Re-sowed some cucurbits covering the trays to avoid them being over-watered and prevent sciarid coming in (using the same compost) and had better germination. Designed as a growing medium, our collection of bulk peat-free composts offer a stable growing environment to deliver reliable results when used with a wide variety of plants.

There was no marketing budget or sales material - so it all started by word of mouth - the word soon spread. If you’re looking for organic, peat-free garden compost delivered throughout the UK, you’re in the right place. SylvaGrow is a professional-grade peat-free compost (a mix of composted bark, coir and wood fibre) which has been proven in use over many decades by some of the UK’s top commercial plant growers. SylvaGrow peat-free composts can be found in an expanding network of independent garden retailers (in handy 15 litre, and 50 litre bags).

A question to everyone – why do we blame ourselves/the weather/anything before we point an accusing finger at an ‘organic quality’ product?

Growing media based on composted wood fibres, green waste and more local sources of material are all possible – we just need a quality guarantee of a consistent product. If you’re planning a large rockery aim to concentrate the peat-free mix on the spots where you will do the most planting. Here’s Some Real Gardening News: Peat-free Composts – Fertile Fibre and SylvaGrow – Bag Two Out of Three Which?Ps since the above, FF have agreed to send a replacement batch, which is great, although I’d still like to find out what went wrong. Fully accredited by the Soil Association and tried and tested over many years, we’ve been championing organic, peat-free compost in the UK since 1992. Yet again we are having serious propagation problems with ‘organic quality’ organic seed and potting composts.

For potting we have also used all three with the same results, though last year FF did ok but is a very light medium for root support once planted and i found it tends to dry out once in the ground as it doesn’t absorb moisture from the soil very well. The term organic quality is actually meaningless, a product can be rubbish but provided it meets standards it gets the organic quality stamp. Scarid fly seems worse on the WRO and generally FF has not suffered, a layer of vermiculite and application of the biocontrol nematode helps or use the mite ‘Hypoaspis miles’ on a regular (2 weekly) basis as a preventative. There are also mixes containing Akadamia, which I use for my Bonsai activities, but it’s heavy and extremely expensive.The potting compst was the worst, consistently acid, although the seed compost was only marginally and variable better. I would use my own compost except I can't get Mr DS to turn the currently in use heap into the other heap for use, so it's been sitting there for about 3 years. Richard our Horticulture Therapist did some tests – we have phtos of the results, and lo, the stuff is heavily acid. I have had problems with Fertile Fibre this year very bad germination and it killed all of the cucumbers,I complained and was sent a replacement pallet,this was worse if anything,killed the rest of the cucumbers,although I was promised it would be fine,complained again and was offered another free pallet,but declined and now have bought a pallet of West Riding Module,this is better but we are short of transplants of barasicas,lettuce and beets as the first few batches didn’t grow,and I wasn’t sure what the problem was,I have used Fertile Fibre in the past and its been fine for most things and I found it particularly good for cucumbers,thats when I realised I had a big problem with it. Both our Original Seed Compost and Original Multipurpose Compost have recently been named as 'Which?