Moan, moan, moan----get it off your chest or have a chat

[ranunculus]

I was about to suggest Peat Merchandising Tantrum, but you beat me to it dear Mrs Y.   

[mark smyth]

B&Q and Homebase here have big bales of peat.

[Gerry Webster]

thanks Maggi   had a chocolate biscuit and you made me smile.Can a 60+ male have PMT, I think that's what it must be.

Tony - just wait until you are 70! The fuse gets shorter by the month.

No garden centre round here stocks peat. I suggest you try a local nursery who may sell you a bale. Alternatively, a horticultural wholesaler.

[Tony Willis]

Mark, B&Q here were pleased to announce they are peat free (again except for ericaceous compost) I will get some!

I have spent the afternoon repotting using John Innes from the garden centre which seems to be loam free.

[Anthony Darby]

I have spent the afternoon repotting using John Innes from the garden centre which seems to be loam free.

 

[tonyg]

Mark, B&Q here were pleased to announce they are peat free (again except for ericaceous compost) I will get some!
I have spent the afternoon repotting using John Innes from the garden centre which seems to be loam free.

I use multi-purpose compost instead of peat.  J Arthur Bowers John Innes is the best available locally, some mixes are as you report, loam free   Silt, sand and lumpy sedge peat

[Gerry Webster]

Mark, B&Q here were pleased to announce they are peat free (again except for ericaceous compost) I will get some!
I have spent the afternoon repotting using John Innes from the garden centre which seems to be loam free.

I use multi-purpose compost instead of peat.  J Arthur Bowers John Innes is the best available locally, some mixes are as you report, loam free   Silt, sand and lumpy sedge peat

I also use J Arthur Bowers JI. It's the best available here too - but that's not saying much. If this contains  real loam I'll eat my crocus (roasted).

[David Shaw]

We have not used peat (from choice) for years and managed very well without it.

[David Nicholson]

Mark, B&Q here were pleased to announce they are peat free (again except for ericaceous compost) I will get some!
I have spent the afternoon repotting using John Innes from the garden centre which seems to be loam free.

I use multi-purpose compost instead of peat.  J Arthur Bowers John Innes is the best available locally, some mixes are as you report, loam free   Silt, sand and lumpy sedge peat

I also use J Arthur Bowers JI. It's the best available here too - but that's not saying much. If this contains  real loam I'll eat my crocus (roasted).

J Arthur Bowers John Innes is the one I use too, best of a bad lot I've found. Some time ago Paul Cumbleton, in his Wisley Log, showed a pic of the John Innes they use which is sourced from a firm in Wells, Somerset, and it looked very good stuff. The firm is F A Smith and the brand name is 'Green Ore', I can't lay my hands on the phone number for the moment. I did ring them and they didn't appear to have a wide distribution network, certainly no retailers in Devon, but said I could pick some up from their works if I wanted. Haven't yet made the trip but intend to do so.

I wouldn't mind being 'peat free' as long as I'm left to make up my own mind. It's when Nanny State makes my mind up for me that galls me, and of course this encourages me to go in the entirely opposite direction.

[mark smyth]

Grdener's World just started on BBC2 is coincidently and peat based programme

[Gerry Webster]

Mark, B&Q here were pleased to announce they are peat free (again except for ericaceous compost) I will get some!
I have spent the afternoon repotting using John Innes from the garden centre which seems to be loam free.

I use multi-purpose compost instead of peat.  J Arthur Bowers John Innes is the best available locally, some mixes are as you report, loam free   Silt, sand and lumpy sedge peat

I also use J Arthur Bowers JI. It's the best available here too - but that's not saying much. If this contains  real loam I'll eat my crocus (roasted).

J Arthur Bowers John Innes is the one I use too, best of a bad lot I've found. Some time ago Paul Cumbleton, in his Wisley Log, showed a pic of the John Innes they use which is sourced from a firm in Wells, Somerset, and it looked very good stuff. The firm is F A Smith and the brand name is 'Green Ore', I can't lay my hands on the phone number for the moment. I did ring them and they didn't appear to have a wide distribution network, certainly no retailers in Devon, but said I could pick some up from their works if I wanted. Haven't yet made the trip but intend to do so.

Kath Dryden recommended 'Green Ore' at a Frit Group meeting some years ago & gave  a source near her (this may be available on the Frit Group website). Subsequent to this, I obtained a bag - I can't remember how  -  & very good it was. Much more 'substantial' than any other I've seen, it might even have contained something like real loam.

[David Nicholson]

Nothing mentioned on the Frit Group Web Site Gerry.

[Gerry Webster]

Nothing mentioned on the Frit Group Web Site Gerry.

David - I've just looked. Go to 'Information' then 'Articles' then 'KD on cultivation'. The info is in the note at the end of the article.

[Tony Willis]

Quote from David Nicholson
I wouldn't mind being 'peat free' as long as I'm left to make up my own mind. It's when Nanny State makes my mind up for me that galls me, and of course this encourages me to go in the entirely opposite direction.
[/quote]

David

that is just what I think.

I also thought the programme was very interesting and useful

[fermi de Sousa]

Quote from David Nicholson
I wouldn't mind being 'peat free' as long as I'm left to make up my own mind. It's when Nanny State makes my mind up for me that galls me, and of course this encourages me to go in the entirely opposite direction.
David
that is just what I think.

In Australia potting mixes are all based on composted bark as far as I can see. Peat is available but is pretty pricey so is reserved for propagating and bog gardens and hypertufa trough-making
I found peat based potting mixes very difficult to deal with when I lived in the US in the late '90s.
cheers
fermi