Page 29 - Simply Vegetables Autumn 2023

the recipe is set out below:
Equal parts by volume sieved peat and
fine sand and to each bushel add:
Seed Sowing Mix
14 gms sulphate of ammonia
28 gms superphosphate
14 gms sulphate of potash
113 gms ground chalk or limestone Potting and Pricking out Mix
3 parts by volume peat and 1 part by volume of fine sand and to each bushel add:
14 gms ammonium nitrate
28 gms potassium nitrate
56 gms superphosphate
85 gms chalk or ground limestone 85 gms dolomitic limestone
14 gms frit no. 253A
The shredded or sieved peat can be replaced with coir to produce a peat free mix. As you can see there are a number
of ingredients which will need buying and storing thus making it a bit of a palaver. You could just use a slow-release fertiliser and some lime to make it easier but do not over apply or you could have problems with pH or nutrient toxicity.
Various books give recipes using homemade compost, soil and leaf mould, if using this mixture, it would be wise to sterilise all three ingredients to ensure no pests, diseases or weeds are present. The following recipes are from Garden Organic Encyclopaedia of Organic Gardening. Seed Sowing
Either sieved well-rotted leaf mould on it own or in a 50 / 50 mixture with loam, it
is claimed this will have enough nutrients until the seedlings are pricked out.
Potting mixtures
Coir alone
1 part each of loam, leaf mould, and garden compost, no additions are required but
plants are likely to need feeding from about a month after potting.
For permanent plants in pots a 50 / 50 mix of loam and leaf mould.
Another suggestion is a 50 / 50 mix of loam and leaf mould or coir to which is added 225 gms seaweed meal, 110 gms bonemeal, 85 gms hoof and horn and 55 gms of ground limestone to every 35 litres of mix.
If you don’t what the hassle or have the time to make your own growing media what are your options? There are many peat-free composts on the market, but which ones are worth buying? One I have some experience in using is Melcourt’s Sylvagrow which we use where I work, this gives pretty consistent results and is bark based compost which is available as a seed and cuttings mix for sowing and a potting mix for growing on. I also know it is used by a number of nurseries at least one of which exhibits at Chelsea. It is more free draining than peat composts and you need to start feeding after 4 weeks or so.
What of the future?
As more research is carried out some different materials may be trialled especially if there continues to be a shortage of
the existing ones. It is likely that the composition of the different growing media will change if not yearly then at regular intervals so do not automatically order
the same media unless you know it has
not changed. An American Professor who studies growing media has predicted it may take until 2030 and possibly 2040 to develop good consistent growing media
to replace peat. He is studying the use of various wood fibres which he thinks are promising and there is a good supply of these.
Woodchip pile 2
The important thing from the grower’s perspective is to get used to the product you are using and watch out for any changes. It is likely you will have to modify your watering as they are all different to peat, some hold more water others are freer draining. Don’t just judge the watering by the media surface as some dry fairly quickly but are moist underneath so do not need watering. Scratch the surface or lift the pot and note its weight, wet media are heavier than dry. The other point to note is that many of the newer growing media run out of feed quite quickly and you will need to start feeding after 4 weeks and will need to continue feeding for as long as the crop is in the pots. An alternative is to use a slow release fertiliser.
Which? Gardening gave the following compost Best Buy status in 2023:
Seed Sowing
Fertile Fibre Original Seed Compost Moorland Gold Seed and Cutting Compost Potting / Growing On
Melcourt Sylvagrow Multi-purpose Thompson and Morgan Incredipeatfree Homebase Peat Free Multi-Purpose Compost.
Most of the above are expensive except the Homebase one, but if buying for next year check the mixture has not changed as they are prone to at regular intervals.
Basically, it comes down to you pays your money and makes your choice!!
Two trays leeks showing inconsistant drying of compost
Simply Vegetables 29