneB

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Re: peat free ERICACEOUS compost
« Reply #3 on: May 24, 2015, 17:04 »
That's interesting, AnneB.

So, if you don't want to use peat and your soil is too high in pH, it's probably best not to grow ericaceous plants.

This interesting article suggests that you make your own.  http://www.growveg.com/growblogpost.aspx?id=317

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LotuSeed

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Re: peat free ERICACEOUS compost
« Reply #4 on: May 25, 2015, 00:15 »
Here's a link to advice the RHS offers...
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=82
Avg Last Frost Date, April 9, Avg First Frost Date, Oct 26
Avg Growing Season, 200 days


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