Beat the Peat – Part 2

Can you beat peat – part 2

At the end of January I obtained bags of fresh Melcourt SylvaGrow Multipurpose, Melcourt All-Purpose, and Sylvamix Potting, the latest formulation of New Horizon, Westland with John Innes, Miracle-Gro, B&Q and Homebase own brands. I still had 3 ICL Levingtons trade blends, Bulrush Peat Free (PF), Sylvamix seed and Clover left from November. Only ICL Levington Advance seed and modular (F2) and the Clover are peat based, the rest were totally peat free (PF). I embarked on more extensive trials than I had started the previous year. I purchased full spectrum UV lights so the plants would grow indoors on extended window sills. I have not tested all options but tried to concentrate of those that are not too expensive, are available locally and especially from our own trading centre.

I tried Lidl peat and peat free. Last year it did not do well but they may have changed the mix this year. It is cheap and may work in big containers or as a soil enricher or mulch. The school will try some for our potato trials this year. 

In January I planted 6 cells of each with basil, pansy, tomato, antirrhinum, petunia, and marigold. Yes that makes 540 small plants to watch. With help from children at Mengham Junior School I also planted amaranth and lambs lettuce in fresh samples of 6 composts not previously tested or that failed before. 

I measured the germination rate as they appeared, the size and health.

When ready I transplanted similar sized seedlings into bigger cells but my sample size was reduced as I have limited space in a controlled environment. As the small seedlings were grown on the differences between the growing media were less apparent but according to Which there are some 

When filling tubs and containers my trials so far are very limited. 

I have included summary findings of the Which (The consumers Association) impartial trials carried out at the Capel Manor National Gardening Centre. They tested composts last year and they try to only test brands that were not going to change this year. Every year they only test on two contrasting plant types at each stage of growth but their sample sizes are much larger than mine so I would give considerable weight to their results. They carried out their trials last year and some compositions have changed so they have thus not reviewed new or altered products. However I have recently purchased 3 bags of B&Q Good Home peat free (2 x 100 litre bags with different bar codes and one 50 litre bag. The contents of each look different so which blend Which tested we do not know. I tested the contents of the 50 litre bag. Customer comments on their website lead me conclude their ingredients are not consistent. B&Q Verve performed poorly though I was told that it was the same as the Good Home blend.

Recommendations for seed sowing.

Many of the peat free growing media are course or fibrous and I would avoid them especially for small seeds. As I am avoiding peat as its extraction harms the environment and releases carbon dioxide, I would go for either Melcourt SylvaGrow Multi-Purpose or their slightly cheaper All-Purpose. Many top-rate nurseries use Melcourt composts. I think the higher price is worth it for getting seeds started as one bag can go a long way. If you disagree and use the HIHS Trading Centre go for the Westland PF with added John Innes and pop a few extra seeds in. Though rather course and not recommended for seeds I found in most cases it did as well as the Clover peat and the petunia seeds appeared to do a little better. I tried sieving out the bigger woody bits from some of the cells and could not see a difference but covering small seeds with a finer media may help keep the seeds moist. A problem for seeds that are not covered and germinate on the surface is that that they can quickly dry out. Covering with glass, clear plastic or a propagator lid is advisable until they have germinated and check regularly. 

The Which magazine impartial trials covered tomatoes and petunias. They only gave 5 stars to Fertile Fibre Compost, 87% for seed and 83% for Multi-Purpose (both £24 for 60 litres inc. delivery). Moorland Gold seed and cutting scored 77%, Moorland Gold Multi-Purpose 69% (both £12.99 for 40 litres). Then came Melcourt SylvaGrow John Innes Seed Compost at 67% and (£5.99 for 15 litres). Melcourt SylvaGrow Multi-Purpose which is more readily available locally scored 63%. (Around £9 for 40 litres). 

Which also found that feeding the recommended dose once a week as soon as the first true leaves appear gave excellent results and that higher than recommended doses of feed did not harm seedlings. 

Recommendations for growing on seedlings and raising young plants

My sample sizes were very small as I have limited space. Often it was hard to see any difference in the size of the plants some were only 5 weeks old when measured. I will report again later. At this point I would give 5 stars to Clover peat, Westland PF with John Innes and Homebase PF. All other media except the B&Q Verve deserved 4 stars as they are all producing reasonable plants. When potting on I did not find it was worth paying for a premium brands. Bullrush form BHGS Chichester did very well considering the lower price. 

Even young plants benefit from a liquid feed and you may need to give them a dose weekly until you pot them on or plant them out. 

Which tested on tomatoes and marigolds and gave their top score to Homebase Peat Free Multi-Purpose Compost with Melcourt SylvaGrow Multi-Purpose not far behind. This is interesting as the Homebase product is made by Westland and looks just like Westland PF with added John Innes that we can get from the Trading Centre when in stock. It appears to be equal in performance.

Best peat-free compost for containers

It is too early to for me to tell for this year.

There is not much difference between the media I have tried for mature plants. My tomatoes and cucumbers have not show much preference in past years and I have certainly not found peat based products better. Which tested on pelargoniums and potatoes. They gave Miracle-Gro Peat Free Premium Moisture Control Special Compost 78%, Miracle-Gro Peat Free Premium All Purpose 75%, Homebase Peat Free Multi-purpose 74%, and B&Q Goodhome Multi-purpose Enriched Compost 73%. B&Q Goodhome Multi-Purpose, currently £12.50 for 100 litres did OK for potatoes but not so good for their Pelargoniums. Which suggested we avoid Levington Peat Free Multipurpose Compost with added John Innes. As I get through a lot here I tend to use my own home made compost in tubs and for my tomatoes and cucumbers with good results. As with younger plants there appears to be little advantage in buying a premium brand. You can always try giving the plants a little more feed if they are not up to your expectations. (Note – Prices are fluctuating)

Best peat-free compost for containers

It is too early to for me to tell for this year.

There is not much difference between the media I have tried for mature plants. My tomatoes and cucumbers have not shown much preference in past years and I have certainly not found peat based products better than most of the media I have tried. Which tested on pelargoniums and potatoes. They have just updated their results. Their top scorers were all rather expensive. The only media they gave 5 stars to for both Pelargoniums and Potatoes was ‘YouGarden Peat free’ at £23.97 for 80 litres inc delivery (86% overall). They have downgraded Homebase Multipurpose giving it 5 stars for pelargoniums but only 3 for potatoes  (62% overall). They have downgraded Miracle-Gro Peat Free Premium Moisture Control Special Compost from 78% to 54%.  They have removed B&Q Goodhome Multi-purpose Enriched Compost and B&Q Goodhome Multi-Purpose, (currently £12.50 for 100 litres) from their ratings probably because the formula has changed. Which suggested we avoid Levington Peat Free Multipurpose Compost with added John Innes as it performed poorly in their trials. 

As I get through a lot in containers I tend to use my own home made compost in tubs and for my tomatoes and cucumbers with good results. As with younger plants there appears to be little advantage in buying a premium brand. You can always try giving the plants a little more feed if they are not up to your expectations. (Note – Prices are fluctuating). 

Following the Which update I am not sure what I would recommend. I do not think you will be disappointed with Westland peat free with John Innes from the trading centre and this looks very similar to Homebase and what is now going into the B&Q Good Home bags. The amount of added feed may not be the same. I would also add slow release fertiliser from day one. If you want to spend a little more for a good all-round multipurpose that will also do well for seeds look out for Melcourt Multipurpose but check the date on the bag. Only buy this years stock. If you don’t like the texture of Westland blends, Homebase or B&Q you should prefer the Melcourt products if you can find a stockist. 

Moisture holding and absorption

Wood-based composts such as the Melcourt blends, Westland New Horizon and Westland with John Innes are slow to reabsorb water from dry so it is important not to let them dry out. Watering little and often is best. Excessive watering or leaving pots out in heavy rain can wash out the nutrients. 

If composts absorb water quickly they may also dry out quickly. 

The surface of most peat free media looks dry when below it is still moist. If you can, lift the pot to get a feel for how dry it actually is. 50 grams of dry compost can weigh 220 grams when wet. Alternatively push your little finger down the side of the pot. Some peat-free composts are very free-draining and so need to be watered more often.  

One expert suggests adding a few drops of washing up liquid per watering can of water to the compost, mixed well in this acts as a wetting agent to help water reabsorption. I have not tried this. Let me know you find it works. 

Overall comment

It would be a mistake to write off a compost due to one poor experience. Perhaps your seeds failed, perhaps that plant type did not take to that media, perhaps there was a problem with a batch or it was old stock and the nutrients had washed out or been naturally depleted. I have encountered all these circumstances during the trials. As we get nearer to the ban on peat sales the producers are working hard developing improved blends and good alternatives to peat. If you are not convinced by my arguments for using peat free growing media read this- https://www.jackwallington.com/jack-on-composts-why-i-will-no-longer-be-drawn-into-the-false-narrative-on-peat-free-compost/   

General advice on peat free media (Some repeated from my last article).

• When taking cuttings or propagating, add some perlite to the compost to improve drainage and aeration. Add roughly 10-20 per cent to heavier, denser composts and 10 per cent to lighter ones.
• Growers are struggling to completely do away with peat when growing ericaceous plants. 
• While some peat based blends could rightly be described as ‘multipurpose’, this is less so for peat free media. I would recommend moving plants from one compost to another as they mature.
• Do not be tempted by old stock as it deteriorates, this is especially so for peat free media and for any compost containing controlled release fertiliser as the fertiliser gradually leaches out. I found this out the hard way with some old Melcourt stock. Malcourt bags should now be dated. With other brands you may be able to work out the production date from the code. On Westland and Homebase bags the first 2 or 3 digits are the year so a number starting 23 was packed this year. The next 3 digits are the number of days into that year (ie 23032….. was packed on Feb 1st). It should be stored in a cool dry location. The Trading Centre supplies are all stored under cover once delivered.
• A number of brands including Melcourt and Miracle-Grow are reducing the bag size rather than increase the price. (What was 50 Litres  is now only 40 Lts)
• Some brands contain recycled green waste so there is a very small risk of herbicide contamination. (Melcourt All-Purpose does but Melcourt Multipurpose does not.) Many makers have stopped adding it.
• Even expensive blends can show signs of mould, fungus and even small mushrooms. They say this is not a problem just a natural process.
• You should feed your plants because most composts only contain enough food for four to 6 weeks at most. Use a plant food such as Miracle Grow Slow release or regular watering with a liquid feed. Seeds need very little fertiliser to germinate so some like the low nutrient levels of seed composts. Young plants need more to fuel rapid growth, and so a multipurpose compost can be a better choice when you prick out your seedlings.
• Please do not use peat based composts for enriching your soil.  Almost anything organic and rotted down will do. Never send your banana peal to landfill but that from citrus fruit does take a long time to rot so that gets carted away.
• All producers are continually trying to improve their formulations so because a brand did not work for you last year does not mean it won’t now. Also shortages of raw materials may result in batches not being as good as previously.
• My own compost, which I am sure could be improved, has not proved very good for seed sewing but has done well for potting on and growing tomatoes and cucumbers in containers matching any purchased brand.
• If you have not got your compost up to a good temperature it may contain grass and weed seeds. I tend it use my compost at the bottom of a container and cover it with bought media.

Please let us know how you get on especially if you have good or bad experiences of using peat free compost making it clear exactly what you are using and when you bought it. The HIHS Facebook page is a great way to share your knowledge. 

Many thanks are due to Adele Dyer at Which for her comments on my earlier article and all the research information she has published for Which and Which Gardening subscribers. 

https://signup.which.co.uk/wlp-gardening 

Link to Beat the Peat Part 1

By Tony Athill, Growing Together Coordinator – and our new Chief of Research!