Apart from a quick fill up of the bird feeders (and a nod of appreciation to my returning Brambling), I didn't get to spend any time in the garden this week, which as you can imagine was quite a wrench.
But at least - given that my mind has been focused onto all things peat-free by the government's consultation - I have been able to do some night-time research on what peat-free composts I'm going to trial this year.
Now I make no claims that my experiments are going to be scientifically rigorous - the good people at the Royal Horticultural Society and Which! are the right people to do that, and they have been doing sterling work (more on that next week). But I think that, as well as the official reports, it is important that we gardeners learn how to use these new products and then share our first-hand experiences. So that's what I intend to do.
It is great to see that things definitely seem to be moving in the right direction. A Which! report in 2008 said that there was still a 'gulf' between the performance of peat-free and peat-based products, ie that peat-free was pants. By early 2010, they were able to report that of the three best composts for growing seed, one was peat-free - the New Horizon Organic and Peat-free Growbag. And they then reported that their best buys for container composts were all peat-free - Vital Earth Tub & Basket Compost, New Horizon Multi-Purpose, and Vital Earth Multi-Purpose. Isn't that brilliant?
It is great too to see how many peat-free products are now being made. As well as the ones listed above, I'm thinking I will probably try products from Westland West + and maybe the B&Q Peat-free multi-purpose. Please excuse me if I avoid the Homebase version which was slammed by Which!.
However, a nip into a garden centre last weekend confirmed some of the huge problems that still exist - peat-based products far exceeding peat-free on the shelves; very little written on peat-based product packaging to own up to the fact (that has GOT to change); and poor labelling on peat-free products to tell you what they are made of (that MUSTchange too). And all that before even opening the bags to find out if the product is any good.
But I'm looking forward to my own little learning curve ahead. Hope you'll join me in the challenge.
I agree, I find it is still quite difficult to buy peat free compost as my local garden centres only stock a small amount, if any, compared to peat products. I remember first buying peat free a number of years ago and it was awful. My plants died! (That could have been me of course). It seems to have greatly improved recently but there is a lack of choice, labelling etc. I now mainly use my own but occasionally buy seed compost. Thank you for reminding me I must buy peat free. I will let you know how I get on.