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Question about soil / peat / compost

Matt KubMatt Kub Posts: 6
in Fruit & veg

Hi there. Got couple of questions please:


1. Bought some Home&Garden Dark rich peat (local pound stretcher) can this peat on its own be used to grow Veg's (greenhouse)?

2. Can purchased compost (Home&Garden bought in same shop) on its own be used to grow Veg's (greenhouse)

Are both above safe and pesticide free?

thanks

Posts

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 16,537

    Never heard of this brand. Peat on its own is too acid for growing anything except acid lovers such as camellias, rhodies, azaleas, blueberries. As to whether it's safe and pesticide free, does the manufacturer have a website?

  • Matt KubMatt Kub Posts: 6

    I bought them in Poundstretcher (Home&Garden edition), just checked Peat bag and theres no such company details etc, just says Poundstretcher Home&Garden at the back where u normally find company details (£2 for 20L).

    Compost is branded Grandiol.


    The thing is, i planted two lots of vegs:

    Lot 1: In dark reach peat with 20% above mentioned compost mixed.

    Lot 2: In 100% compost only with no soil/peat

    Both lots start sprouting actually.

    If it works, is that safe and can be eaten?

     

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 26,989

    My only concern would be the lack of nutrients in the peat. You can add nutrients.

    There are some pretty awful composts around but none of them are dangerous



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Matt KubMatt Kub Posts: 6

    thanks for all the inputs. What would be easiest way for me to add right nutritions to it then please?

    Need one more advice for the future reference please. Few weeks ago i was trying to find some good soil, however theres only clay around place where i live, even in my garden theres just a clay. What shall i use to grow vegs in (in greenhouse etc), and where can that be purchased?

     

    Many thenks

  • BrummieBenBrummieBen Posts: 460

    All my soil is lovely claggy clay with a huge amount of pebbles from tiny to fist sized. It bakes hard as rock in the sun and is terrible in the wet. The amount of stones means it's impossible to even put a fork in, let alone a spade! Clay soil is actually very good once you doctor it. It is an ideal 'base' to mix with compost to form a very good soil mix which holds moisture and actually saves on watering. I constructed my own sieve using 2x2 batons and 1/2" chicken wire, it's sized to fit on top of the wheelbarrow. When I mix up some soil, I use about 50% compost, 30% of my clay soil and 20% sharp sand. If you want organic, use rock dust to re mineralise the soil or chicken manure pellets or seaweed etc, if you want to use fertilizer can't go far wrong with growmore.

    I have solid clay clods that are unworkable about 12-14" underneath the topsoil, what I tend to do is either dig it out, or loosen it up then mix in a load of manure, and hopefully the worms do the hard work then.

    If you can't be bothered sifting etc, you can buy topsoil in bags from b&Q or homebase etc. I'd mix it about 50/50 with compost and add whichever fertiliser you decide on. It's up to you, good luck.

  • Matt KubMatt Kub Posts: 6

    Thanks a lot BrummieBen, appreciate that.

    regards Matt

  • Matt KubMatt Kub Posts: 6

    What shall i do with what i planted already in the peat mixed with compost (70/30%) to fix it? I planted some raddish, spring onions, and some herbs..

  • BrummieBenBrummieBen Posts: 460

    for that sort of crop I think you'll be fine, I always pop radish and spring onions just in random spaces in the beds as a catch crop because they are fast growers and quickly finished.

  • Matt KubMatt Kub Posts: 6

    Them nutrients u mention, are these natural or artificial stuff? Does that come as a liquid which i use to water the plants?

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