I have lost loads of seedlings this year, including all my melons. Most plants seemed to be stagnant. I bought Focus compost. One tomato plant went in some miracle grow compost I had given me about 3weeks ago, and this is 20 times healthier and more vigorous than any plant in the Focus stuff.
As a last ditch attempt, I added pelleted chicken manure and calcified seaweed to the big pots. Within 48 hours, new , healthy growth has started. The new growthis green instead of sickly looking.
Has anyone else had problems with Focus compost? It looks more like woodchip than compost!
Oh, I have now learned not to put pelleted chicken manure into pots in your conservatory unless you have lost your sense of smell and love to see small flies buzzing around your pots ::)
cj :)
they do wiff a bit don't they ? 8)
can't help with the compost, never go to Focus.
???
Quotecan't help with the compost, never go to Focus
I dont think I'll rush back there, either!
cj :)
Caroline I had some which sounds similar from B&Q last year - complete rubbish - ended up using it as mulch. I noticed they have changed their bags & the contents this year - they must have had complaints - maybe you should tell Focus what you think of their product. It's so frustrating when you put all that time & effort in and you can't rely on their compost.
I am a bit frustrated that I didnt keep my reciept. I never thought that the compost could be bad. I have some empty bags though, so maybe I could take them to the store to complain.
I am not a very good complainer though. I usually just let things go, as I dont like confrontation. Perhaps I could send OH to do my dirty work........... ::)
cj :)
I stick my finger in the bags to see what I'm getting.
I suspect they all re-formulate every year. We used Homebase potting compost for years, but about three years ago it was rubbish; we switched to Erin; now that's rubbish. But Homebase is better again. Best of all was Westland, bought in Wickes; went back for some more yesterday, but they'd run out; remembered seeing some in Homebase, so bought it there; it's rubbish!
Perhaps that's why there are always so many broken bags lying around the stack: everyone sticks their finger in the bag to see what they're getting. Good idea!
Mmmm, better brush up on my finger poking action ;D
cj :)
There seems to be quite a lot of naff compost about ,
I tried the enviromently friendly stuff last year (peat free etc etc ).
It dried out very quickly water didn't seem to penetrate down into the pots and it seemed to contain quite a bit of uncomposted material ..
I Think lesson I learned was stick to the ones that I know although they may be more expensive ...
I've used Focus compost this year as I had a 15% discount card sent to me. Not had any problems (so far). But it wouldn't surprise me if it turned out rubbish as most things from there turn out to be poor buys! We have been caught out so many times that we are very wary what we buy from there nowadays >:(
Caroline, funny thing to put in pots - Calcium??
QuoteCaroline, funny thing to put in pots - Calcium??
Didnt have a clue what I was doing, so just added anything that may have some nutrients in it. Was that a bad idea then?
cj :)
Another vote here for Wickes compost, but we normally add nutrients. This year's success has been Westland compost also bought from Wickes. Very good stuff, and we've grown all our seeds in it with high germination rates and helathy plants (except for chillies and melons for some reason ??? )
I think that a lot of the peat-free composts contain coir or something similar, which has little in the way of nutrients, and is a beggar to wet once it dries out.
It's funny you should post about compost, as I was going post about the New Horizon peat free stuff I've been using for years.
I won't, out of principle, use any peat containing compost.
So over the years I've tried to find the best substitute, and I think I may have found the answer, I buy a bag of New Horizon peat free, and another of New Horizon Coir compost, I then mix it 50:50, but I sieve the peat free stuff, and throw the very woody bits that you get in the peat free stuff onto my woodland garden with a barkchip floor.
The resulting 50:50 mix is just right, I never have any problem, and it's great to work with, and my conscience is clear.
Also, they use the New Horizon stuff on GW, and they also sell it at Wisley, so maybe it can't be that bad ?
Phill
;D ;D ;D ;D
OH bought 2 big bags of the focus stuff 2 weeks back as we had run out of Levingtons and we'd been to a few places that had sold out.
I notice that some places keep the bags of composts outside subjected to the elements. A number of bags may have holes or tears in, so rain and things work their way in. Perhaps being baked in sunlight doesn't help either?
I have my fingers crossed for the focus compost - got an awful lot of things to pot on.
I think compost is very much what you pay for!
A mate and I have ganged up and we buy wholesale and bulk buy.
When you consider a pallet normally has 42 x 60/70 litre bags on it and I use around a dozen and so does he, plus the others on our plots we can soon get rid of a palletful.
We insist that the pallet load is new from the suppliers and hasn't been hanging around for months leeching out fertiliser.
Two years ago we were reimbursed a whole pallet because what they sent was rubbish, now they know better.
This years batch (Humax) has been very good.
We generally buy reputable brands which initially might be a little dearer but because of bulk buying it still works out cheaper than chainstore brands'
I've used New Horiazon for a few years now and found it to be fine. I sieve out the big bits for sowing too. It came out best in a Which trial of peat-free composts. Even the bags left from last year that I got at a bargain price seem fine.
Like Tee Gee I only use Humax and i have to agree its been spot on this year and at £3.50 from tho lottie shop i have no complaints
I've got the which compost guide - if anyone would like a copy please pm me your e-mail :)
I use the 1/2 bag of the john innis stuff i have left with mixed results partly down to me not being able to keep the seeds warm and wet enough.
But i have picked up some vermiculite and want to make my own potting compost as this bag is almost gone for next year which should be fun :-)
I have always been warned to get the best potting compost i can when starting off trays no short cuts and no short measures as you only get a chance to grow a seed once :-).
Cambourne7
QuoteOn Friday we travelled the distance up to Cumbria to visit L&P Peat, who mine Solway Moss for Humax compost, used for mushroom growing. Solway Moss is a site the government wants to submit for Special Area of Conservation status to Europe, however L&P Peat have threatened to take the government to judicial review if they do, preventing any of the peat sites being submitted.
I use the Focus and B&Q stuff and find it fine. Stuff germinates fine and often stays in it longer than the recommended 6 weeks. Never had a problem unless I am using old seed and then it is down to the seed. I don't sieve it either. Also, I know that I am not doing serious harm to delicate eco-systems.
having been brought up on the smell of peat being burned, i would support most measures which keep the habitat :-) for future generations.
Its a smell that cant help but bring me back to a little girl, sitting on the back of a open top truck with my cousin surounded by freshly cut peat trying brining it home from the bog in Dublin. And then warming up in front of the fire watching a dry peice burning - wonderful time in my past!!
I too use Humax. I could use a pallet full too.. may I ask where please??
XX Jeannine
boy that stuff looks expensive
http://www.gardenandbuilding.co.uk/index.asp?function=DISPLAYPRODUCT&productid=1121
What does 1 cubic meter equate to in litres ?
We have been using Lidles compost this year mainly because it`s in 40 ltr bags which we can handle.No trouble with germination and it all seems to be growing on well. When we pot on I add a bit of F.B.B. just to help.It does`nt seem to have a lot of wood etc in it.
Marymary
Are you sure you didn`t buy soil improver by mistake?. I asked my son(who is a landscape gardener) to get me compost and he got improver instead the bags looked the same.I mixed it in with compost60/40 for tom pots and it seems to be o.k, all growing away.
QuoteI have always been warned to get the best potting compost i can when starting off trays no short cuts and no short measures as you only get a chance to grow a seed once :-).
If you are having problems sowing seeds I would say the advice you have been given(above)is a bit out.
Too much fertiliser in it in my opinion!
What you want is a 'SEED' compost which has very little fertiliser (if any) in it.
To save buying all the different types I just buy multi-purpose and dilute it with silver sand, when I need a seed compost and add Chempak potting base to it if I want a potting compost.
In the latter I adjust the amount of 'base mixture' to suit what my potting needs are e.g. equivalent of JI1,JI2,JI3 etc
I would be interested in other points of view on this knowing the variances that there can be in the various compost mixes.
Quote from: Lady of the Land on May 20, 2007, 06:31:04
What does 1 cubic meter equate to in litres ?
A thousand. So, using Wickes ordinary compost as an example, they have a special offer of 4 80-litre bags for £10, which makes a cubic metre just over £30. But their better quality compost, Westland, is 3 60-litre bags for £12, which is around £70 a cubic metre.
We also bought a pallet of mushroom compost earlier this year. 60 50-litre bags for £149 delivered, which works out at £50 per cubic metre.
I've never understood why compost doesn't have to be labelled with its ingredients like everything else.
Caroline - http://www.seagrow.co.uk/calcswd.htm = 40% Lime.
But it is not approved by the Soil Association as being environmentally unsound.
And it's expensive.
I bought myself some John Innes (no. 1) for starting my seeds this year and have had great success.
I still think the old JI composts are best, preferably made with leafmould instead of peat. they've got some actual substance to them, while the peat-based and other artificial composts are little more than a vehicle for a bit of fertiliser they put in.
Quote from: gordonsveg on May 20, 2007, 06:35:51
Marymary
Are you sure you didn`t buy soil improver by mistake?. I asked my son(who is a landscape gardener) to get me compost and he got improver instead the bags looked the same.I mixed it in with compost60/40 for tom pots and it seems to be o.k, all growing away.
Could well have been, it was all woody with big lumps of stuff in it but I was certain at the time it was compost. When I bought it I asked if someone could help me put it in the car & they said no but someone could
watch me do it - health & safety! ;D
I have been using Lidls potting compost & I've been very impressed with it.
QuoteCaroline - http://www.seagrow.co.uk/calcswd.htm = 40% Lime.
But it is not approved by the Soil Association as being environmentally unsound.
And it's expensive.
Thanks Tim. I didnt realise there were ecological issues with it. I got this lot from Trago Mills last year at a really cheap price. Wont buy it again.
cj :)
"Finally, as a replacement for Calcified Seaweed which is no longer approved by the Soil Association for use in organic growing Cal-Sea-Feed is a blend of dried seaweed, harvested in a sustainable and environmentally benign system, and natural calcium compounds. It is specifically formulated to give growers the benefits of Calcified Seaweed without the environmental concerns."
I bought a bag of Westmoreland or westland or something from Homebase and I'm noticing some strange result, tomato plants are leggier than normal, a bit pale despite being outside all day and some have deformed leaves etc
Also having trouble getting lettuces going properly in it, dodgy germination, deformed leave, die quickly, going to mulch with it and buy some more as don't need mych more this year.
I got the New Horizon stuff cheap because they told me at Hayes that they are only stocking Westland now!
Bought three 160 litre bags of B+Q multipurpose. NEVER AGAIN.
Everything looks sickly, seedlings are bursting up then dying off left right and centre.
Bit of weak miracle grow solution and things are looking up.
I think the compost has not been rotted down long enough, it appears to be more like bark mulch than compost and seems to have very little nutrients in it.
Useless compost .....DONT GET ME STARTED !!! >:( Rohaise )
Yes i have used the B & Q mp compost :( and my seedlings became ill too yellow and limp??? I transplanted them in john Innes No1 and within a couple of days they are looking much improved! so i know it was dodgy compost ::)
I've always used Homebase all-purpose, with good results; this year bought their peat-free without realising till too late, our germination rate has been way down, and I've been raising seeds for donkeys' years, so it can't be the method - perhaps it was three duff bags >:(
It seems that the general purpose compost obtainable at the 'sheds' is pretty useless.
I would agree. the peat used in some of the mixtures is very poor & has been mentioned on A4A before. Always be aware that the 'sheds' don't waste, hence you may be buying last years stock - which for you, the customer, is useless. But we have to support the shareholders of course so why are we important???????????
I seem to remember that B&Q were dispensing with the use of peat based products a few years ago, what happened. Do I need to ask?
Tim
Thankyou for explaining about calcified seaweed. I was wondering why I could no longer buy it. Now I will have to look for a supplier of Cal-Sea-Feed.
Rosemary