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What is the current best peat free compost?

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George the Pigman:
By the end of 2024 retail sale of peat containing compost is to be banned (the professional horticultural industry's ban does not come into operation until 2026 or possibly in some specific cases until 2030). With this in mind I went to my local big supermarket today to see what compost was available peat-free . There were the usual brands like Levingtons and Miracle Grow and a couple of bags had bust so you could look at the compost that was in them. They didn't resemble anything like what I know as compost, in fact  they were more like finely shredded bark and felt extremely dry!
I tried some peat free compost many many years ago but it didn't look like this and quite frankly wasn't impressed with the growth I got  then compared to good quality peat containing compost. However I assumed that since there is a ban on peat coming up it would be much better by now but the look and feel of it today  put me off.
What are people's experiences with the modern peat-free compost and what do they think is currently the best one?

Harry:

--- Quote from: George the Pigman on May 09, 2023, 11:20:54 ---By the end of 2024 retail sale of peat containing compost is to be banned (the professional horticultural industry's ban does not come into operation until 2026 or possibly ...
What are people's experiences with the modern peat-free compost and what do they think is currently the best one?

--- End quote ---
Sorry, I've nothing to report on peat free, but I'll be looking to snap up any peat based stuff that MIGHT get sold off cheap.
TheRange did have some in stock... But they d**n near doubled the price. https://www.therange.co.uk/garden/seeds-bulbs-and-propagation/compost-and-soil/multi-purpose-garden-compost-bale/?position=11&s=63816#63816

Paulh:
Our allotment association supplies have stocked peat-less composts for a couple of years now. I have used two brands:

- Happy: compost and grow bags. A bit coarse and could go "porridgey" in pots

- Melcourt: RHS approved, rather finer, looks like traditional compost but a different texture to the touch.

Both worked well for me last year in most cases and for some uses I mixed them to have a better consistency for the purpose.

This year has been less good as I have repeatedly overwatered seed trays. I think the colder weather hasn't helped, as the plants aren't lapping up moisture, but I find it hard to know how wet the compost is until too late. It looks dry on top but is waterlogged below. Careful potting on has rescued most of them, at least until I water them again. I think I will try adding perlite or grit to the compost.

Both brands are much better than the alternative composts I've bought in previous years. They are more like the coir composts (which gave me the same watering issues).

I believe Happy have withdrawn from the retail market as they had peat stocks to use up and can only do that as a horticultural grower supplier.

We buy stock in conjunction with another nearby association. Strangely, while this year we ordered only peat-free composts, as a great majority of our members were buying those, the other association bought up as much peat-based compost as it could as that was the clear preference of its members! I believe we transferred our unsold peat-based compost to them.

George the Pigman:
Yes Paulh I think a lot of allotmenteers and gardeners will need some persuasion to switch to peat-free particularly because of its poor reputation in the past. My allotment currently sells both forms and it will be interesting to get feedback as to what they allotmenteers think about the peat-free compost they have purchased.
I don't drive (my wife died 21 months ago of cancer and she was the driver) so I am quite dependent now on deliveries of big stuff like compost unless family or friends are available to help me. However today I visited a local family hardware store a mile away by bus and ordered three 70L bags of peat-containing compost (at a reasonable price!) and they delivered it this afternoon!! Interestingly they say they only sell compost with peat in it at the moment, I suspect because people are reluctant to buy the peat-free stuff. Its a brand called Ambassador that I have never heard of before but it looks OK in terms of structure. Lucky I have a small family hardware store not too far away as they are disappearing fast!

Tiny Clanger:
We tried some peat free Tomorite Grow bags for tomatoes a couple of years ago. Awful result. The plants were small and struggling, going yellow.  Had to jiggle about t=with MgSO4 and fertilisers to get htm back on track.  I will not willing ly use again.  Trying to get enough matter in the composters to make us self sufficient.  :wave:

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