Four new reformulated composts caught the eye
New and reformulated composts are always a big draw at the Garden Press Event – they’re the basics of what we grow, especially if your garden is small and you grow in containers.
Here are four that caught my eye this year:
A ‘no need to feed’ peat-free wool compost for tomatoes – the superstrength compost contains all the nutrients your tomatoes need – with NO ADDITIONAL FEED and up to 50 per cent less watering!
It’s Soil Association approved for organic growing and is a blend of natural ingredients using wool and bracken from the Lake District.
It will be available to order online from www.dalefootcomposts.co.uk or from selected suppliers.
A peat-free blend of loam, coir and added ingredients to make up compost with great moisture-holding and aerating properties, specially blended for home-grown fruit and vegetables.
The Bio3 formulation of Biofibre, West+ formulation and Coir+ has no green waste added, stimulating growth, letting roots and leaves thrive and sustaining nutrients for longer.
A 50l bag costs £7.99, www.marshalls-seeds.co.uk
Run by husband and wife Dr Geoff and Jackie Whiteley, he invented the mulch as part of his work at Leeds University after he noticed that crop residues on the uni farm were being preserved.
He realised the effect came from natural minerals in the soil and replicated the process.
The straw has a neutral pH and lasts up to two years, helping to retain moisture, improve structure and drainage.
The texture and embedded minerals are unpleasant to slugs and snails.
Strulch is available in bulk from the website (25 or 50 x 150-litre bags) or in 100l retail bags from selected garden centres, visit www.strulch. co.uk for more information.
Try the multi-award-winning Champions Blend Peat Free Organic Com- post with Soil Association Approval.
This a coir-based compost with added sterilised loam and the Champions Blend nutrient formulation that includes Remin Rock Dust, Envii Bacteria and Oceans Bounty Seaweed Extracts.
RRP is around £7.50 for a 50-litre bag, available from selected garden centres and specialist nurseries. A single pallet of 60 bags can be bought at discounted rates for groups and allotment societies, visit www.bathgatesilica.co.uk for details.
For more information, plus cook what you grow, recipes, environmental news and more, log on to the website at www.mandycanudigit. com – which is also now smartphone friendly.
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