This is a slight adaptation of Hartley Botanics’ peat-free trials, which they ran last year. We’ve adapted it just a little so that you can use whatever seeds you have available to you. We’re not trying to do a scientific trial comparing everyone’s results against each other’s, so it’s not so important that we all use the same seeds.
We may be pleasantly surprised and find that they all work fairly well but if we find some real winners, then MCA Nature group will do our best to persuade our local garden centres and nurseries to stock our favourite ones!
How to take part in the Peat-free Challenge:
Get yourself a pot/tray, whichever peat-free compost(s) you’re testing. Hartley Organics suggest using fast-growing mustard seeds, or other brassicas that are fast, or peas but if you don’t have these available or you’ve got your heart set on growing something else, that’s fine too!
Go with whatever seeds you have available, but be prepared to wait a little longer if they are slow to germinate (the seed packet should give you some indication).
Fill the pot/tray, tap it to settle, make 10 holes per pot, or 100 per half-tray, 1cm deep (or if using different seeds, to whatever depth the seed packet recommends), and sow one seed in each. Tap again, water lightly, label and put on a warm windowsill. If you want to test it against a compost you already use (peat-based or peat-free), simply repeat. If you’ve room, do several pots/trays of each but beware: compost-testing is addictive.
Mustard ought to be coming up in five to 10 days. If nothing does or if the seedlings are sluggish, pale, stunted, turning purple or a mix of any of these, the signs aren’t good; what we’re after is strong, fast-growing seedlings with two healthy, bright green seed leaves. If all 100/100 seeds germinate, that’s 100% germination (and so on). Next, take a photo (or a video) of your results and share them on MCA’s Peat-free Growers' Facebook page.
Remember to say which mixes you’re testing (show the bag the compost came in), put them alongside any compost you’ve compared them with, and tell us what you think of the composts you’ve tried.
Spring Update
To help you trial different peat-free composts, the Nature group will be providing small samples of five different varieties at our monthly market stall. We’re still waiting to hear about the dates but in the meantime and between stall dates you can use our
For just £2.00 you can have 5 bags that contain 500ml each of the following five peat-free composts. Each bag will hold enough compost for 2 small pots – perfect for your own mini-trial.
- Fertile Fibre
- Grochar All Purpose Compost
- Grochar Seed Compost
- New Horizon
- Sylvagrow
Just send your request to
Happy potting!