[starry]

I have been using John innes seed compost for most of this season and it hasn't done to badly but these last 2 months nearly every thing that I have sowed has failed    so I decided to try a different compost (still for seeds)   and every thing that I have sowed in it has come up with in a few days and I always thought that John innes was the better choice but it has made me think again !!

[arugula]

If you look in the compost thread for this year, I've commented a couple of times on the brand of John Innes we have used, with undesirable results, this year. Won't be buying it again.

[Yorkie]

John Innes is a formula for the composition of the different types of compost.  It isn't a brand as such.

[starry]

i do vaguely remember that argyllie I will go and search it out ! and yorkie I didn't realise that so there could be a difference in the quality ? I did found that when I watered it it became quite compact which I think could have been some of the trouble ??

[kermit]

i do vaguely remember that argyllie I will go and search it out ! and yorkie I didn't realise that so there could be a difference in the quality ? I did found that when I watered it it became quite compact which I think could have been some of the trouble ??

I had exact same experience last year. May well be to do with the brand rather than JI itself. Regardless, the cheap ordinary stuff (not peat free unfortunately) is doing the business this year. In terms of germination that is. The fact that nothing is growing further than seedlings is of course another matter