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Bennetts
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The curse of the peat free compost
« Thread Started on Apr 2, 2009, 9:31am »
I recently bought some multi purpose compost, the Eco type. To plant the tomato plants in. When I opened the bag it had a high wood chip content (the replacement for the peat) strange I thought, oh well carry on. :o

I planted the tomatoes into peat pots, for ease of transplanting and as the are bio degradable. [image]

All seamed OK for a while, but now half are dieing off. They are too wet and there is no nutrients. :'(

What I found is that the top of the compost is dry, but not the base, hence the over watering. ???

I will steer clear of this stuff again.
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Biggles
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Re: The curse of the peat free compost
« Reply #1 on Apr 2, 2009, 8:15pm »
That is exactly what I found Dave--so I haven't used it again.
Not very encouraging when planting out seedlings either!

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maggyd
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Re: The curse of the peat free compost
« Reply #2 on Apr 2, 2009, 9:25pm »
Yes but did you see he G.W. programn last week that was all about peat free compost? Tony Buckland was all for it and he was showing the difference between both of them ! he was saying the peat free was better? [image] just goes to show you have to try it yourself. Can you not rescue them Bennets by easing them out of the pots and see it that makes a difference!
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bogmyrtle
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Re: The curse of the peat free compost
« Reply #3 on Apr 3, 2009, 12:06pm »
My seeds are in the peat free stuff and whilst the flower seeds are doing ok, the veg ones have done, well nothing bar 2 Sungold toms. I need to get some more and am going for a different one to plant some more this weekend, I'll let you know what I buy & how I get on.

I wonder if the qualities vary perhaps considerably for the peat free ones and you just have to find a good one - i.e. an acceptable alternative? Easier said than done though.
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Bennetts
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Re: The curse of the peat free compost
« Reply #4 on Apr 4, 2009, 9:13am »
I am about to repot the survivors, this time in plastic pots and John Innis no3. I will stear clear of peat free from now on.
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emseypop
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Re: The curse of the peat free compost
« Reply #5 on Apr 4, 2009, 8:19pm »
I have some sweetpeas in some of that in loo roll tubes ATM, they always look dry, and germination hasn't been that good. [image]
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Re: The curse of the peat free compost
« Reply #6 on Apr 5, 2009, 9:36am »
It's very interesting to hear these comments. There is so much being made of using peat free compost. It's such a shame people are not getting great results with it. Maybe the thing is to mix it with John Innis or something.
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jasmine
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Re: The curse of the peat free compost
« Reply #7 on Apr 9, 2009, 7:25am »
I remember one of the gardenings mags doing some MP compost v. peat-free compost trials about a year ago and the results from the peat-free were poor compared to the MP. They are going to have to work on the alternatives before people will change - gardening is enough of a challenge without making things harder for yourself which is a real shame as we have improved as a country on the recycling/sustainability front hugely in quite a short space of time.
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Bennetts
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Re: The curse of the peat free compost
« Reply #8 on Apr 10, 2009, 7:07pm »
See what I mean
[image]

Luckily they are looking a lot better now I have transplanted them.
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Sleepy
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Re: The curse of the peat free compost
« Reply #9 on Apr 10, 2009, 7:09pm »
Hi Dave,

There are things you can do with peat free compost.

Mix it with your regular compost.

Try adding a little washing-up liquid when watering (just a drop or two)
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bogmyrtle
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Re: The curse of the peat free compost
« Reply #10 on Apr 11, 2009, 3:38pm »

Apr 10, 2009, 7:09pm, Sleepy wrote:
Hi Dave,

There are things you can do with peat free compost.

Mix it with your regular compost.

Try adding a little washing-up liquid when watering (just a drop or two)


What does the washing up liquid do?
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maggyd
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Re: The curse of the peat free compost
« Reply #11 on Apr 11, 2009, 4:38pm »

Apr 10, 2009, 7:09pm, Sleepy wrote:
Hi Dave,

There are things you can do with peat free compost.

Mix it with your regular compost.

Try adding a little washing-up liquid when watering (just a drop or two)


What does the washing up liquid do sleepy?
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maggyd
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Re: The curse of the peat free compost
« Reply #12 on Apr 11, 2009, 4:39pm »

Apr 11, 2009, 4:38pm, maggyd wrote:

Apr 10, 2009, 7:09pm, Sleepy wrote:
Hi Dave,

There are things you can do with peat free compost.

Mix it with your regular compost.

Try adding a little washing-up liquid when watering (just a drop or two)



[image] didnt see myrtles question. ;D

What does the washing up liquid do sleepy?
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Sleepy
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Re: The curse of the peat free compost
« Reply #13 on Apr 11, 2009, 5:58pm »

Apr 11, 2009, 3:38pm, bogmyrtle wrote:

Apr 10, 2009, 7:09pm, Sleepy wrote:
Hi Dave,

There are things you can do with peat free compost.

Mix it with your regular compost.

Try adding a little washing-up liquid when watering (just a drop or two)


What does the washing up liquid do?


Helps the compost soak up water by breaking down surface tension
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maggyd
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Re: The curse of the peat free compost
« Reply #14 on Apr 11, 2009, 9:49pm »
Good idea [image] as long as it doesnt harm the roots!
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bogmyrtle
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Re: The curse of the peat free compost
« Reply #15 on Apr 12, 2009, 7:55am »

Apr 11, 2009, 5:58pm, Sleepy wrote:

Apr 11, 2009, 3:38pm, bogmyrtle wrote:


What does the washing up liquid do?


Helps the compost soak up water by breaking down surface tension


Makes sense - I didn't read the 'when watering' bit, I couldn't undertsand why you would add washing up liquid to compost [image]
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