Sulphate of Potash

[David Nicholson]

I've just bought a pack of Westland Sulphate of Potash and it looks different to the stuff I've had previously. My previous stuff was quite white and very fine in structure, almost a powder. This is quite 'grainy', almost looks as though they've added sharp sand to it. Has anyone else noticed this please?

[Maggi Young]

We have a new packet - as yet unopened - will have a look tomorrow.

[Hoy]

I don't know the brand you use, but I am used to granulated sulphate of potash. It is easier to handle than the powder.

[Cfred72]

With us, it is prohibited to use the chemical. they sell us the potassium vinasse.

[Maggi Young]

With us, it is prohibited to use the chemical. they sell us the potassium vinasse.

It amounts to much the same thing, I believe. There are various types of Kalium fetiliser available in different countries - the main feature is that they have potassium as the main ingredient.

[mark smyth]

Westland ... still ripping people off with their "top soil" which is a mix of peat and sand

[Tristan_He]

Are you sure Mark? I've used this quite extensively for my new rockery and have never noticed any sign of peat in it. There is some fine sandy material as one would expect from topsoil.

[David Nicholson]

Probably green waste and sand but highly unlikely to be peat.

[mark smyth]

You haven't seen the scale of peat extraction David. Follow the river north and at the top end of the arrow shaped lough there's a huge brown blotch on the landscape
http://binged.it/1RYKTyC

Up to last year Westlands "peat free" compost bags contained "50% peat" - westland's quote. They changed the label but is it still 50% peat?

[Maggi Young]

We have a new packet - as yet unopened - will have a look tomorrow.

 Our stuff looks the same as ever :  white powder

[johnstephen29]

Hi mark is peat extraction for horticulture still a big business in Ireland? Where I have family in mayo it is used for the house.

[mark smyth]

Yeah two kinds of extraction both of which is destroying habitat. People are destroying some natures reserves because they says its their right to dig peat/turf. The mickey mouse police don't do anything to stop them

[Tristan_He]

Hi mark is peat extraction for horticulture still a big business in Ireland? Where I have family in mayo it is used for the house.

There is also no excuse for this practice in this day and age in a 1st world country like the Republic of Ireland. It's not as if there are no alternative sources of energy.

[johnstephen29]

Hi Tristan, your right it's not, but old habits die hard as the saying goes. People in some parts of Ireland have been cutting the turf for a long, long time, some of these plots have been in the same family for years.

[Tristan_He]

Hi Tristan, your right it's not, but old habits die hard as the saying goes. People in some parts of Ireland have been cutting the turf for a long, long time, some of these plots have been in the same family for years.

(Sigh). I know. In many ways these are the saddest types of environmental damage, the ones just done out of habit, in spite of it not being necessary or profitable (and sometimes not even in the interests of the person doing the damage). There are examples all over the place, and it's very difficult to get people to change their approach.