[mumofstig]

Could you please recommend from your experience a reasonably priced compost to fill lots of large pots and boxes.
Tried some from Wickes last year and wasnt impressed was like dust.
 
There is such a wide range of prices and bag sizes can't get me head round it. Looked at some of the cheaper ones, but if compost is useless they'll be a waste of money and seeds.

[richyrich7]

I use B&Q's multi-purp and usually get good results, tho' I can remember 1 year when a whole batch was infested with Lily beetle larvae ( or something very similar). But if you want a really good quality one then go for something like Levingtons. I sometimes buy a small bag if I have something special to grow.
Alternatively make your own with a 50:50 mix peat to horticultural sand which is ok for seedlings.

[DD.]

I often use grow bag compost. Can work out cheaper, especially if you can drop on a "3 for the price of 2" offer.

Plus you can carry the darned things!

[garddwr]

Don't make the same mistake as I did in October! I bought two bags of Goodmans compost for I think £6. Seemed a good deal at the time but when I got home it was just full of large "bits".Really poor quality compost.

[richyrich7]

And if you need extra weight to stop stuff blowing over go for a John Innes loam based it will be heavier than peat based.

[Christine]

With all the concerns over the use of peat, I'd rather go for a potting compost that doesn't include it as one of the ingredients.

I've found that there are a number of potting composts around that are perfectly good to better than where peat is not an ingredient.

But hey ho, everyone to their own way and conscience.

[love-my-plot]

I second the B&Q multi-purp ... I use for most things, including seedings ... I know the "experts" would shake their heads at that, but I haven't had any problems, just nice healthy seedlings & plants  

[Potiron]

We cant get grow bags here so for next season I should like to make some of my own. Any ideas of the mix for them please?

[Potiron]

Oh, I forgot to say, I've got plenty of well rotted manure available.

[richyrich7]

We cant get grow bags here so for next season I should like to make some of my own. Any ideas of the mix for them please?

I'm not sure to be honest but most are mainly peat based and a lot have slow release chemical fertilizers in them.

If I was to try to make my own I'd be looking to try either a 75:25 or 66:33 mix of peat(or alteranative) : well rotted manure, plus some water retaining crystals, backed up by a liquid feed later in the growing season.