Compost

[JudithM]

Is it better to buy peat based compost for the greenhouse or not?  B&Q have 125L bags for under £7. Seems too cheap to be true. Was going to get ready for seeds and then potting on. ???

[JudithM]

[Ellen K]

I'm buying it.  They also do three 70 ltr bags for £10 and they are a bit easier to load in your car.

It's been good stuff in previous years and it is a Which? best buy.

I tried their own brand peat-free compost last year and it was awful.  You definitely need the peat based stuff for seeds.

[Fork]

Think I better say my bit before the environmentalists say theirs!

I have not found a peat free compost anywhere thats half has good has peat based.

[RSJK]

Get ready for the sticks and stones Fork :) :)

[Joe11]

I keep seeing people saying peat is best but in what regards, germination rate? Love to see some acual figures comparing peat and peat free composts if any one has any?

[chriscross1966]

Mostly it's down to how fine and homogenous the structure of the compost is combined with it's ability to both drain and retain moisture. Peat is just better at it than almost anything unless they start milling the recycled green waste much finer before it gets used in the peat-free mixes then the peat-based ones will be better.

[pumkinlover]

Any body out there found a good peat-free????

I use YHS at he moment but admit not that good for seed sowing. However find it fine for everything else and I do use large amounts so prefer to buy peat free.
Having read Chriscross explanation I will buy some peat based for seed sowing.

[JudithM]

Thanks everyone. Will buy for my seeds.

Do you mix anything else in with it for seeds?