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Quote from: torquil on March 05, 2009, 16:12:38
  have tried Humax last year with good results they were75L this year however now 60L can get 3 bags for £11 pounds at small garden center nearby.good clean compost with plenty of additives

I would want them to plant my seeds and cuddle them into hatching out at that price.

Quote from: zigzig on March 05, 2009, 18:36:20Keeping them over winter does more good than harm.

most gro-bags have added fertiliser, this degrades over time, so, keeping them over-winter don't do them any good at all!! ;)

Quote from: tonybloke on March 05, 2009, 19:32:00

Quote from: zigzig on March 05, 2009, 18:36:20Keeping them over winter does more good than harm.

most gro-bags have added fertiliser, this degrades over time, so, keeping them over-winter don't do them any good at all!! ;)

I will agree to that in fact i might even drink to it off for a pint .

seed compost...year before last I bought J.Arthur Bowers...rubbish twigs/bark/stuff......never will buy from them again :-\  Same year I bought, sorry can't remember the producer, but someone's 'organic peat-free compost'..more spensive than most but hey! I wanted to do my bit. Another failure. Once dried out it formed a hard crust & water just lay on the surface.

So since then, back to my cheapo tried&true old ways.  JI Seed compost is still on my Approved List & other soil for all my containers comes from cheapo 99p growbags I buy from my local greengrocer. I can't buy large bags of compost cos I can't lift them & don't grow in growbags, as such - merely using that compost in tubs. Works for me.

Quote from: zigzig on March 05, 2009, 18:36:20

Keeping them over winter does more good than harm.

I was led to believe that compost goes stale if kept over winter.

I chuck any I've got left in October over the garden and buy fresh in March.

I can not find any dates on any bags of compost or grow bags so how does any one know how old the stuff is?

Quote from: PurpleHeather on March 07, 2009, 08:46:12
I can not find any dates on any bags of compost or grow bags so how does any one know how old the stuff is?

Good point 8)

I routinely keep back 2-3 grobags from one season to start the next. Not noticed any checking of the plants I put in, and taking PH's original point, Lord knows how old they were even before I bought them ???

I've used Erin's and apart from a few course bits in it, have been satisfied. Four bags for a tenner is reasonable (75L bags).  Could do with some grow bags, anyone aware of any reasonably priced and fair quality near Heathrow or just north of it? :)

Quote from: PurpleHeather on March 07, 2009, 08:46:12
I can not find any dates on any bags of compost or grow bags so how does any one know how old the stuff is?

ask your supplier??
seriously, you can usually tell (the plastic bags deteriorate / bleach), somewhere on the bag will be a barcode / batch ident.

Waste not, want not, I've sowed some seed today in last years unused compost. If the nutrients in compost deteriorate with time, I should get a bumper crop of seedlings! If not, I've got plenty of time to sow some more. What did we do before garden centres  :)

I always use Lidl multipurpose compost - £1.99 for 40 litres without problems, But eading your comments I am wondering if I should go for better quality.  Also, they do a peat-free compost - £1.99 for 30 litres but I am never sure what to use it  for, what is the difference?

Thanks to everyone for all the information and advice.

Weedgrower, do you know the full results of the Which test this year - the best ones and the worst ones?

Quote from: alipally on March 08, 2009, 09:39:08

Lidl multipurpose compost - £1.99 for 40 litres ... peat-free compost - £1.99 for 30 litres ...
what is the difference?

Peat is the stuff that holds the water. Peat free = VERY well drained/poor water retention.

Peat free is fine for plants that like sharp drainage. For those that need moist or wetter growing medium ie pots, baskets, tomatoes,   use none peat-free, otherwise water every five minutes.   :(