Miracle-Gro peat-free vs peat

'Trial by tomato' to pit Erin peat compost against peat-free

- Marc Rosenberg

A ROUND 20 years ago, the first peat-free composts hit the market. As a new AG staffer, I was excited to try them, but optimism quickly turned to despair as plants struggled to perform.

Fast forward to today and compost manufacturers have invested millions into developing a new generation of peat-frees, yet some still have their shortcomings – a big concern ahead of the government’s peat ban next year.

AG’s Ruth has been trialling two premium brands – SylvaGrow and Dalefoot – but I’d seen positive comments about Miracle-Gro peat-free on social media, so I decided to test it alongside Erin’s tried-and-tested peat reduced compost.

Miracle-Gro is also placing large signs in garden centres to inform customers that peat-free mixes look and behave differently to peat. This should be applauded, because gardeners need better advice growing with peat-free.

How much for a bag? 

To test Miracle-Gro peat-free compost, I have grown ‘Sungold’ cherry tomatoes under glass. They demand a steady supply of water and nutrients and are intolerant of dry, nutrient-starved growing media.