To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. A question to everyone – why do we blame ourselves/the weather/anything before we point an accusing finger at an ‘organic quality’ product? Re-sowed some cucurbits covering the trays to avoid them being over-watered and prevent sciarid coming in (using the same compost) and had better germination.

Personally I question why any use of peat at all is considered such a no no (despite the fact that I think it was me that wrote the first article in New Farmer and Grower questioning its use back in the day! Scarid fly seems worse on the WRO and generally FF has not suffered, a layer of vermiculite and application of the biocontrol nematode helps or use the mite ‘Hypoaspis miles’ on a regular (2 weekly) basis as a preventative. First devised in 1992, our Original range of composts are 100% peat-free and 100% organic - made from coir, bark and vermiculite. FertileFibre has been producing the best quality peat-free compost since 1992, and having two products named as Which? It must be really disheartening for all you growers to experience all these problems with peat free composts.Stephen, would you say the root growth was better with coir because it is coarser and therefore drier on the surface, forcing the plant to send its roots deeper to reach the water? With the help of the late great Geoff Hamilton they were able to make, trial and analyse different recipes until they had the right combinations for production of the three original Fertile Fibre mixes - Seed, Multipurpose and Potting. also acknowledged that FertileFibre Original Seed and Multipurpose Composts are worth considering for young plants as well as for sowing seeds. Why they are not testing the batches before dispatch is real cause for concern as FF and WRO are the main alternatives to peat which we are all trying to reduce dependance on.

Ps since the above, FF have agreed to send a replacement batch, which is great, although I’d still like to find out what went wrong. The spuds absolutely love it, but the tomatoes (a very closely related plant) really don't like it, and I've been forced to start feeding much earlier. SylvaGrow peat-free mixes and most other products in Melcourt’s ‘passionate gardener’ range are endorsed (and used and sold by) the Royal Horticultural Society. I told my staff member about the rubbish that was being put on the market many years ago, that had a pH of 4, and how we got compensation from the company for our losses. It does seem a very variable product and we have had a lot more fibre in the seed compost this year which makes filling the module trays difficult.

Designed as a growing medium, our collection of bulk peat-free composts offer a stable growing environment to deliver reliable results when used with a wide variety of plants. I’ve had particular problems with lettuce (though suspect that was partly dodgy seed sent from one particluar company), and dreadful squash germination – though like Phil, I think that might partly be chilly temperatures and water in all that fibre making the seed rot.