ONCE again, we set out to test some readily available peat-free composts to see how they perform. This time, we chose a specific purpose and sampled ‘seed and cuttings’ composts.
What was on trial
It always seems strange to lump seed and cuttings together, when seeds often have different requirements for germination when compared with those of cuttings to form roots, but it is the usual term for such composts. This trial consisted of six brands of compost: five peat-free and the sixth a traditional John Innes seed compost, containing the tried-and-tested mixture of one part peat, one part sand and two parts sterilised loam.
Understanding new compost
As gardeners, we are still trying to adapt to these new compost formulations with varying degrees of success. Many of the major difficulties seem to be experienced at the propagation stage, particularly when raising plants from
