Personal trials on peat-based and peat-free composts 2012

[alan refail]

Following on from last year's personal trials with composts, is anyone else interested in doing some experimental sowing?

Here are the results from last year.

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=9711

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=9797

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=9835

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=10072

[Geoff]

Regrettably I'll probably be doing some personal trials.
Early in the year I have usually purchased Erin peat based multi-purpose but this year I find it is reduced peat. Usually also get Wickes compost but that is not usually available until later in the season, will be interesting to see if that has changed. I also only have a bit of Cheshunt compound left, I was going to make my own but can't find the formula any more. So, like it or not, I'll be in new territory when I start sowing.
I intend to expand my use of home made mixes for potting on but probably haven't got quite enough leaf mould, made more this Autumn so might be better placed next year. Might try making a seed compost.

[Gerry]

Hi Geoff,
I have had this on file for quite a while but have never tried it.

Cheshunt Compound.
Weigh 60g of Copper Sulphate & 330g of Ammonium Carbonate.
These two are well powdered and well mixed.
The dry mixture is stood in an airtight glass container for 24 hours before use.
About 25g of this mixture is disolved in hot water and the solution is made up to 8 litres with cold water and used for soil drenching.

Hope this is of some help.
Regards, Gerry.
PS. Perhaps I should have posted this in "Readers Recipes".

[Geoff]

Thanks for that. I was sure I had it in an old book somewhere but can't find it. I have some copper sulphate just need to source ammonium carbonate.

[John]

Hello Geoff
Amm. carbonate is commonly known as smelling salts. I have no idea if you can still buy this at a pharmacy - not that you will need pharmacy grade stuff.
Nowadays anything remotely chemical is considered to be extremely dangerous toxic and toxic!
I well remember happy days with our chemistry master (known as AD to us boys) warming this stuff up in the lab as it sublimes (does not melt) on heating.

John

[solway cropper]

Surely the solution to this quandry over peaty versus peat-free is to make ones own compost.

It's easy to do and the raw materials are all around us.

[Geoff]

I did start a thread some time ago to discuss home made compost but there wasn't a lot of input.
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=9514&hilit=home+made
I'm quite happy with potting compost but not so confident with seed compost as the texture and sterility of peat based composts generally give such good results. I'm always worried about damping off, particularly for the early sowings, hence the discussion about sterilising or using Cheshunt.

[solway cropper]

Geoff, I agree about the seed compost. I have made it using the oven to sterilize it in shallow trays after cooking the Sunday roast but it's a bit of a faff. Mine was made from sieved leaf mould and sandy soil but I have to admit that I get better results with Westland John Innes seed compost. I buy one bag a year and supplement it with home made stuff.

All my potting compost is now home made but I have 2 daleks, a large open heap, 2 leaf mould cages and sundry assorted plastic sacks of material, some of which is more than two years old so it's well rotted and there's plenty of it.