Multi-Purpose Compost Question

[Chilli P]

I was just wondering if anyone else has noticed that Multi Purpose Compost seems to have alot of bits in it, eg twigs, leaves and roots that have not broken down, i seem to be throwing bits out all the time from it.

I have always used multi purpose compost for starting my seeds off and have not had many problems in the past but this year apart from toms nothing seems to be growing, the compost seems to me to be bulkier and im now thinking to use something else for my seeds.

I buy multi purpose compost 4 for £12 J Arthur bower's from my local garden centre.

[Lesley Jay]

I have found that the cheaper bulk bags of multi purpose compost that you buy from 'superstores' usually have twigs, leaves and lumps that just haven't broken down but never had that problem with better quality multi purpose compost like John Innes and J. Arthur Bowers. Have you considered seed compost to start your seeds off in?

Westland John Innes Seed Sowing Compost - 10 litres

[Chilli P]

I hadn't till now but i dont think the seeds are going to do well in what iv got.
Thank you for that i'm just off to garden centre to get John Innes seed sowing compost.

[DavidT]

I think the companies are using " council compost " to bulk out their own products.

[Chilli P]

Hi David T

I think you are so write on this, Iv made a few enquirers about compost in general as its been such a big difference in quality. Iv just bought 18 bags of Murphy's multi compost on line free delivery if bought on bulk, as i have 3 large raised beds to fill and yes its a finer compost and i would be happy to grow seeds in it but still picking bits out of it. attached photo of what came out of 5 70L bags of Murpys

I was told by the end of this year all compost has to be 100% recycled by law and to expect alot more twigs in future.

Iv been told that Humax compost is good but its really hard to find and not cheap, i dont mind that for 1 or 2 bags a year.

Regards

Chilli p

[DavidT]

Focus actually has signs up saying that their composts contain recycled material. Even B&Qs` compost has composted wood chip in it nowadays.

[plantmark]

Originally Posted by Chilli P

Hi David T

I think you are so write on this, Iv made a few enquirers about compost in general as its been such a big difference in quality. I've just bought 18 bags of Murphy's multi compost on line free delivery if bought on bulk, as i have 3 large raised beds to fill and yes its a finer compost and i would be happy to grow seeds in it but still picking bits out of it. attached photo of what came out of 5 70L bags of Murpys

I was told by the end of this year all compost has to be 100% recycled by law and to expect alot more twigs in future.

Iv been told that Humax compost is good but its really hard to find and not cheap, i dont mind that for 1 or 2 bags a year.

Regards

Chilli p

Thats awful stuff! I have to say I would't buy it myself. I always buy Levingtons since I read a trial in Which Magazine which put it way ahead of the others. The product is OK, but I have noticed more "debris" in it this year like very small pieces of timber, but nothing like what you have found. I have just ordered some Levington M2 which is said to be the Rolls Royce of Compost, so I am looking forward to trying that.

[Chilli P]

Originally Posted by plantmark

Thats awful stuff! I have to say I would't buy it myself. I always buy Levingtons since I read a trial in Which Magazine which put it way ahead of the others. The product is OK, but I have noticed more "debris" in it this year like very small pieces of timber, but nothing like what you have found. I have just ordered some Levington M2 which is said to be the Rolls Royce of Compost, so I am looking forward to trying that.

Thanks for the info on Levingtons, It will be interesting to see how my carrots do in there deep beds this year in the Murphys, i'l post a picture of them later on in the season to show results.

Regards
Chilli p

[plantmark]

I found that I had to order the M2 from a top soil supplier, not generally stocked in Garden centres. Price was £7.90 for a 75 litre bag. Looks expensive against the garden centre offers on Levingtons standard which sells at 2 bags for £10 until you realise that they have now chopped the size to 50 litres, so for 50 litres the M2 is only an extra 25p!

[smeagal]

I recently bought to bags of Miracle grow multi compost from Wilkinson's and a seed/potting compost .
I did what I always do with any potting compost sieved it to remove lumps and debris and then added some water retaining crystals and a little bit of topsoil.
I got this method from the BBC Gardeners World and last year it gave me a good result .
I have also download a special mix for growing toms in a hanging basket which is basically the same but using peat free compost.