RHS Sylvagrow Multipurpose Compost, Peat Free, Professional Quality, Ideal For Raising Seeds & Cuttings, Potting On, Planting Out, As A Grow Bag, RHS Endorsed, Supplied As 1 x 40-Litre Bag By Suttons

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Can refer to either home-made garden compost or seed/potting compost: • Garden compost is a soil improver made from decomposed plant waste, usually in a compost bin or heap. It is added to soil to improve its fertility, structure and water-holding capacity. Seed or potting composts are used for growing seedlings or plants in containers - a wide range of commercially produced peat-free composts are available, made from a mix of various ingredients, such as loam, composted bark, coir and sand, although you can mix your own. Compost is also suitable for vigorously-growing plants such as tomatoes and chrysanthemums. Research is ongoing into a number of materials that, if locally available, may be useful ingredients in blended products, such asarable straw waste, wool waste, carpet waste, and paper and cardboard production waste. Place the Planter in a sheltered, sunny, frost-free position, either outside or in a greenhouse. IMPORTANT – Pierce drainage holes down both sides of the Planter just above ground level. They often contain a different mix of ingredients to those found in multipurpose composts. These include small amounts of sand, grit or vermiculite in seed and potting composts, bark in orchid compost and mostly gravel and sand in cacti composts.

Cuttings • Ensure that the mother plant is well-watered before taking cuttings. • Fill a deep seed tray or pot with SylvaGrow John Innes No.1 and make a suitable hole with a dibber or pencil. • Prepare the stem or root cuttings according to type, ensuring that they are not allowed to dry out between cutting and inserting. Dip in hormone rooting powder/liquid if using. • Insert the cutting and gently firm the medium around it. • Stem cuttings need to be in a moist environment out of direct sunlight until they have rooted so either place in a cold frame, a covered propagator or cover with polythene, using supports to prevent the polythene from touching the cuttings. Root cuttings can be placed in a cold frame or sheltered spot out of direct sunlight and can benefit from a thin layer of grit on the growing medium surface. • Once the cuttings are well-rooted they can be potted on according to the instructions above. You may see composts formulated for veg growing. These are very similar to multipurpose composts, but may have a slightly different balance of nutrients. Some are excellent, some are less good. Look at our grow bags results. After 3–5 weeks, regularly apply a liquid feed, following the manufacturer’s instructions. Alternatively, at the time of potting, incorporate slow-release fertilizer granules according to the manufacturer’s instructions. SylvaGrow Organic is not suitable for raising lime-hating, ericaceous plants in containers. For these we recommend SylvaGrow Ericaceous. Cautions Quality isn't guaranteed - our compost trials reveal which composts are consistently good and which can be variable. Choose a Best Buy to be sure you're buying a reliable compost.Tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, aubergines, courgettes, chilli peppers and strawberries Using well-established young plants, • First, ensure that the plants to be potted have been well-watered. • Make holes large enough to accommodate the items to be potted, insert the plants and firm gently around the stem. • Water thoroughly. Take care always to avoid wetting the crowns and fruit of strawberries as this can promote disease. • Ensure that the Planter is kept evenly moist but not over-wet, at all • times. • As the first flowers appear, commence liquid feeding. If using a conventional fertilizer (non-organic) apply according to the manufacturer’s instructions (usually around every 10 -1 4 days). • If you wish to maintain the organic status of the crop, choose an organic liquid feed (preferably a Soil Association approved product). Commence feeding at three weeks after potting or when the first flowers appear if this comes first. Apply feed at every other watering, increasing to every watering once the plant is cropping. Government had committed to banning the use of peat in retail bagged compost in 2024, and its use in professional horticulture in 2026, with some exemptions to 2030. However, so far government has failed to put in place legislation for these bans, so it remains unclear when the use of peat in horticulture will be legally prohibited. Flies in compost are common in UK gardens, where they are a vital part of the ecosystem. Adult flies are attracted to organic matter, therefore, can become a nuisance for indoor gardening with fewer natural predators and warmer temperatures.

When the seedlings are large enough to handle, gently tease them out of the growing medium using a dibber or pencil, taking care to handle only by the leaves. The females lay their eggs on the damp compost surface. It is the compost-dwelling larvae that can sometimes damage seedlings and cuttings. These small (6 mm) white maggots feed on the organic matter present in the compost. If a large enough population occurs, then they will begin to feed on seedling roots and the base of soft cuttings. 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.

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Many people no longer want to buy peat compost as it's believed to damage the environment and add considerably to global warming. However, peat composts are still the most widely available composts in garden centres and are preferred by many gardeners. Melcourt’s Technical Manager Victoria Wright talks about flies in compost, what they are and what to do about them. 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. Please Note: If you wish to maintain the organic integrity of this product then you should only use fertilizers labelled as organic and preferably those approved by the Soil Association. However, non-organic fertilizers will also function very well. In both cases read the manufacturers’ advice carefully. How to Use Seed Sowing: Ensure the mother plant is well-watered before taking cuttings. Fill a deep seed tray or pot with SylvaGrow Multi-Purpose and make a suitable hole with a dibber or pencil. Prepare the stem or root cuttings according to type, ensuring that they are not allowed to dry out between cutting and inserting. Dip in hormone rooting powder/liquid if using. Insert the cutting and gently firm the medium around it. Stem cuttings need to be in a moist environment out of direct sunlight until they have rooted so either place in a cold frame, a covered propagator or cover with polythene, using supports to prevent the polythene from touching the cuttings. Root cuttings can be placed in a cold frame or sheltered spot out of direct sunlight and can benefit from a thin layer of grit on the growing medium surface. Once the cuttings are well-rooted they can be potted on according to the instructions above.

A recently developed product that is suitable for use with ericaceous or ‘lime-hating’ plants. Peat-based or peat-free media with ‘added John Innes’ Melcourt SylvaGrow® range is a sustainable growing medium for gardeners who are as passionate about the environment as their gardens.Until we have fully investigated these are just comments on things to look out for/consider and we may never get a definitive answer as time tends to hide the reasons.” We also test grow bags - see our round-up of the best grow bags. What are the different types of compost? SylvaGrow Multi-purpose can be used as part of a raised bed medium for vegetable and strawberry growing. Simply mix 1 part SylvaGrow Multi-Purpose thoroughly with 3 to 4 parts loam or garden soil to gain a valuable addition of organic matter and nutrients.

Remove the cover when the seeds have germinated and ensure the SylvaGrow Organic is kept evenly moist at all times

Prepare the stem or root cuttings according to type, ensuring that they are not allowed to dry out between cutting and inserting. The bacterium responsible for the potentially fatal Legionnaires’ disease has been found in some composts sold in the UK. The chances of you becoming infected are very low, but it makes sense to take the following precautions when handling compost: Lettuce and herbs • Firstly, ensure that the plants to be potted have been well-watered. • Make holes large enough to accommodate the items to be potted, insert the plants and firm gently around the stem. • Water thoroughly. • Ensure that the Planter is kept evenly moist but not over-wet, at all times. After around 3 weeks, regularly apply an organic liquid feed, following the manufacturer’s instructions. Sciarid flies are attracted to organic matter so they can find their way into bags of compost, typically that have been stored open for a while. Flies in compost are adept at even getting through the tiny air holes in bags.