John Innes Composts

[shelagh]

I have a query from Brian.  Over the years he has used thousands (well hundreds) of bags of John Innes and he finds they vary quite considerably. Has anyone found a brand that they consider to be the very best example of JI one, two or three?

[David Nicholson]

I've found what I consider to be the worst Shelagh, J Athur Bowers. The best I have found is Green Ore, which used to be used at Wisley for alpine work before RHS came over all 'eco' and stopped using peat. Problem is they manufacture at Wells in Somerset and don't appear to have a network of retail suppliers. For me it's a 240ish mile round trip.

[Darren]

Shelagh - see this thread for my recommendation:

http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=9198.0

I will need to order another pallet this year!

[Anthony Darby]

Wish I could buy it here. Potting compost is soilless and made of composted bark. You can water a pot and half an hour later it's bone dry.

[Matt T]

I agree with David, Bowers is the worst! Just finished using up a bag of another brand and opened a new bag of Bowers. It's a horrible bag of claggy, clumpy nastiness.

[ChrisB]

I got some Singletons it's expensive but given how much I've had to dispose of due to poor quality I a quite pleased with what has arrived.  Here's a photo of it.

[Dionysia]

I can certainly endorse Green Ore although I think it is only available from Smiths at Green Ore which is a tiny hamlet in the middle of the Mendip Hills south of Bath. They mix it on site where there are huge mounds of sifted topsoil which is reddish, fibrous, good enough to eat as they say. They also sell Cornish Grit (granite) in two grades and their prices are very reasonable. Sorry if that sounds tantalising Shelagh as I can't think of any way of getting a meaningful volume to you given that whenever our paths cross at a show, we have a car full of plants. It is a lovely area so if you do fancy a few days away there are worse places to go. Be aware however that they are closed on Saturday and Sunday.
Paul

[Gerry Webster]

I agree with David, Bowers is the worst! Just finished using up a bag of another brand and opened a new bag of Bowers. It's a horrible bag of claggy, clumpy nastiness.

I usually buy Levingtons & mix it with equal parts of 6mm grit. It seems OK for bulbs.
I once picked up a bag of Bowers by mistake. Terrible stuff.

[art600]

Saturday was the Kent Show and Luc Scheldeman and Luc Gilgemyn travelled from Belgium to buy plants, socialise and most importantly top up on John Innes compost.

Their regular source was not available and I was tasked to find some good compost.  I think that the Foremost brand from Fargro meets their requiremments - I kept a bag and it looks very good.

Fargro used to supply Arthur Bowers but after complaints decided not to stock it.  Foremost is a professional compost and I would recommend it.

Delivery was free from their base in Littlehampton to Kent for an order of £60 (VAT included).  There are distributors throughout the UK

[shelagh]

Thanks to all of you who suggested both good and bad examples.  Darren even provided a sample of Singleton's for us to try. We were a bit concerned because we couldn't see ourselves using up a pallet full. Last Sunday we went off to the Trading Hut at Ramsbottom Horticultural Society and lo and behold there was a pallet of Singleton's JI3 just waiting for us.  You couldn't make it up.

[ChrisB]

that's amazing Shelagh!  I'm finding it very good.  I also got a bag of their special aquatic mix as I had to redo my pond plants this year and it was super to work with.  Got a couple of bags of their Alpine mix to experiment with as well since I had to fill the pallet and that too is very well mixed.  Hubby's pleased as it saves the springs on the car hauling back from garden centres all year...

[LucS]

Saturday was the Kent Show and Luc Scheldeman and Luc Gilgemyn travelled from Belgium to buy plants, socialise and most importantly top up on John Innes compost.

Their regular source was not available and I was tasked to find some good compost.  I think that the Foremost brand from Fargro meets their requiremments - I kept a bag and it looks very good.

Fargro used to supply Arthur Bowers but after complaints decided not to stock it.  Foremost is a professional compost and I would recommend it.

Delivery was free from their base in Littlehampton to Kent for an order of £60 (VAT included).  There are distributors throughout the UK

It seems to be top quality Arthur. Next time we take a palet of it ! 

[Yann]

Foremost is sold at Elm Court Garden Centre near Ashford, i bought 2 bags to test with bulbs.

For my belgium neighbours Sanac is selling an excellent compost mix in Germany by Klassman.
Braecke in Oostrozebeke also sell good compost mix on site.

[Stan da Prato]

In Scotland Clydeside  Trading in South Lanarkshire have  K. Singleton John Innes No. 1,2 & 3 - 33Ltr bags,  all at £3.75 each + VAT.