seed and potting compost

[red]

although I have had a compost heap for years and years - I have always just used the compost we make in the greenhouse and garden - and bought potting compost - I buy that recycled one.... new horizon - and it works fine.. but I prolly ought to make my own

does anyone have a recipe? one that does not involve peat.. and what do you do to sterilise? (its alway nice ot knwo the little seedlings you are raising are not nettles)

thanks

[supersprout]

I'm sure you'll get recipes red, this is a confession - I buy J Arthur Bowers with John Levington's (Which? Best Buy), and take it up three flights of stairs to my flat. Do all my potting sat at the kitchen table with the radio on

[Jack]

Gidday

Well I only use my own home made compost on it's own. All I do is sieve it through a garden sieve and that's it.

The only trouble I ever have is with weeds as I don't always get the heat up enough to streilize it.

[Daisy's Mum]

Depending on how much you want you can always sterilise your compost in the oven, but this can take sometime and isn't that economical. Also can get other family members up in arms!

Lorna x

[Wombat]

There is an article by myself on the main site about home made seed raising mixture. I use 2 parts sieved compost, two parts cocopeat, one part sharp sand and one part perlite. I have used it for years and it works really well.

Nev

[red]

There is an article by myself on the main site about home made seed raising mixture. I use 2 parts sieved compost, two parts cocopeat, one part sharp sand and one part perlite. I have used it for years and it works really well.

Nev

sorry I should look at the front page more often. is cocopeat the same thing as coir?

I wonder what the errr... "compost miles" are on coir for us here.... for me I am comparing the environmental impact of new horizon which is quote : "Organic and peat free multi-purpose compost made from recycled renewable resources of UK origin." vs DIY which i guess is compo and soil from my garden, and other ingredients from elsewhere. of course I dont have any compost yet cos we have not long moved house - and the field sheldter falling on the compost bins killed them....

[Wombat]

[quote="red]
is cocopeat the same thing as coir?

[/quote]

Yep, and it is more eco friendly than peat, but I take your point about the miles though

A substitute for the peat/cocopeat which I have read about (but not tried) is to get some old dry cow pats and hit 'em with a rotary mower. The resulting mess can be then gathered up and used.

Nev

[Dendrobium]

The dark dusty part of my brain remembers that leaf mould used to be used before peat, the old victorian gardeners would save up all the dry leaves in autumn, stick them in a big bin or bag for about three years, and ended up with nice compost 'filler.' I was told by my old boss years ago that peat has very little nutrient and is used just for cheap bulk and texture. I remember chempak used to sell a pack of chemicals you mixed into a bag of peat to turn it into potting compost, maybe that's how they make these cheap composts now???

[red]

I think you might be right - they add loads of chemicals to the growbags dont they?

leaf mould... we have lots of leave here.. perhaps i will give that a try. thanks for that

[Dendrobium]

no worries, I think you need to leave them for a good few years ago, I remember an old garderner I met talking about finding it under old hedges when he needed some (probably when there were still untamed council tidied hedges around!) Yes, alot of grow bags have got just quick hit foods, then are depleted very quickly.