Grow bags for toms, cucumbers and courgettes - peat in/not?

Kagganz · « **on:** January 18, 2009, 11:46 »

Title says it all

mumofstig · « **Reply #1 on:** January 18, 2009, 12:14 »

Must admit i'm not sure about going peat free :? I tried 2 kinds of bark based (I think...well thats what they looked like) peat free growbags and was not happy with either of them.

They seemed to stay very wet and claggy n roots didn't seem to do very well in them. :? I had some plants die after transplanting into bags which i've not had before.

I know a lot of people are up in arms about using peat but IMO i think there's a way to go yet before peat free are as good.
Unless someone whole heartedly recommend a peat free bag..............

richyrich7 · « **Reply #2 on:** January 18, 2009, 12:18 »

don't think you can beat peat to be honest, I try different stuff every year or two but get fed up with lumps of whatever or stuff that goes claggy when wet :roll:
Why not go for reduced peat recipes thats what I usually do and there not bad

themoog · « **Reply #3 on:** January 18, 2009, 12:33 »

I'm afraid that despite using cloth nappies, having a womery composter and knitting my own lentils I still use peat in growbags :oops: (albeit reduced peat formulas) as I just don't get anywhere near the results without and when growing in a small space every veg counts!

(moog goes off to beat herself repeatedly with an organic rice cake in penitence)

PinkTequila · « **Reply #4 on:** January 18, 2009, 12:45 »

I think you can beat Peat. My father was a proffesional grower and they never used Peat, used a combination of leaf mould, loam and horse manure for toms.

Now he uses coir in his greenhouse, which once you get used to a slightly different watering regime produces a very good crop.

I don't want to get into the hole using Peat argument but it is really just not that good! It is just what people have been used to for many years now.

min200 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 18, 2009, 12:56 »

Im afraid im lost on this whole peat issue :?

Can someone explain it please.

richyrich7 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 18, 2009, 13:30 »

Quote from: "min200"

Im afraid im lost on this whole peat issue :?

Can someone explain it please.

Using peat affects the ecosystems of the peat bogs, what take's thousand of years to develop is quickly destroyed by man, and resulting wild life is lost.

There's a lot about it on the net if you google

DD. · « **Reply #7 on:** January 18, 2009, 13:37 »

I tried peat free.

Once.

Kagganz · « **Reply #8 on:** January 18, 2009, 13:42 »

Okay cokey, so peat in wins

Thanks muchly all xx

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