I haven't had much luck with peat free compost especially in sowing
seeds, though I once got a solid block of coir from the Worm compost
people as a freebie and I found that newly rooted cuttings of shrubs etc
did superbly well. (Never sure why though!)

I came across this website about coir on the net when looking to compare
the price of proper seed composts.
http://www.fertilefibre.com/

What do the experts think? It seems expensive but useful if you want to
stay as 'green' as possible

For some seeds I have used vermiculite with a bit of success, sweet peas
I germinate on kitchen towel and then pot up when they start sprouting,
for hardy plant seeds however I prefer something 'soil based' to see
them through a possible freezing period so I can leave them outside for
ages.

Specialised seed compost in particular JI no 1 is quite expensive around
Amersham so wondered if I could order a quantity and get a price
reduction or failing that I didn't mind travelling 20 - 30 miles to pick
up a load if the price was better.

Janet

--
Janet Tweedy
Dalmatian Telegraph
http://www.lancedal.demon.co.uk

On 28 Feb, 11:16, Janet Tweedy wrote:
I haven't had much luck with peat free compost especially in sowing
seeds, though I once got a solid block of coir from the Worm compost
people as a freebie and I found that newly rooted cuttings of shrubs etc
did superbly well. (Never sure why though!)
I came across this website about coir on the net when looking to compare
the price of proper seed composts.http://www.fertilefibre.com/
What do the experts think? It seems expensive but useful if you want to
stay as 'green' as possible

You won't find many experts not using peat sadly. Fertilefibre is
great and I've used it many time (sold from my local garden centre)
but last year I used my own made compost, sieved1 ltr to one handfull
of vermiculite. Everything came through successfully and I did lots of
flowers and veg. This year I want to try the Genie 1, which is a JI
but without peat nor added fertiliser. It sounds really 'green' and
has been backed up by many environmental people and organisation. I
however cannot find it anywhere!

On 28/2/07 11:16, in article , "Janet Tweedy"
wrote:

I haven't had much luck with peat free compost especially in sowing
seeds, though I once got a solid block of coir from the Worm compost
people as a freebie and I found that newly rooted cuttings of shrubs etc
did superbly well. (Never sure why though!)

I came across this website about coir on the net when looking to compare
the price of proper seed composts.
http://www.fertilefibre.com/

What do the experts think? It seems expensive but useful if you want to
stay as 'green' as possible

snip

I'm afraid we are firmly peat users and likely to stay that way. We've seen
and occasionally been given plants grown in other mediums and they perk up
like nobody's business once they're given a pot of peat to live in.

--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/
(remove weeds from address)

On 28 Feb, 11:16, Janet Tweedy wrote:
I haven't had much luck with peat free compost especially in sowing
seeds, though I once got a solid block of coir from the Worm compost
people as a freebie and I found that newly rooted cuttings of shrubs etc
did superbly well. (Never sure why though!)

I came across this website about coir on the net when looking to compare
the price of proper seed composts.http://www.fertilefibre.com/

What do the experts think? It seems expensive but useful if you want to
stay as 'green' as possible

I have tried various composts, some peat free, some with some peat,
the most interesting one is one I got from Tesco the other day, 50litr
bales for £2.00 that's just 4p a litre, it is peat based but has wood
fibre added to it, It sieves out well for use for seeds and cuttings.
I'm trying it for cuttings, seed and potting up shrubs etc. and for a
few baskets.
B & Q are still doing a peat based compost at around 5p a litre
depending on pensioner discount.
Focus have moved to a peat free compost, No good for seed or cuttings,
but OK for potting on large plants.
David Hill
Abacus Nurseries.

In article .com,
"La Puce" wrote:

On 28 Feb, 11:16, Janet Tweedy wrote:
I haven't had much luck with peat free compost especially in sowing
seeds, though I once got a solid block of coir from the Worm compost
people as a freebie and I found that newly rooted cuttings of shrubs etc
did superbly well. (Never sure why though!)
I came across this website about coir on the net when looking to compare
the price of proper seed composts.http://www.fertilefibre.com/
What do the experts think? It seems expensive but useful if you want to
stay as 'green' as possible

You won't find many experts not using peat sadly. Fertilefibre is
great and I've used it many time (sold from my local garden centre)
but last year I used my own made compost, sieved1 ltr to one handfull
of vermiculite. Everything came through successfully and I did lots of
flowers and veg. This year I want to try the Genie 1, which is a JI
but without peat nor added fertiliser. It sounds really 'green' and
has been backed up by many environmental people and organisation. I
however cannot find it anywhere!


There's a company called West Riding Organics in Huddersfield
http://www.wrorganics.co.uk/ who, as far as I understand,
have some system for extracting peat from moorland streams
without excavation. Has anyone used their products or is it
a myth?

On 1 Mar, 13:05, John McMillan
wrote:
There's a company called West Riding Organics in Huddersfieldhttp://www.wrorganics.co.uk/who, as far as I understand,
have some system for extracting peat from moorland streams
without excavation. Has anyone used their products or is it
a myth?- Hide quoted text -

I've heard of this indeed. They 'rake' the bottom of rivers. But I
couldn't tell you more. I'm going off asking. Will be right back.

On 1 Mar, 13:05, John McMillan
wrote:
There's a company called West Riding Organics in Huddersfieldhttp://www.wrorganics.co.uk/who, as far as I understand,
have some system for extracting peat from moorland streams
without excavation. Has anyone used their products or is it
a myth?- Hide quoted text -

Moorland Gold it's called - check the link - this is a great link btw
with lots of details and suppliers lists. I like Tamar and Tamar
supply it. Must be good stuff. I'd like to know where the 'company' is
based and which reservoirs they use though.

http://www.thecps.org.uk/content/view/53/40/

On 1 Mar, 15:38, "La Puce" wrote:
On 1 Mar, 13:05, John McMillan
wrote:

There's a company called West Riding Organics in Huddersfieldhttp://www.wrorganics.co.uk/who, as far as I understand,
have some system for extracting peat from moorland streams
without excavation. Has anyone used their products or is it
a myth?- Hide quoted text -

Moorland Gold it's called - check the link - this is a great link btw
with lots of details and suppliers lists. I like Tamar and Tamar
supply it. Must be good stuff. I'd like to know where the 'company' is
based and which reservoirs they use though.

http://www.thecps.org.uk/content/view/53/40/

Not to be confused with 'Lakeland Gold'
http://www.dalefootcomposts.co.uk/
David Hill

On 1 Mar, 21:17, "Dave Hill" wrote:
Not to be confused with 'Lakeland Gold'http://www.dalefootcomposts.co.uk/

Yum... Thanks Dave.

In article .com, Dave
Hill writes

Not to be confused with 'Lakeland Gold'
http://www.dalefootcomposts.co.uk/
David Hill



It's really good to see you back on the Group David. If there's a copy
of the 2007 dahlia catalogue and order from I'd love to see one.
(Otherwise it means trundling up and down the screen to compare plants
via the web)
Hope the knee operations went okay.

Janet
--
Janet Tweedy
Dalmatian Telegraph
http://www.lancedal.demon.co.uk

On 2 Mar, 12:22, Janet Tweedy wrote:
In article .com, Dave
Hill writes

Not to be confused with 'Lakeland Gold'
http://www.dalefootcomposts.co.uk/
David Hill

It's really good to see you back on the Group David. If there's a copy
of the 2007 dahlia catalogue and order from I'd love to see one.
(Otherwise it means trundling up and down the screen to compare plants
via the web)
Hope the knee operations went okay.

Janet
--
Janet Tweedy
Dalmatian Telegraphhttp://www.lancedal.demon.co.uk

Catalogue in the post Janet
David