Best Supplier Of Compost 2022

Discussion in 'Compost, Fertilisers & Recycling' started by JWK, Jan 1, 2022.

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  1. Loofah

    Loofah Admin Staff Member

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    @gks just curious as I'll be, at some point, refilling the bays of compost in my greenhouse (needs a new roof); what do you think would be an optimal mix? Soil based but what else?
     
  2. gks

    gks Total Gardener

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    When anyone comes to us looking to fill beds, then we recommend our John Innes and soil conditioner. Ideally, if they could source soil locally then it would work out cheaper for them, we don't sell soil as we need it ourselves for the compost mixes.

    So if you can source some spent mushroom compost, otherwise just add some peat based multi-purpose. The peat lobby and environmentalists can shove it where the sun don't shine.

    This link is a good read why peatlands have been depleted, to think in the early 20th century what they burnt in 10 years would be enough to supply the horticultural sector for 100 years.

    Peat | Past | Ireland 2050
     
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    • Loofah

      Loofah Admin Staff Member

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      Just an FYI - Homebase have 3x 100l MPC for £18 at the moment. No idea if it's good / bad
       
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      • Welshman

        Welshman Gardener

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        even if its bad, it would do as an under layer, with good stuff put on top
         
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        • john558

          john558 Total Gardener

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          I've just ordered John I No1, Hydrangea Colourant, Weed Membrane & Seaweed feed from Homebase and I got free delivery:yikes:
           
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          • clanless

            clanless Total Gardener

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            Went to Wickes yesterday to pick up the postcrete for the patio. Their web site advertises - peat free at £6 a bag and peat based at £5 a bag - both 50 litres.

            All the peat based was gone - so I purchased a bag of peat free.

            I was surprised how light the peat free compost was - I had no trouble slinging a bag into the back of the car.

            Time will tell if it's any good.
             
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            • Loofah

              Loofah Admin Staff Member

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              I went ahead and got some homebase compost in their deal. It seems ok, better looking than Wickes last year anyway -
              PXL_20220310_112806039.jpg
               
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              • HarryS

                HarryS Eternally Optimistic Gardener

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                Just bought Jacks Magic compost 4 bags for £24 at our local GC, not a bad price.
                 
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                • pete

                  pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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                  It's 2 for £12 around here also @HarryS
                   
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                  • Sheal

                    Sheal Total Gardener

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                    It looks like B&Q have stopped supplying ordinary multi purpose compost and it's all now peat free. There doesn't seem to be any large bags now either.
                     
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                    • Tinkerbelle61

                      Tinkerbelle61 Happiest Outdoors!

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                      I bought Jacks Magic from our local GC 3 bags for £15, it’s okay but probably last years stock. Put 6 bags in Vegtrug no1 with a handful of FBB per bag a few weeks ago and transplanted lettuce, spinach, radish and spring onion seedlings into to it and they are all doing fine. Vegtrug no1 has the heavy winter frame cover on it and survived the recent storms (tied down with bungees).

                      Today I am going to fill up Vegtrug no2 with 3 bags of Jacks Magic and 4 bags of topsoil. This trug only has the insect netting frame cover so not as weather protected. Will sow beetroot direct and see what happens. As I bought this JM and topsoil at the same time from the same local GC I expect it all to be last years stock so will add some growmore to this one, as I’ve run out of FBB.

                      I wonder when this years compost supplies will hit the local GC? I don’t live near a Homebase.
                       
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                      • Loofah

                        Loofah Admin Staff Member

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                        I would have expected new stock to have already been in place at any GC by now.
                         
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                        • gks

                          gks Total Gardener

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                          Even so, most of it will still of been bagged last year.

                          Most compost is sold in a 12-14 week window, with very little sold in the winter months. The exception being, commercial and amateur growers who are more likely to buy compost all year round.

                          The problem is, GC etc etc tend to leave the compost outside, that's fine in the months of March to Mid June when there is a quick turnaround due to the volumes, but it the winter months, hardly anything moves.

                          So, normally I would sell roughly 150 x 80L bags daily to the general public in the spring months, yet from late November, to mid Jan we probably sell between 80 -100 bags a month. Not a problem if the compost is stored under cover in a cool dry place, but because the bags are perforated for stacking and transit they take in water, hence why ours is always stored under cover.

                          There is nothing wrong with old compost as long as it is stored under cover, ideally a shed or garage, you will still get good results using it years later.
                           
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                            Last edited: Mar 11, 2022
                          • Tinkerbelle61

                            Tinkerbelle61 Happiest Outdoors!

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                            Both of our local GC have their compost outside, Jacks Magic I can lift as it’s so dry but the other Westland vegetable compost and topsoil was so heavy OH had to carry it and he even said the 60L bags were almost too heavy for him. They had soaked up water being outside, so I guess they will have leaked all the goodness out.
                             
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                            • shiney

                              shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                              Early in the year it's a good idea to check the weight of the bag, by lifting it, before buying. When I bought mine last month it had just been put outside at Homebase and the manager (I don't carry compost bags any more) picked one up under each arm. I was quite impressed with his strength until I was going to ask for help at home to unload and found they were light enough for me to move. :biggrin:
                               
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