Project Peat-Free update

So far so good, as flowers and crops benefit, says Ruth

- Ruth Hayes

MY peat-free experiment continues apace and as summer hits its stride, this is when the abilities of M the composts to retain moisture and nutrients are really put to the test.

I am using two premium brands of peat-free: Dalefoot wool compost and Melcourt's coir and wood-based Sylvagrow products.

As well as multi-purpose, I have been using grow bags from both brands for veggies in the greenhouse and on the patio, potting compost and container compost for ornamental pots and Sylvagrow ericaceous compost for our acid-loving container plants.

So far I am very pleased with the performance of both the Dalefoot and Sylvagrow composts, and in particular our patio pots are the best they have ever been. Even now in the height of summer I haven't needed to water as much as I usually do, I haven't fed the pots once and still the plants are heavy with flowers and robustly strong.