[Lardman]

Just finishing off last years been and queued verve multi-purp which was terrible  What's everyone planning to use this year?

[Goneterseed]

I've had a couple of b3q's verve this year and it's been good. Whether it was this years stock or last I don't know. Maybe had a bit longer to rot in the bag.

[rem858]

I shall be using jacks magic  again never had a bad bag yet

[AlaninCarlisle]

Humax, multi-purpose. Been using it for last five or so years. Six quid a bag if you shop around and are prepared to buy in multiples of three bags

[lettice]

B&Q verve, me and my dad have been using for many years now.
He always gets the 3 for deals and gets his over 60 10% Wednesday deal on it.
Found it be great for seed sowing, top ups in the raised beds and use it in pots for all our tomatoes.

[surbie100]

Am going to try and go peat-free, after doing some reading on it. I have a bag of B&Q verve (urgh) to use up plus a bag of Jack's Magic (lovely stuff) and then I will switch over to Sylvagrow.

[Potty Plotty Lotty]

Jack's Magic. On the recommendation of this forum.

[Tenhens]

Interesting to read the comments about Verve , both good and bad.  Used it last year from B and Q not very impressed. I must admit I have not heard of Jack's Magic or Sylvagrow , the former does contain peat.

May have a look in Wilko's , possibly John Innes , and a visit to our  local garden centre where they have a good range of products plus the benefit of helpful staff.

This question has probably been asked before , does it have a shelf life?

[engineer]

I think that this discussion of compost either peat based versus peat free is one which can only be answered by the individual, and what standards they are willing to accept. Having been involved in the compost industry for over 20 yrs, before retirement,  the advice i give to people ( before it becomes too political ) is that if you find some product that does the job which you want it to do, and you are happy with it then by all means use it!

[mumofstig]

I think that this discussion of compost either peat based versus peat free is one which can only be answered by the individual, and what standards they are willing to accept.

That's why, on this forum, we have the discussion over which compost we can (or cannot) recommend each year- rather than argue amongst ourselves about whether it is right to use peat or not 

[surbie100]

Though to be honest, as someone with zero gardening background, I had no idea of the issues around using peat until last year. I just kept using what was cheapest. I don't think I'm alone in that either.

Given Govt's targets on ending horticultural peat usage by 2030 I'd like to know more about peat-free composts. I'm not trying to evangelise about peat-free, I had horrible results from GroSure last year, but I do think a discussion about it on a gardening forum wouldn't be out of place. And if anyone has recommendations on peat-free compost I'd love to hear them.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/today_in_your_garden/ethical_peat.shtml

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/221026/pb13834-sustainable-growing-media.pdf

[mumofstig]

Not out of place, as long as it is friendly - but please not on this thread. I'll move your post and the links onto a separate thread 
 
This one is just for compare and contrast -  so we know what's available/on offer this year.


Peat in compost discussion here
http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=122635.msg1444551#msg1444551

[Alifink]

I'll be using B&Q Verve again as I have the last few years, yes it's not that brilliant but the 125l bales are cheap and seeds are cheap and they either live or die. Always put in some chicken muck pellets and blood fish bone.
Fair enough F1 cucumber seeds are expensive but all the others I use cost buttons.

[engineer]

What i am using this year, and have done for the last 4 years is Erin peat reduced Multipurpose compost. Peat reduced meaning a peat content of between 60-90%, the rest is made up of other organic materials. Cost at my local garden center, 4x50 ltr bags £10.

[ryetek]

I also use the Erin MPC with good results. As engineer has pointed out it has a peat content of 60-90% according to the bag it comes in. When I need MPC I'm always reluctant to change brands in fear of getting something worse so I tend to stick with Erin. Incidentally they also produce a blend that's greater than 90% peat according to the bag but it doen't seem much different to the peat reduced blend.