Peat-free test: first results

On the whole all stages of plants are thriving, says Ruth

- Ruth Hayes

IT is almost two months since I started AG’s peat-free experiment using only Dalefoot and Melcourt’s Sylvagrow composts for all my germinating, potting on and growing this summer.

The experiment is not a comparison, because the two composts are very different. Dalefoot is made from wool, bracken and comfrey while Sylvagrow contains fine bark, wood chip and coir.

So far, I am enjoying and feeling confident with both brands and have only had one mishap – I mistakenly potted some nicotiana seedlings into Dalefoot potting compost.

It was too strong for the plants and they succumbed overnight, but since then I have been using Sylvagrow multipurpose, or multipurpose with added John Innes, with excellent results.

Germination rates and seedling transplantations have been excellent, my dahlia tubers sprouted well though slowly, due to the cold spring, and a blueberry repotted into Sylvagrow ericaceous compost is thriving.

The biggest difference is how the composts deliver water compared to cheaper brands I have tried. Plants in the Dalefoot, in particular, need less water, and the Sylvagrow compost releases moisture consistently.