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Best Multipurpose compost
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Message 1.Ìý
Posted by Stressed out (U11163734) on Tuesday, 10th April 2012
Anyone got any thoughts on what the best multipurpose compost is this year in 60ltr bags and above
Wickes multipurpose is now awful
B&Q new formula is not getting a good write up (despite its which best buy which I suspect is based on last years formula)
Levingtons - is not great this year either
Anyone used Richmore this year 70ltr bags?
I am fed up of buying bags only to find out its rubbish when I get them home
The reason I am asking is I usually order 3 pallet loads and I don't want to get stuck with a load of rubbish. Used to order Levington's for years but then it went off and been using Wickes for the last 2 years - which was good until they changed formula this year.
I am very fed up with the smaller bags of rubbish being sold - Wickes even have a handwritten sign up now saying the 'multipurpose' compost is not suitable for seed sowing. I did point out to them that the bag says suitable for seed sowing....................
I am beginning to think that I need two pallet loads of multipurpose and one pallet load of peat and get it in the concrete mixer........................... -
Message 2
Posted by MuddyFork (U10051443) on Wednesday, 11th April 2012
I have just purchased 3 bags of Godwins Multi Purpose and it's awful. It seems to be mainly lightly composted shredded bark. It's a shame they don't have to list the contents on the bags so that you could at least base a decision on some facts.
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Message 3
Posted by cufcskim (U14483815) on Wednesday, 11th April 2012
Still using B&Q Multi purpose 125l bags (Purple bag) after many years, it's make up has been constant throughout, has always performed well and is bloody good value compared to the rest of the expensive tat available to us retail mortals.
Don't know how the newly re-branded 'Verve' own brand (White Bag) stuff works since it's only sold in the smaller bags at my local store. -
Message 4
Posted by Palaisglide (U3102587) on Wednesday, 11th April 2012
All the outlets seem to be selling smaller bags this year and all of it appears to come from a main composting dealer. It is anything from dust to uncured wood chips, when I put it through a riddle there were sticks, plastic, bits of rubbish.
Having too much waste for my own compost bins I use Council green waste and we can get two bags a week back from the tip which is better than any of the bags on sale. It is darker more crumbly and has not killed anything as yet.
I am with you Rowan, mix your own, and the peat you use will most probably be from eastern Europe having seen our own peat trade killed off.
Frank. -
Message 5
Posted by figrat (U3054696) on Wednesday, 11th April 2012
I bought some Westland with added JI a couple of weeks ago. It does have more bits of bark in than I'm used to, but I always sieve compost before sowing seed anyway.
When planting out into containers, I bulk up new stuff with old stuff ( after screening it for nasties), leaf mould and some homemade compost.
Maybe retailers should consider putting out samples of what's in the bags so we can see and feel what we're buying.
Thanks for the reminder re council composted green waste - I'll pick up a couple of bags tomorrow. -
Message 6
Posted by flopsyinpottingshed (U15224261) on Wednesday, 11th April 2012
Anyone got any thoughts on what the best multipurpose compost is this year in 60ltr bags and above
Wickes multipurpose is now awful
B&Q new formula is not getting a good write up (despite its which best buy which I suspect is based on last years formula)
Levingtons - is not great this year either
Anyone used Richmore this year 70ltr bags?
I am fed up of buying bags only to find out its rubbish when I get them home
The reason I am asking is I usually order 3 pallet loads and I don't want to get stuck with a load of rubbish. Used to order Levington's for years but then it went off and been using Wickes for the last 2 years - which was good until they changed formula this year.
I am very fed up with the smaller bags of rubbish being sold - Wickes even have a handwritten sign up now saying the 'multipurpose' compost is not suitable for seed sowing. I did point out to them that the bag says suitable for seed sowing....................
I am beginning to think that I need two pallet loads of multipurpose and one pallet load of peat and get it in the concrete mixer...........................Ìý I use Horizon multipurpose and find it good - you get 3 bags for the price of 2 - i usually sieve to use for sowing fine seeds as does have some twiggy/lumpy bits -
Message 7
Posted by the2 jays (U14383723) on Wednesday, 11th April 2012
I was told about Clover MP compost several years ago. I couldn't get it locally last year but in desperation after trying 3 others OH looked on line & we did a 25 mile round trip to get some. I have never had to sieve. It's like putting your hand in a bag of flower. Lovely stuff.
I lost so many seeds last year & many of them were heritage ones. -
Message 8
Posted by 7magpies (U8108459) on Wednesday, 11th April 2012
Which? have done tests for 2012 and recommended the following composts for raising plants as Best Buys:
J Arthur Bower's Multipurpose Compost with added John Innes
Westland Surestart Seed & Cutting Compost (which they say is also good for seedlings)
Recommended peat-free compost for raising plants:
New Horizon Organic & Peat-Free Vegetable Compost
One they say NOT to buy is New Horizon Organic & Peat Free Seed & Cutting Compost, which sounds good but did not produce healthy plants. -
Message 9
Posted by tazman (U11274615) on Wednesday, 11th April 2012
Hi to all Boarder's, Do NOT BUY J Arthur Bower's Multi Purpose Compost, it is full of wood and chipboard, and shredded Tree stumps.It is not worth £ 4.99 for 60litres,I got four bag's of it. I am using it to grow my spuds in bag's. But that has a white hairy film over it now. I WILL NOT BE BUYING THAT AGAIN TOTAL RUBBISH. I Am using the new B & Q Compost which is far better, so far no complaints.
Good Luck And Happy Gardening.
Tazmanalun
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Message 10
Posted by zoomer44 (U14019069) on Wednesday, 11th April 2012
Economy is my usual route. On that basis I've always purchased the cheapest grow bags available, which up until this year as served me well. This years bargin's were a false economy and full of rubish.
Last year I started to buy the large bags of compost which were split, you get to see what's inside and can try the better brands purchasing them at a discount..
After opening a bag of rubish compost recently but still wanting to pot up one weekend, trotted off to Aldi where there was a stack of £1 bags of compost outside. Several bags looked like they had been ripped open, so I was able to check what was inside before buying a good bag of black gold.
Compost is one of the few items people buy without seeing whats inside. People should ask to see the contents first before buying. Prehaps GC's and superstores need to start putting an open bag near by, they will only do that though if we complain or everyone starts to ask to see whats inside the bag.
No matter how much money spent on compost it should be fit for purpose, whether that be £1 or £10. You shouldn't have to get your purchase home before realising you've been given a bag of wood chippings not fit for mulching. -
Message 11
Posted by the2 jays (U14383723) on Friday, 13th April 2012
I've had issues with JAB compost & grow bags previously. The compost was useless. Glass, plastic, large pieces of wood & incredibly lumpy. I got my money back on the compost. Grow bags smelled revolting on opening. Several people on another had complained about the both GBs & compost.
If everyone complained about the quality of the products then perhaps something would be done about it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! -
Message 12
Posted by BaraGwenith (U14257539) on Friday, 13th April 2012
Like what should they do about it?
Yes, maybe screen it better, but it is so awful because they are using a lot of recycled stuff made from waste food and garden refuse.
That has to be a good thing; doesn't it? We'll probably just have to get used to it. -
Message 13
Posted by Palaisglide (U3102587) on Friday, 13th April 2012
Like what should they do about it?
Yes, maybe screen it better, but it is so awful because they are using a lot of recycled stuff made from waste food and garden refuse.
That has to be a good thing; doesn't it? We'll probably just have to get used to it.Ìý I am afraid having tried some of the bad stuff we may become used to it, one problem the plants never will, we are having too many failures with the stuff.
Seed these days can be expensive and more so if we lose half to none germination or damp off owing to bad compost, we never had such problems with peat.
Frank. -
Message 14
Posted by zoomer44 (U14019069) on Friday, 13th April 2012
I'm happy to be wrong but thought rotting down wood chippings take out the nutrients in soil.
If the future is - grow bags/multi purpose compost with recylced home waste in, which I'm given to understand we pay to have taken away through our council taxes and the various recylce plants receive it free of charge from our councils providing they collect it.
I'm happy to buy it back providing after shedding it's been given time to rot down and if the refining process takes out, at least the nails, plastic and paint.
What can we do about it? Small scale gardeners can start making their own. -
Message 15
Posted by 7magpies (U8108459) on Saturday, 14th April 2012
When I listed the Which? recommendation I should perhaps have added that they say:
"Please note that the very similarly named J Arthur Bower's Multipurpose Compost (without John Innes) didn't do as well."
The one they do recommend is "JAB's Multipurpose with added John Innes." This seems to make a difference.
I'm using a Westland multi-purpose, that I think Which? recommended last year. It does have rather a lot of lunpy bits that I have to remove before potting up small plants, but no real nasties so far. -
Message 16
Posted by Kleftiwallah (U13700999) on Saturday, 14th April 2012
We should ask the seller to open a bag or two so we can inspect the goods if things are going the way they are. Cheers, Tony.
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Message 17
Posted by chloedavis13 (U14811508) on Saturday, 14th April 2012
Hi, I have used Horizon Peat Free for the last couple of years and it has been fine and has worked especially well in containers. The plants seem to appreciate the free drainage.
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Message 18
Posted by lovespumpkins (U14259050) on Saturday, 14th April 2012
Our allotment sells Humax - multipurpose. It's appearance, odour and consistency has never changed from the day, I first started buying it.
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Message 19
Posted by poshHebeJeebie (U9319867) on Saturday, 14th April 2012
Where I live in Somerset, we have little real choice: there is one GC a few miles away - others (and B & Q and Homebase) are an hour's drive away!
I have used Westland multi-purpose for some years, and generally found it to be ok; not this year, though. It is lumpy, twiggy and not truly fit for purpose imo.
For seeds, I use a fine compost just for that purpose, and that's ok - but it's not so easy when it comes to potting on. Poor plants - they have to struggle to get their roots through the multi-purpose stuff.
We do have green bin collections here - cost £42.50 pa. (It was £25 pa when I first started with the service, four years ago). And no direct access to the resultant compost
Anyway, blow that for a game of marbles, I refuse to keep paying for the "service" so I'll revert to taking garden waste to the tip. I already compost as much as possible anyway.
PHJ -
Message 20
Posted by everhopeful (U11289037) on Saturday, 14th April 2012
Hi to all Boarder's, Do NOT BUY J Arthur Bower's Multi Purpose Compost, it is full of wood and chipboard, and shredded Tree stumps.It is not worth £ 4.99 for 60litres,I got four bag's of it. I am using it to grow my spuds in bag's. But that has a white hairy film over it now. I WILL NOT BE BUYING THAT AGAIN TOTAL RUBBISH. I Am using the new B & Q Compost which is far better, so far no complaints.
Good Luck And Happy Gardening.
TazmanalunÌý
I agree BOWERS MULTI PURPOSE WITH ADDED JOHN INNIS has not been a good buy for me Why do manufacturers have to keep chan ging things Its the same in supermnarketds all the things i like and want to buy regularly dissappear and something not so good appears on the shelves.
For instance I love(or should say loved) M and S roasted salted mixed nuts but now tjey are tasteless and more often than not contain too much of one kind.
To go back to compost I dont know which to buy. I do produce lots of compost from bins but use that in the raised beds and borders. So for potting up need to buy.
EH -
Message 21
Posted by everhopeful (U11289037) on Monday, 16th April 2012
On Saturday I needed more compost for pots and stood for ages in Wyevale looking at all the different composts. Tried to complain to the shop assistant about the poor quality of some of them but she argued that I needed to complain to the manufacturer not her. Itried to tell her tha as i had bought from them they had to complain .My contract was with Wyevale .I might as well have talked to the wall.
I ended up buying organic peat free so will see how this works.
Hope this cold spell doesnt last much longer, am longing to get things out of greenhouse.
EH -
Message 22
Posted by StaffordshireMags (U1624415) on Monday, 16th April 2012
Suggestion:
When you go to buy your compost take a small knife with you. If there are no split bags enabling you to see the contents the make a small hole with the knife so you can have a look.. I'm sorry for the retailers, but they must understand that customers want to examine the goods before buying. Having been caught out with 4 bags of rubbish this year I don't want to waste my money again.
I am currently using a bag of Jacks Magic compost which is good. Maggie -
Message 23
Posted by normaldot (U2379105) on Wednesday, 18th April 2012
I am sure most compost must now contravene the trade description act. Peat free now seems to mean absolutely anything exept peat, I did not realise that other composts contain wood and rubbish.
My stepfather taught me to make compost by sterilizing garden loam using either heat or garden disinfectant, and mixing it with peat. Although I don't use peat I think we should go back to making our own compost. Old books are full of compost recipes.
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