On top of this, universal composts are usually cheaper compared to those designed for specific use. Their economic value only increases once you realise that you can use them for all your plants; from seeds to grown shrubs. Key Features and Considerations When Buying Multi-Purpose Compost i. Fine Texture Ground horticultural-grade limestone is added to give the compost the pH most plants prefer. For lime-hating plants choose John Innes Ericaceous instead Loam is the most important ingredient as it provides a natural reservoir of plant foods, trace elements and contains some organic matter which releases nitrogen slowly to the plant. The loam in J. Arthur Bower’s John Innes is screened and sterilised to avoid any soil-borne diseases and insects The texture is relatively neutral – not too sandy or soggy, and there are some additional components included, like wood fibre. The wood fibre comes from FSC certified forests which means it’s been sustainably grown/sourced. The consistency of this compost makes it easy to work with. It’s very smooth, and has a fresh smell to it with a crumbly texture. The most important thing is to make sure it’s not able to dry out. In storage, ensure it’s as airtight as possible and it should last for up to a year.

Which? have been researching the issue, systematically. Their results are published in the January/February issue of Gardening Which. I haven't seen the full report, only a summary of their results... Choosing the right compost can be a finely balanced decision, considering the complex blend of minerals, nutrients and organic matter, judged so that plants perform at their best.

It can be used at any stage of a plant’s development, including seed sowing, and the large bag is sufficient for filling approximately 70 small pots (12 cm diameter), or 14 medium pots (22 cm in diameter). Unwanted Food or Drink Products - Once supply conditions are broken, there are a number of factors outside of our control that can affect the quality of a product. Therefore perishable goods such as food and drink cannot be returned. They then tried to raise 12 pots of marigolds and basil seeds from each compost ( 3 from each bag bought from the 4 different areas in the country) Apparently basil does not germinate well if there is a high level of dissolved nutrients in the compost and marigolds will not thrive if the nutrient levels are too low! They counted germinated seeds and the size and quality of the seedlings. The best peat free compost was Miracle - Gro concentrated enriched compost with a test score of 73% with Vital Earth multipurpose compost 2nd with a test score of 65%

According to some customers’ experiences, this compost can deliver mixed results depending on what’s being grown – it seems that it can help broad beans, carrots and peas to thrive, but may not be as effective on tomatoes, peppers and aubergines. Rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias can be hard to propagate. We recommend a 50/50 mixture of ericaceous compost and silver sand. Refer to any good gardening book for detailed information on taking cuttings of these plants. A little more detail to answer the questions above - The survey appears in the current Jan/Feb 2013 Which? garden magazine. The survey was conducted from spring 2012 to find the best buy composts for growing seeds and young plants.

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