Levington PEAT FREE Multipurpose Compost, 40 Litres

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Do not cover hairy leaved plants like geraniums and saintpaulia. Keep in a warm, well-lit place, out of direct sunlight. Water again only when the compost dries out.

Compost can often be used at many different intervals along the life of your plant, from encouraging seeds to germinate, to aiding with repotting plants, or persuading plants to flower. In our trial of composts for young plants we found four composts that were good enough to be Best Buys and three more that were recommended. Sow your seeds in pots around March time; keep them inside on a sunny windowsill until they are large enough (around 15cm) to plant in your bag and the last frost has passed. 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).The top scoring peat-free compost was as good as the professional peat and two more were almost as good. 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. There is also some peat in the mix, which more and more gardeners are looking to avoid; however, it is considered a ‘reduced peat’ compost, so they have gone to measures to keep the peat content down.

Before testing, we send four secret shoppers to buy all our grow bags in garden centres, DIY stores or online. They buy two of each, making a total of eight of each brand, to see if there is any variation in the quality of each bag. They tested 27 widely available composts - 18 peat based, 9 peat free and asked mystery shoppers to buy them from 4 different regions in the country. Claimed to be suitable for germinating seeds, small seedlings and plants in patio containers, it's a good general compost, but our tests show that not all are great for all jobs. Look carefully at our results table to find one that is good for all your garden tasks.

Tub and basket composts tend to be more expensive than multipurpose compost, but using a multipurpose compost with a Best Buy controlled-release fertiliser and regular watering will also give good results. 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% The key ingredients to look out for are nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. Broadly speaking, nitrogen helps with leaf growth, phosphate is for a strong root development, and potassium will encourage flowering and fruiting. To avoid too much soil compaction, choose compost with a mixture of large and small particles in it . Wood fibres are good to look out for, acting as a natural component that will allow for soil aeration. Sometimes manufactures will use a mix of materials, including stones and ceramic, which you may or may not want in your garden. One thing that is easy to overlook when buying compost is the texture. You want something that isn’t too fine or too coarse, with the former tending to waterlog while the later needs constant watering.

Given its popularity for gardening, there are many multipurpose composts available, which unfortunately also means there are lots of cheap products worth avoiding!Overall, it’s one of the best composts to use if you’re after value for money. It’s a good quality product, in a size that’s easy to manage, and you still get a lot for the price. When peat is dug up, to be used as compost (or for other reasons), the store of carbon is disturbed and released into the atmosphere. This is the first downside of harvesting peat – especially on a commercial scale. We test compost for three different tasks; sowing seeds, raising young plants and for use in containers. Most summer veg will be in the bags for several weeks, so you’ll need to feed them. Add controlled-release feed before you plant by mixing it into the compost where you have cut holes, or add a liquid feed twice a week once the first fruits have formed. Follow the dosage and frequency advice on the bottle.

Containing smart release granules, this compost will only work when the growing conditions are optimal, e.g., warm and moist. This allows for the most efficient absorption of minerals, and can feed plants for an entire season – up to six months at a time. Raising young plants - we use 25 different composts to grow tomato and marigolds, sown as seed and transplanted when they have two non-seed leaves. A medium-crumbly texture - is ideal. Composts that are too fine are prone to water logging, while those that are too coarse tend to need more frequent watering. A crumbly structure will allow excess water to drain through, while holding enough water and air for roots to thrive.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. In terms of the compost itself, it contains 14 vital minerals to create a rich compost that also drains well. It contains nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium as expected, alongside 11 trace elements which help to maintain the health of plants. All three tests are carried out by an expert at a horticultural institute, and the compost for seeds and young plants test takes place in a temperature and humidity-controlled greenhouse. The composts for containers are tested outside once the nights are frost-free. The results are compiled by an independent assessor who's an expert in compost and plant health.