Page 26 - ALG Issue 1 2025

COMMUNITY
PEAT-FREE COMPOSTS
ON THE ALLOTMENT
Few gardeners and allotmenteers will
be unaware of the debate about the use of peat in horticulture.The previous government had planned to ban its use
by amateurs by the end of 2024.Although agreeing in principle with this policy, the new government has yet to propose any dates for legislation. But as an eventual ban is almost certain, most growing media companies have introduced peat-free products into their ranges and it is already a while since pure peat-based composts have been easily available.
At Melcourt, we have never handled peat so have become specialists in the design and marketing of peat-free media over the last four decades, our SylvaGrow® range having become well-known for reliability and consistency.
We are often asked about the best way to handle peat-free media as not everyone has found the transition a straightforward one. So, in this article I will aim to cover some general pointers about this as well as issues to do with shelf life.
There is variation within different brands
of peat-free growing media – probably greater variation than there used to be between different brands of peat-based media.This can make management trickier, and my advice would be to find a brand that you like and then get to know it.Three decades after the start of the peat debate there are still only four materials being used in any significant quantities within peat-free products.These are woodfibre, bark, coir
(a by-product of the coconut industry) and green compost. But there are many variations within these broad categories which explains why different brands can perform so differently.
Two factors frequently raised are watering and feeding. Some have experienced difficulties in keeping up with the watering of peat-free media but it’s always best to check that the medium is indeed short of water. Peat-free media can look dry at the surface and yet be perfectly well-watered underneath. Use the weight of the pot or push a finger into the top inch or so to test this. With SylvaGrow, we designed it with ease of management in
mind, knowing that to be successful it would have to be as easy to manage as peat-based media.
It’s worth remembering that a growing medium has a maximum capacity for holding water. Once at capacity, no more water will be held no matter how much is added. But the excess water will run-off from the bottom of the container and
in so doing, will take nutrients with it. So always water thoroughly but taking care
not to allow excess run-through. Of course, we are all familiar with the pot that has
“The materials used in peat-free media are typically composted as part of their preparation”
26 | Issue 1 2025 | Allotment and Leisure Gardener