Allotments 4 All

I bought some New Horizon organic and peat free compost. I sowed some seeds into it and also potted on some plants at the weekend but today these things have popped up. It's not a very good photo, but they look a bit like tiny mushrooms. I'm presuming that it's something that has been used in making the compost.

Am I ok to just pull them out and leave everything growing in the compost, or would you start again with the seeds and repot everything else?

Jo.

Just leave them, they won't do any harm. It's just part of the continuing process of decay in the compost, which obviously isnt fully rotted down.

Thanks.

That's a relief.

Jo.

The compost is not properly composted and should be returned to the retailer as not fit for purpose.

When you buy compost, it should be ready to use, not 'still decomposing'.

 Yes return it straightaway, an inferior product it should be fully composted.

Buy cheap. Buy twice.

Quote from: Eristic on April 22, 2009, 22:21:38
Buy cheap. Buy twice.

It wasn't cheap, it's a recognised brand.

Jo.

I wouldn't have a problem with that compost either.

.....but a as tiny suggestion I would sieve it before sowing seeds, saving the larger bits for drainage when potting on.

Linda

I think this is a problem with a lot of peat-fee compost; it should often be left an extra year to rot down fully.

Possibly, and as you said "a lot",  but I've not had a problem with the YHS peat free and the minimal bits that have been left behind after the sieving would probably account for about 10% of the bag and I've not had any fungi growth.

I appreciate that you all have to defend your corner but take a look at the photo. The only healthy thing in it is the mushroom. That's mulch, not potting compost.

I've got some of that compost - I'm pretty sure that's the brand - and mine doesn't look like that at all, it hasn't got all that bark in.

I notice that compost is never sold in packs which are clear, always dark.

Granted that dark helps composting but most of us do want to buy and use the stuff straight away.

I notice too that the pile of bags have often got one bag with a small slash in it, I used to think that this was as a result of 'damage in transit', now  I wonder if there are some experienced gardeners out there is checking before they buy.

Didn't plant mushroom seeds by accident?
;)

Quote from: Eristic on April 22, 2009, 23:13:22
I appreciate that you all have to defend your corner but take a look at the photo. The only healthy thing in it is the mushroom. That's mulch, not potting compost.

And we appreciate that you have an axe to grind for some reason known only to yourself Eristic.

I always make a small inspection hole to compare what's on offer first. Last week, the Homebase own make was infinitely better quality than the named brand (Westfield, I think) which had wood shavings in it!

I have no axe to grind, I'm just trying to put the point that you are getting what you pay for. Some of you are even beginning to realise that. I am self sufficient in compost so it matters not to me, but night after night someone is here complaining about their growing medium or troubles related to it. Strange as it may seem, I do not like watching others suffer, but there is an old saying about leading horses to water.

In futile efforts to discredit me, some of you seem to go to extraordinary lengths to sieve, mix, add to and otherwise modify cheapo mixes to bring it up to some sort of acceptable standard. Price is an issue, always has been and always will be but you are going to have to learn not to treat it like dirt. Dirt would give you better results in many cases.

Whether you like it or not compost is going to get much more expensive, or lower quality, or both. Live with it.

Quote from: Eristic on April 23, 2009, 21:18:04
I have no axe to grind, I'm just trying to put the point that you are getting what you pay for. Some of you are even beginning to realise that. I am self sufficient in compost so it matters not to me, but night after night someone is here complaining about their growing medium or troubles related to it. Strange as it may seem, I do not like watching others suffer, but there is an old saying about leading horses to water.

In futile efforts to discredit me, some of you seem to go to extraordinary lengths to sieve, mix, add to and otherwise modify cheapo mixes to bring it up to some sort of acceptable standard. Price is an issue, always has been and always will be but you are going to have to learn not to treat it like dirt. Dirt would give you better results in many cases.

Whether you like it or not compost is going to get much more expensive, or lower quality, or both. Live with it.

As stated in my original post, I was looking for advice regarding the plants which had been sown into this compost. You haven't answered my question in any way. I didn't intend to start a debate on the price of the compost, which incidentally cost more than other compost with peat added.

I chose this particular brand as apparently it has come out on top in trials of peat free compost. Having only ever used two brands of peat free I didn't know if this was something which was common to find.

Being self sufficient in compost is great, I wish I were, but having only taken on an allotment a month ago I'm having to buy in.

If you read my first post you will realise that I wasn't actually complaining about the compost itself, or indeed anything. All I did ask for was advice regarding my plants.

Thank you to those of you who have answered my question. It seems that there is a mixture of answers. The mushroom type growths have actually now vanished.

Jo.

I think it has become apparant that Bowers are having problems this year with their peat free compost.  I picked up some bags a few weeks ago which were still in last years style 70L bags and it is as good as it was last year.  Hopefully, their quality will pick up again soon and that they have the foresight and good sense to deal with any problems that arise this year professionally and to everybody's satisfaction.

Do you have a source of leafmould, JO9919? I used to make good compost by mixing leafmould, soil and sharp sand, then watering it with Jeyes to sterilise it (otherwise you get all sorts of weed seeds coming up), and leaving it till the smell disappeared, or heating it in the oven (smelly!).