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Trial of peat-free composts

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Maggi Young:
I thought this  report of her trial of peat free composts, written by Beth Otway on her blog, might be of interest.
 
http://www.pumpkinbeth.com/2017/01/peat-free-compost-trial-2016/

The trail uses vegetables as the subject but  results are nonetheless  of interest I hope.

Graeme:

--- Quote from: Maggi Young on January 27, 2017, 03:01:41 PM ---I thought this  report of her trial of peat free composts, written by Beth Otway on her blog, might be of interest.
 
http://www.pumpkinbeth.com/2017/01/peat-free-compost-trial-2016/

The trail uses vegetables as the subject but  results are nonetheless  of interest I hope.

--- End quote ---
Results are fine if you are an amateur and sowing in spring - problems start when you are a commercial grower and you need to get things to germinate and grow in the depths of winter
https://conversation.which.co.uk/home-energy/peat-compost-peat-free-soil-gardening/#
Had a very nasty experience with some peat free rubbish a few years ago and lost a huge amount of orchids - I had it tested and it had residual herbicide in it probably from the green waste.  And some really nice pieces of glass
So when I buy compost in I always look at the peat content - and I always test a bag
I am yet to be convinced   

Hannelore:
During the first years of the century the Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences, the German university specialising in green engineering courses, made experiences with peat-free substrates using minced wood instead. They found out that the addition of elemental sulfur  makes them very good for plants that need acidic soil as do most flowers. Fine Sulphur powder ("Schwefelblüte") is not soluble in water, only soil bacteria can convert it to soluble derivatives, which can then be used by plants. These bacteria work only in the ph-region which is good for the plants, they stop when the pH-value becomes lesser. This makes elementary sulphur a very efficient additiv (and cheap too). The amount tested by the Weihenstephan scientists for petunias was 2,6g per liter. Elementary sulphur is also allowed in organic production of nutrition plants.
Unfortunately the report about this project is no longer availiable, but it was in German anyway. Who unterstands this language can drop me a note with an email address and I'll send a PDF-copy.

BTW Sulfur improves the efficiency of other essential plant nutrients, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus (Wikipedia).

Hannelore

Dave M:
I can vouch for the Sylvagrow products, they are superb and a long way off the stereotypical peatfree mixes of the past or cheap green waste based variants available. I grow everything not in the ground in a mix of their products. Most alpine mixes are made up of the commercial variant of the one on test with added JI and I grow a large range of carnivorous plants in their composted pine bark products. There is no excuses in amateur horticulture to be ripping up peat when even the most challenging plants can be grown peat free. Viable alternatives do exist, they just need finding out and an open mind to make a change. The alternative is utterly depressing, seeing rare and fragile habitats eroded in order to allow folks to buy 3 bags for a tenner at their local supermarket or garden centre.

Growild:
Completely agree with Dave M - there really is no excuse these days to be using peat and there are products out there not just dodgy B&Q peat free (with added glass). Have heard good things about Sylvagrow products but can't use it because of the wool content (being a vegan). I can recommend New Horizon organic Peat free which we use for most of our potted plants.

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