Cornish Granite gravel at Aldi

[shelagh]

Peter Farkasch phoned to day that Aldi had reasonably priced Cornish Granite gravel.  We shot along to pick up a few bags, it's smaller/finer than we usually use but it's fine for potting up.  Peter wanted you all to know.

[fermi de Sousa]

I wonder if they're selling it in Australia as well?
cheers
fermi

[TC]

I have been using it since it came into the store.  It is £1.99 for about a 10kg bag and comes all the way from Kent ! It is good for top dressing pots of very small plants as larger grit can some times swamp them.
Its also good for adding to compost again, for finer rooted plants.
I seem to be the only person buying it along with their own brand of compost which seems to be made from organic waste.
I was thinking that I may keep an eye on this granite as if it does not turn over fairly quickly, they may reduce the price to clear it !

[brianw]

I will check this out tomorrow as I currently don't have a local source of cornish grit, but buying any grit in 10kg bags is expensive. I normally pay 3£ - 4£ for 25kg bags of grit in general.

[Anthony Darby]

Kent? I've often wondered where Cornish gravel came from and now I know. 

[Ezeiza]

Can anyone of you please upload  photo of this grit or mention their granulometry? Most of or South African bulbs collection (huge!!!) is being grown in PURE granite grit with superb results. No, we do not repot nor the plants show any sign of being hungry any time.

[TC]

Here is a picture of the grit and the sack in which it comes.  It sounds mad, but we are surrounded by granite and we cannot get any small grit.
It is either as sand, for concrete or chippings at 10mm.

The weight of grit is purely an estimation on my part.  No weight is shown on the bag.  I can easily lift it and swing it one-handed.  Maybe I am stronger than I think !!

[Darren]

That looks good stuff Tom. We also struggle to get a smallish grit.

[brianw]

Well I bought 1 bag.This the fine grade sold in the past as <4mm I think, although most of this appears to be nearer 2 or 3 mm. At one time I used to be able to get <6mm. That was great for topping pots as it kept the liverwort down for some time but still let enough light through for seed that needed it.
I think this is the waste product from the china clay industry in St. Austell so varies from time to time in size.

[Gail]

I buy flint grit for my chickens from our local corn merchant but use more of it when sowing seeds than the chickens use. You can get different grades from chick to hen to turkey eg.
http://www.chicken-house.co.uk/acatalog/Chick_grit_25KG_Bag.html (but find a local supplier to avoid a delivery charge)

[Anthony Darby]

The grit looks good. Never thought about flint chicken grit. I have used crushed oyster (for chickens?) in my cyp mix. My tortoises ate it too!

[art600]

If you are passing by Chelmsford I can recommend 'Marriages' - a feed merchant.  They sell Chick, Hen and Turkey grit.  They are also much cheaper than the firm used by Gail.

I store the grit in dustbins so I always have a ready supply.

Have not seen the Aldi grit, but will make a point to get a bag if the 'local' store has it.  Did buy grit from a local nursery that was definitely wast from the china clay industry - fine for mixing with compost.

[SJW]

I have been using it since it came into the store.  It is £1.99 for about a 10kg bag...I was thinking that I may keep an eye on this granite as if it does not turn over fairly quickly, they may reduce the price to clear it !

Now reduced to £1 a bag at my local Aldi.

By the way, has anyone tried out their mini drip irrigation kit  which is in the store at the moment? Very good price but looks a bit fiddly...

[Rick R.]

This is the type of granite grit one often finds in the USA.  There is a #0 that is sometimes available, too.

 

[Ezeiza]

Many thanks to all for posting these terrific images of materials. Coarse uniform sand does not provide as good a drainage as granite grit does.

After several trials the one that gives the best results is size 0-9, meaning prticles from dust size to 9 mm. in "diameter". As mentioned above we use it as the sole ingredient, now for four years in a row. Using it has solved several cultivation problems, including that of eventual repotting. It is exceptionally good for Cyclamens among others.