Comparing different composts for propagation

[@KatesGarden]

I’m always impressed by your enthusiasm for testing. You’re always testing different composts and different methods around the garden. Keep it up!

[@sweetpea6384]

Charles, I helped a student do a project for a science fair where he tested for the best percentage of worm compost to use for seedlings. He used regular potting soil and changed the mix of soil to worm compost. He found the best mix to be 80% potting soil / 20% worm compost.

[@joelzdepski9884]

I plant into compost, but I top the tray with worm compost. A theory I heard to justify this is that the bacteria in vermicompost makes seedlings a bit more resistant to damping off. I haven't run a controlled experiment to confirm that though.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Awesome. Funnily enough we are just filming today the last stage of another compost trial where I'm doing exactly that and experimenting with different proportions of worm compost. That is a great thing you did and interesting result! Thanks for sharing

[@sweetpea6384]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig Will be interested to see if you get the same results! 😃

[@ginninadances]

I mixed mine 50/50 and is not doing great. I guess I'll cut it back some more!

[@rhysjaggar4677]

I must say one of the things I use my vermicompost for is giving tomato plants a boost. I simply put in a heaped spoonful of the stuff as I pot up for the final time and it certainly doesn't do any harm to the yields! You might like to help a new student to do a similar experiment with leaf mould: I personally just use a 'layer' on top of normal potting compost when I germinate seeds (I do filter it through a sieve first as there are usually a few twigs/leaves still undigested), but it seems to work very well. Many, many pollinator seeds germinate much faster and far more efficiently than advertised on seed packets when germinated in leaf mould atop potting compost.....

[@danielduke1618]

So inspiring to see your garden and greenhouse I find your channel and your voice so calming I could put a chair in your garden and I'd never move.

[@ximono]

Homeacres even has a composting loo, so that could work :)

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thank you so much!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

😀

[@tinkeringinthailand8147]

I really enjoyed this experiment Charles. Where I live here in Thailand you can't really buy bags of good quality potting compost. I did manage to find some in my local "home and garden" store but it was really poor quality. The cucumber and melon seedlings I planted in it turned yellow not long after germination, so I mixed it with rabbit droppings and worm tea. Once I repotted the seedlings in this new mix the growth and lush greenness was amazing. I'm now looking to get some more rabbits 😁

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

That is cool!

[@jolantaskora407]

0

[@Seriouslydave]

Rabbits are famous for something but i dont know what that is.

[@pascalxus]

Great test! I love these tests that give us results on fair comparisons.

[@sandraazevedo4423]

Mr Charles was missing the Lord I lost your channel but I managed to find you again,, I love seeing your plantations I miss the Lord ❤💋❤🏡Brazil

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Welcome back Sandra!

[@sufiblade]

Wonderfully comforting to watch, and valuable knowledge

[@chriselliott726]

Charles, you make excellent inspirational videos. There is something authentic about your entire demeanour. Thank you.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Chris

[@conniehusband1365]

I will soon be the proud owner of a little greenhouse! YAY!!! Extremely cold spring here so preplanting is just the ticket. Another excellent and inspirational visit with you Charles. Thankyou very much!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Wonderful!

[@chesterhobbs7244]

I am so thankful of your testing trials. I'm certain it was a great amount of your labor to complete this research and it was most associated. Didn't know per compost was a good starter for seeds. Again, many thanks.

[@christophermoorman6249]

Charles you are a gardening legend,thanks for your positive gardening videos,I've learn all my growing methods an techniques from you,I appreciate it!!!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

You are very welcome Christopher

[@christophermoorman6249]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig thanks very much

[@robertling9872]

Thanks Charles for sharing your growing results.

[@heirwithjesus]

Finally got the Three Set Online Course and I haven’t been this excited in awhile. I’ve changed geographical locations from one side of the nation to the other- going from warm to much colder where we are advised to not plant anything until the end of this month - so your courses are right on time!! Thank you so so much Uncle Charles and I look forward to gaining a wealth of knowledge for years to come!!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Nice to hear that and I wish you success coping with a shorter season. The courses will help 😀

[@marymcandrew7667]

Thank you for the great video Charles. I love a video that shows all the stages and results right through to the end, it teaches so much more!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

💚

[@mudoh2131]

That was truly fascinating Charles. Thank you so much for taking the time and trouble to share your research. So very interesting.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

💚

[@Im-just-Stardust]

Another awesome video, thanks Charles ! Thanks also for the INCREDIBLE motivation you have given us during all those years.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Nice to hear :)

[@lidiagarcia5378]

ME ENCANTÓ EL EXPERIMENTO!!! GRACIAS!!! PFFF! ME FRUSTRÓ EL RESULTADO DEL COMPOST CASERO !!!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Si si 🥬

[@peace4peaceful]

Funny thing this compost. Potting mix..seed raising mix, garden soil and compost are all the same thing. But then again not. You need an inert sterile mix for seeds. Then potting mix to pot on then garden soil to plant into and finally compost to amend the soil. Then you watch these vids. Love this guy. No matter what anyone advises I never fully get it until I do it myself.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Cheers John.

[@bearrivermama6414]

❤️ very enjoyable topic to learn about. Even though I spend endless hours in my own gardens I would absolutely love to work in your beautiful gardens. Absolutely beautiful 🥰

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thankyou 😀

[@TeamArVes]

Great idea for Gardeners like me😀👍❤️

[@mwmingram]

Very thorough experiments. Some persistent myths dispelled. Thanks Charles.

[@simonjandrell5897]

i bought New Horizon and by the look of it i was impessed as it did look your averge Compost batch 2022

[@ximenaisabeljimenezgalindo9044]

Hola Charles gracias por tu adorable video y toda la enseñanza 🌷🇨🇱

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

My pleasure 💚

[@savvapouroullis7927]

Hello Charles. I have designed anaerobic digestion plants as an engineer. The process will remove a lot of carbon from the digestate - which will take the form of Methane (CH4) and Carbon Dioxide (CO2), while it largely doesn't remove the Nitrogen. However, there is a fair amount of Ammonia and Ammonium buildup in the digestate, up to a few percent of the total mass. So all in all, the beneficial effect from a composting point of view are 1) You get a better Carbon/Nitrogen ratio due to removal of carbon, 2) the Nitrogen already available is converted to a more bio-available form (Ammonium) which can be fed on by soild bacteria to produce the nitrogen plants need, and 3) a large amount of breakdown takes place, so this substance won't continue to compost if you throw it in a compost bin after it's been through the digester already. It's not going to stink or rot at all. It's essentially closer to fertiliser than compost.

[@ximono]

Interesting insight! I’m curious, how much microbial soil life does it include compared to the regular composting method?

[@savvapouroullis7927]

@@ximono none, it will have only anaerobic bacteria which will most likely die off as soon as it exits the chamber. These bacteria are inserted into the process from ruminant shit - cow manure. Thats used as an inoculant. Thats why I would say its closer to fertiliser than compost.

[@growingwithfungi]

Brilliant! thank you so much 😊🌱💚🙏✨

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

That is an impressive analysis but what concerns me is the growth of plants. I want compost not fertiliser, and I have not yet found a digestate which grows decent plants, unless I leave it to mature for a few months before sowing

[@archkod]

Thanks - great video. I did peat free potting soil this year with slow growth compared to previous - added seaweed to seedlings for boost - love the small containerwise trays!

[@90s_HipHop]

I want to preface my comment with an admission that I make it up as I go along and my style of gardening is more guerilla than anything. I tried to use homemade compost this year for everything before the compost was ready. I have also been using my homemade worm castings both neat and diluted with some used compost bulk bought from a local organic strawberry farm (which was gritty, low nutrient and full of nettle seeds) I have had seeds rot from over watering and not germinate from compost drying out or bad seeds from some suppliers. The most reliable germination I have managed is using a damp fine coir in a tray with cloche lid which returns almost 100% germination before potting on. The worm castings is fantastic but because, if I don't sieve it I get tons of self seeding veg from it as it seems to be a perfect storage medium until the seeds are happy and ready to spout. Biggest issue is knowing if my squash, tomato and bean seeds are the ones I planted or self seeders 🙃 I also have had mango and avocado stones sprout in my worm bin which I then plant up in the house. Great video by the way. Thanks

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

I like your sense of adventure!

[@GrowBagUK]

I recently found a sprouting broccoli tip that had grown roots in my worm-bin...have just potted it on and will report back if it resprouts leaves and makes a viable plant for this season.

[@lyndaturner6686]

That is so interesting, I have had some mixed results with peat free compost, but the best one so far was the New Horizon peat free, it also had better drainage. So all the trials KZbin gardeners are doing are so welcome as we home growers can’t really do them as it is far too expensive to buy enough variety , I do make as much homemade stuff as I can to try to keep costs down. Thanks again Charles for sharing your knowledge and experience.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Cheers Lynda

[@Jan-Boer]

Thanks for the video, nice test. But with strong seeds like radishes, next time add one with clean sand. Then it might become even clearer.

[@woutmoerman711]

Thanks, very useful and comforting to know!

[@peterwalker6020]

I now feel a bit guilty, I recently sowed broccoli seed from a well-known supplier,. Some in a tray in the green house to get a good start and some directly in an outdoor bed. The tray gave only four plants. I contacted the supplier who to their credit sent a new pack. However yesterday I noticed that the outdoor sown has a great germination rate. It can only be down to the compost I used in the green house.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thank you for sharing this Peter and well done that supplier!

[@peterwalker6020]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig I remember watching a video you made a few years ago regarding sowing with the moon cycles. With this in mind I sowed the new broccoli seed in doors on Thursday, a couple of days before the full blood moon. By Sunday they had germinated and are now comfortable in the green house. No one will ever tell me that it's all old wives tales. Thanks for all your great knowledge and help.

[@itsmewende]

I love an experiment, this will be fun to see which comes out top of the heap...yes pun intended. Have a wonderful weekend.!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

😂

[@lahuertadeltiomeno2009]

It's amazing everything you do I'm going to put it into practice in my garden

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

💚

[@vossierebel]

I'm currently sifting my homemade compost and testing it for seedlings - this gives me good food for thought! Thanks!

[@joanies6778]

I use the vermicompost when I pot up plants and then put some in the planting hole.

[@thewildcroft]

Really useful video, thanks. So easy to get hung up on composts!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Glad it was helpful!

[@rickthelian2215]

Radish and lettuce are generally fast crop, 30 days dependent on location so hence there great growth and need to be planted. Nice growth in the garden plot of the reddish and lettuce. Charles You’ll have your own worm poo yourself soon from your own worm farm.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

So right, thanks

[@nygardenguru]

You’re the Thomas Dolby of gardening Blinding me with Science

[@emdorris3319]

Charles, I love your experiment! Very interesting results.

[@LaVikinga108]

Charles, thank you for this video, super helpful! I've struggled so much the last couple of years with finding a peat free compost that works- this shows that perhaps in the end the compost doesn't make so much of a difference! I've also found that Horizon works well, most of the time.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thank you, and I do suggest adding a little worm compost to any others for propagation, if you can find it. Often called vermicast

[@donnastevens8832]

Thank you so much for putting my mind at rest. I have been rather dismayed at another KZbinr in the UK who basically rubbished all pre bought compost in favour of home made, and seemed to make a bit deal of all nine un-named varieties of compost being sterile, water-logged and evil smelling, just on using touch, sight and smell ... no growth trials. Now, I may be wrong, but it COULD be because he just published about about how to make compost, and he wants people to buy it. But he has a HUGE multi allotment growing area, and I have a small garden in a council house. I have to buy compost... and one of my choices for this year is in the trial you have just run. My criteria was organic, peat free, and within my budget. Your trial showed me that even the worst compost has potential, and surely, even the worse compost is better than none. As this is the beginning of my second attempt at no-dig, I have redone my original no dig bed, just adding more cardboard, etc on top of the weeds and added a further 6 inches of compost ontop of that to get things started ... again. I've also bought two metal raised beds that between them were expected to need 1200 litres of compost, so I have only filled one so far ... with a variety of different composts but topped off with the organic compost. I intend to top dress my containers, where I grow my potatoes, with the contents of a tray from my wormery, and then a layer of straw mulch and just keep going, hoping for the best. As my garden only has to feed a single person, I am quietly hopefully that I should get enough food to last me a few monthes, if not longer, if I manage to learn how to store my surplus in the meantime. And it all started with watching your videos on KZbin. Mr Dowding, you have been an inspiration and have changed my life so much over the last two or three years, that even when things get really bad, (I grew nothing last year), I still feel able to get up and start again when things improved again. Here's looking at another successful year in the garden. Thank you.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Such a lovely comment Donna and I hope that you enjoy a great success this year. No need for more than 6-8in compost, hope that saves you some. Like you I'm upset when people make statements without justification, and a lot of it goes on! We need to keep our critical faculties working.

[@ginninadances]

Actually I'm going to do something similar tomorrow with what is available to me. Thank you for doing this!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Best of luck!

[@Mark-qe9mr]

Its only anaerobic until air is introduced Charles. We used the black anaerobic sludge from our irrigation ditches at the end of the season to amend the vegetable garden with great results all the time. What I'm saying is, though it may be strange, I think you are safe using it.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks and I see your point but the difference is that you placed it on top where air can access the previously anaerobic material. Here I'm removing it from a sack and placing it in module cells.

[@olgasmile6977]

Спасибо, сэр Чарльз! Очень интересный тест и достойный уважения результат👍! Радуюсь, глядя на ваши красивые грядки и желаю вашему хозяйству благополучия и процветания!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

💚 Olga

[@xaviercruz4763]

Charles, first: !What a lovely big fantastic looking garden you have there so alive! very nice. where you show your radish with the compost it makes sense to me now by a handful testimonials of Elaine and Matt, who report that brassicas like a very bacterial soil and cant stand much fungus as they dont connect well or need a lot to thrive. Early succession of biology in a living system is what they called them. Matt on the other hand reported why he was not offering his big orange giant amaranth seed because every year as his soil got better and more fungal the amaranth grew smaller, and later he found that it is not mycorrhyzal (the superstar fungus of plants these days). So your soil is very good, and i would even be happy if i bought some from that Johnson Su type compost you did so well, and the radish is proof that your compost is so very good and full of fungus, great for woody and big trees like apples, olives, grapes, and fruit trees. Very nice Charles! I have also seen reported by Matt mainly that these types of plants make soil retain less water by alcalinizing it and oxidizing (the non mycorrhyzal) so i thought in the eyes of God they are great for a starting soil because easier growth as they prefer. Elaine recommends growing them in the same spot every year so they are happy and other crops too. She even didnt list as a prefered plant for groundovers the Irish Moss sagina subulata, since it is non mycorrhyzal too, but oh man is one very beautiful ground cover like a no mow grass to less than 5 cm in height over the years. So without a microscope, what i would do is have the extremelly fungally dominated undisturbed for long compost on one side and the other extreme the bacterially kitchen scrap sweet bacterial dominated compost, then a 50%50 mix of them in the middle, and in between the middle and either extreme on one side 2/3 fungal 1/3 bacterial, and other batch that is 1/3 fungal 2/3 bacterial, and would try each one on each level of succession of plants and vegetables as she gave more in specific detail about what those species really are in each category in a newer video that was uploaded of her Soil Food Web channel, so when you get some time you can check it out if you would like! So 5 composts out of 2! Here is a newer video of her testimonial work on some gardens and where i saw it more clearly : kzbin.info/www/bejne/kKPRlIlrr5t0b68 Here is a video of you Charles when younger, that i so happen to find about: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lX6wZpuJmcl8mck Charles, would you sell me some tulip and lily seeds, because they are rare to find for me where i am and they can be easily sent without a permit that is required, say, for a bulb and live plants. Thanks for the information in the testings here, great great findings and confirmations!

[@Gtmustangmt]

This is a another great video Charles.. I’m new gardening but I really love starting seeds and being in the garden. I have used compost to start seeds.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Sounds great! I wish you well

[@DigwellGreenfingers]

I have published a few compost comparison videos of my own and the difference in the results is quite amazing!

[@GenerousWealth]

I like the close up shots that answer a lot of how to

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

😀 yes credit to Alessandro @spicymoustache, see him on Instagram

[@maryjoycausing5918]

Hi charls Im always watching your video I love gardening

[@NekoBazu]

I'd love to see a trial like this with some proper "bargain basement" compost included - particularly the suspiciously cheap ones you get from big DIY chains and the like! This year I'm making my seed compost from last year's spent compost (from e.g. peppers grown in containers), supplemented with about 20-25% worm castings. They're definitely growing better than last year, but between the awful weather last year and a massive increase in my knowledge in the year since it might not be the fairest comparison!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Well done and let's see!

[@kitsurubami]

your seed starting trays are the best! I'm so happy with mine :)

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Wonderful, thanks

[@thenodiggardener]

I'm a late getting around to this one, but wanted to add to it anyway. Over the years I've used all sorts for sowing seeds, including grow bags, and I think the best take away from it all is knowing that seeds want to germinate. After all, they will happily do so in the very worst soil conditions, but it's what happens after that initial stage of sprouting (which we know can happen with no medium at all) which matters. I think some of the best take away from newer growers in this video was what to watch out for in their seedlings afterwards, because, as you've said, compost varies with each batch, so quality is never a guarantee. A weak feed is what could save them though. Even in my garden, direct sowing Radishes is the best indication of how the soil is doing nutrients wise!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Very good points Suzanne, thanks for sharing

[@AlexasGarden]

It was a great job! Radish and lettuce are my favorite spring plants for breakfast. Tu is now a very rich man)

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Yes, thanks, and garlic too!

[@hughhead9079]

Well done trial! Would love to have a site visit to one of the best (such as Northern Gold's) facility to see what their processes are for any other tips a home composter could follow? And what's unique to a commercial operation (such as sterilization or removing insects) Just a thought for an episode some day...

[@FourSeasonFarming]

Thanks Charles🙏 a lot to learn👍

[@stevenbp101]

Hi Charles, I love the size of your greenhouse. I’m always amazed at how your garden looks. I recently bought a property close to the small town of Strawberry Arkansas. It’s been a dream of mine to build a log cabin in the country. It’s been hard dividing my time between the home garden and the cabin. Our garden is looking good though. You set the standard my friend. (Old guy from Arkansas)🇺🇸God bless

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

That is awesome Steve, glad your dream has manifested

[@dafyddrhobert2414]

I have always used general purpose compost for sowing seeds but have tried seed compost this year. The results are about the same but I was surprised how much sand was in the seed compost I bought. I think it would also be good for repotting my cacti and succulents. I also always buy compost at the end of the season when it's being sold off and then use it the following year. Some I have used is more than a year old and still gives good results every time. I've not heard that compost should really be used the same year as purchase. I've got about three years compost in stock because of the increasing price and will be reusing it with added home made compost. Any roots left in the compost will rot down and should give some added nutrients to the mix.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Excellent Dafydd.

[@AK-ru3sg]

Seems like, for most people, home made compost would work just fine. Depends on how serious the individual is I guess but if you're totally into self sufficiency then home made would do the job as much as it needed to given how many seeds you generally get in a packet. Really interesting to see the differences, though.

[@cuznclive2236]

I agree with self-sufficiency in making compost from free, food waste, or locally available purchase/trade sources. Having a worm bin(s) is essential for my practice. Insomuch, I do run some of my compost, slightly unfinished, through a worm bin. The worms love it and the result is an amazing mix of compost full of life.

[@laurad2136]

Great video and thank you for the time you have put to show the differences and follow up till the end. I also appreciate your candour re. compost gifts and how you remain impartial. I am trying to reduce my garden costs but still fighting with the idea that I would like to try your seeds cells - the seedlings come up so nicely (not like some of my flimsy ones that I have had to break the plastic to get the seedlings out.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Glad it was helpful Laura. The trays should last for decades :)

[@maddiemara5703]

I agree that you can certainly sow into compost! I have a hard time finding seed starting mix anymore, and for the past two years I have been sowing into the same compost I use to amend my beds. The seedlings have been very happy and vigorous, and I’ve actually noticed less damping off as well. That could be a coincidence of course but I’m happy about it either way!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Fantastic!

[@richardcrossen9480]

Could you please give us a session on “ pricking” and the tool you use while “ pricking”. Thanks in advance.🇨🇦

[@joerotchell4882]

Hi Charles, many thanks; very interesting and informative. Might I ask that you repeat the trail but with commercially available peat free composts (hopefully donated) although you have timely answered my questions/doubts about digester derived ‘compost’. Even with an allotment I don’t produced enough composted material to make my own potting compost and then maintain the no dig principle of top dressing each year. Im happy to buy sowing compost so to have a thoughtful recommendation from a knowledgable source would help to avoid costly mistakes. Cheers Joe

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Hi Joe I could indeed do that but it might not be hugely helpful even so, because every sack is different. They have often the same names such as new horizon, but in the spring you might be buying last year's, or this year's, of different recipes. Here I was mainly hoping to show the differences because some people don't realise how variable the products are. Best of luck with the plot.

[@joerotchell4882]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig thanks Charles that’s a great point. In fact I suppose an unavoidable issue is that peat free recipes will be even more erratic in quality/consistency given their greater reliance on organic matter that itself changes year on year. I’ll think on. Thanks Joe

[@kebunidebermain_ku8313]

thank you for sharing

[@Sam-ti1nd]

amazing. thank you.

[@mdog111]

Back in March I splashed out on peat free seed compost that claims to be 'RHA recommended' and had the worst results with seedling development that I've had in years! Re-potted my sluggish seedlings into trusty New Horizon and they took off straight away. My experiment has set this year's vegetable growing back 4 weeks and the two expensive bags of seed compost have ended up as filler/bulk for things that I grow in containers. Lesson learned. In previous years, everything has done just fine sown directly into New Horizon which I personally find to be a reliable and consistent brand.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Very sorry to hear that, how frustrating. I wonder whether the compost was Dalefoot, I've been hearing bad reports about it

[@mdog111]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig Honoured to receive a personal reply from you Charles. Thank you for your brilliant videos which despite having grown organic veg for a long time, have taught me so much in recent years. The brand was called SylvaGrow. It wouldn't hold any water in the small modules that I planted into, so needed constant watering which I believe is not great for seedlings anyway. Nothing thrived in it and I waited longer than necessary to resolve the problem by re-potting into New Horizon. Two weeks on and everything that I re-potted is thriving. I'm no fan of anything corporate, but I find New Horizon to be quite consistent and reliable.

[@TheFuriousVenom]

I've always sown in compost, never let me down. I recently bought some seedling mix...yeah, I think I'll stick with compost.

[@jimsgardenproject3507]

I just used a potting mix that at first I was quite disappointed in. They were for my tomato seedlings. Problem was it dried very quickly and separated from the pots. However, today when I popped one out to review the roots they actually grew quite well in it. Don’t think I’ll be using it again though. I don’t like crusted soil in my starts

[@marchantnick]

A plastic or glass cover over the pot / seed tray can prevent it drying out so quickly

[@oliverobama3279]

Hi Charles. I used my homemade 2 year compost in my garden this year all be it a small quantity and full of weed seeds. But there is a noticeable difference from my beds dressed with other mulches and my home made compost. The plants, such as pumpkins and courgettes are twice the size and have very green leaves.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

I'm really pleased to hear this and it's worth those weeds that you have to deal with

[@Gotchapic]

Totally enjoyed this video. As always, I ‘ve learned something!

[@GrowBagUK]

Great to see trials...would have been nice to see a loam-based compost (John Innes blend) in the mix. The key takeaway for me seems to be that with the right care, any potting compost is suitable for starting seeds as long as they are going to be finished in a fertile ground.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Yes exactly, but there are some really bad ones and it's a pity for the trial that these were mostly okay!

[@franksinatra1070]

Thanks Charles for all your time and effort with this experiment. Very interesting.

[@tedbastwock3810]

Congratulations on 50M+ YT views ... amazing content here, both the production and information EDIT: Charles, not only have I enjoyed applying what I've learned from you over the years, but I've also very much enjoyed watching the progression in videography skills of your team. ... ... when you get to 100M views (probably next month :- ) will you please give me one video of Charles Dowding sporting a Mr. T hairdoo? That would just totally make my day 💇

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Ted and glad you enjoy it!

[@loubob21]

Perhaps there is shade being cast by the green house frame which is causing plant growth differentiation?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

No because the sun moves continually, so they never stay in one place

[@seanirishterrier6588]

You said worm compost was expensive but you didn’t say how much. I think the cost may of each bag may also be a clue on the quality. After some research I found one stockist selling Moorland Gold at £18 for 40 Ltrs & £9 for New Horizon for 40 ltrs. If prices keep going up it’s going to be an expensive hobby, & I’m going to have to make my own seed compost.

[@gardengirl7446]

Have you watched Hollis and Nancy's Homestead channel on KZbin? This video reminds me of their seeding to harvest type videos. I like this format so much! Great job CD! ❤ Linda in Vancouver 🇨🇦

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

I will check it out, thanks Linda

[@simeonbanner6204]

I made the mistake of buying Aldi compost a few years ago. Big mistake, many pieces of MDF in it.

[@slaterdomain]

What's everyone's thoughts on using Lake sludge made up of leaves n duck poo etc? I have access to some for sheet mulching an allotment atop couch grass this year. Planting later on

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

I would use it for mulch, full of goodness

[@slaterdomain]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig brilliant. Thanks Charles. I think you are amazing. I'm a gardener and I've had an allotment for 7 years. Last two years I found no dig. Never been so happy. My job gets me soo much organic matter, its such a clever and obvious choice to go no dig. Thanks for all your videos.

[@RudyWarman]

Lovely!

[@Limogi]

It would be nice to see more close-ups. 👍 I never know how hard i can push down and tend to not.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Noted thanks. You can push compost hard, if it does not contain soil/dirt

[@lidahalam8260]

Hi Charles, Thank you for your advice re: coco coir and perlite mix,I am using worm “juice” as a fertiliser once my seeds come through,if they come throughout,but I am not sure if it is enough because my seedlings look nothing like your.May have to try something else. Thank you

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

You are right that it's not enough feed. It's more of a booster! You need some liquid fertiliser of some kind, because that stuff you have been sold, or are using is very very weak in nutrients, and many people do not realise that.

[@mickb6285]

Its really interesting to see a direct comparison like this. Taking on what you say about the same brand compost varying from year to year, I have had apparently 2 identical bags bought at the same time be vastly different in terms of texture and density. One was dreadful stuff, like 90% fibrous material, the water just ran straight through and it was impossible to keep moist. It ended up on the compost heap!! The other seemed to be almost exactly what the old peat based composts were like.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Fascinating to hear that, and not good for us! Thanks for sharing Mick.

[@yukselikiz]

you are doing great work, congrats...

[@grabmike]

Charles, thank you always for you time and testing. I’m from the US, Oregon, have you done any testing on how one might go about testing older seeds? I have a bank of seeds which I can’t seem to let go of. My question would be how should I go about making the best of them? Cheers Mike N.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Not yet Mike but you can put a few on damp tissue to check germination in the warmth of your house

[@marchantnick]

Mike I'd suggest putting your old seeds in a seed tray. Anything that germinates can be pricked out into its own cell. You'll waste less compost than if everything was sown in its cells

[@Estertje93]

The vermicompost has bacteria that eat the seed husks and make them germinate quicker. They also prevent damping off. It's pretty swell stuff and you can make your own, though it takes a while to get going.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

👍

[@irenesmith5676]

Hi Charles so interesting love your experiments keep it up love them lv Irene 😘 xx

[@iteerrex8166]

I ask about this a month or two ago, and glad to finally get the results. Happy that the homemade did ok. As you mentioned the compost was made for the outside. So if it was designed for the trays, it probably would’ve done as well as the others. By the way how is worm farm going? Because the homemade designed for trays, combined with worm casting would probably prove to be great.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks and adding some worm compost to different mies is coming up, filming last session today

[@iteerrex8166]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig Ah very cool looking forward to it. Would you also go over how to make a good seeding compost? Thanks

[@tedbastwock3810]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig Yes, I too want to hear all about your vermiculture!!!

[@MrRKWRIGHT]

With all the ongoing food shortages, I'm finding it practical to not mow my lawn this year and neither are my neighbors- or use Roundup on the weeds with all the wild garlic and onions and dandelions - food all around us, edible plants aplenty. I'll bet at least some of those weeds would make a nice salad - accompanied by some nice pan roasted sunflower seeds . Plus, by not running a lawn mower, or using pesticides, I'm contributing less to the waste stream helping to preserve our precious planet. We're also leaving a couple of vacant abandoned houses alone - so that we can forage from those yards as well.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Nice

[@MyPetFishRex]

Want to see update on pond please =D

[@leonbarnes1402]

ill comment before finishing this video. firstly thanks for the videos, i have adopted some no dig techniques this year, couple of long beds instead of raised beds (that said, my raised beds have always been no dig). but regards to compost, any compost with bio3 i avoid, tried some new horizon 2 years ago and half my plants didnt grow properly then died, seed were from dt brown that year. last year i used jacks magic, dt brown seeds from the previous year grew great in that. this year i found that they have a new improved mix and added bio3 to jacks magic, then the battle to find a good compost that can be sieved without finding half a bag of sticks, coconut fibres or fibres that dont even look organic. finally found one now from a brand i cant remember which sieves 100%, suspect theres peat in it so thatll be gone next year. so this year ive gone properly into trying to make my own compost, hopefully ill have compost good enough for seeds and potting on next year. getting bulk bags of hot garden waste compost for making beds. anyway, i think big 'brand' compost quality over the next few years is going to drop even more, seems that westland have the market cornered here in devon. its posible that bio3 isnt suitable for seeds, but dont most people used sieved multipurpose? again thanks for the videos and the insiration, back to watching this one. wonder if the bio3 will cause you problems too.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Yes Westland are everywhere!

[@toriamalcolm]

What's your opinion of coconut compost, as supplied by Wilko? I have sown seed in it with success, as it drains well but may lack nutrients, and l also tried mixing in some municipal compost to enrich it, tho it became much heavier and caused some beans and peas to rot rather than germinate. It seems a good idea to buy, coming in dried and ready to rehydrate, and is presumably a waste product of the coconut harvest.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Coir involves transport and other work and is taking fertility from another country, plus as you say it often has little fertility in the compost, but the structure is excellent. It can work, it's your call

[@miss_frosting]

This is interesting! I've used New Horizon (bought in Nov 2021) for when I prick out seedlings and I have not been impressed with this product (but as it's a readily available peat-free option, I've tried really hard to like it!). Some pricked out seedlings were placed on a heated propagator (white), and on watering the pots the compost retains no water, and the run-off is brown and is staining the white surface of the propagator. It makes me wonder if New Horizon has dye through it..? I have also never before had such problems with damping off as I have had with New Horizon this year. I did some testing of seedling compost from Dalefoot and Carbon Gold, but got the labels mixed up so couldn't tell which of the two that was fine and which formed a hard crust making pricking out very difficult.

[@somechrisguy]

I have used dalefoot seed compost for a few years. However this year, its been forming this hard crust on top as well. Lost a few trays of seedlings due to it, just from letting it dry out once. After it forms the crust it doesn't seem to go soft again. Glad I'm not the only one!

[@miss_frosting]

@@somechrisguy Thanks for confirming that! Not a great feature but hopefully only in this year's batch. Would you use Dalefoot again?

[@miss_frosting]

@@chrisgartenn Hear, hear - it's an algae-fest!

[@Aut251]

I bought verve compost this year and it was terrible 😢 80% fibrous. Last year it was useable for propagation.

[@gardenstate732]

Plenty alright still usefull

[@AGRIMOVIEemi]

Great video 👏👏👏👏 Great channel 👍🏻 👍🏻 👍🏻

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thank you so much 👍

[@MegaNAT2012]

Interesting results Charles but would have liked to have known whether the New Horizon is peat free and perhaps include Melcourt Sylvagrow which is very recommended but more expensive and can be difficult to source.

[@trevorenever265]

New Horizon is peat free and organic.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

No! It calls itself organic but that just means it's made from organic materials. Look closely at the bag and you will see there is no organic certification of any kind.

[@stefflus08]

Thank you for this, it is very interesting! I agree that digestate is hardly compost. And I would say the same for bokashi. These anaerobic methods make a rich in soluble nutrients slurry, sort of like nettle water. The remaining substrate probably also has easily soluble nutrients that wash away with watering? I remember you discussed a couple of times how the aerobic (fungal mycelia probably) process locks the Nitrogen into a less soluble compound? All different kinds of anaerobic digestates would probably be good additives to aerobic compost.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Nice analysis!

[@EricVulgaris]

dude i cant even get friggin radishes to grow in fresh compost and you're out here doing multivariate compost analysis

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

😂 I'm sure you can and will succeed

[@jennyjohnson9012]

I love your trials Charles. I bought in some compost the other week and it was full of hard lumps and big pieces of stick and wood. Not impressed! Please keep these interesting videos coming. Thankyou!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Jenny. Some makers are not doing great work :(

[@GrowBagUK]

I am having to sieve through a 6mm riddle...helps break up the lumps of peat and remove large wood and stone.

[@rickjay4639]

The problem I've had with planting in worm casting is it does not drain well even if I mix potting soil to castings 50/50 it can still be too heavy. I'm using my own casting.

[@pierrehamel1]

This year I mixed 75% commercial seedling mix with 25% of own worm castings (collected before cold Canadian winter in October). I sieve both into a wheelbarrow (especially useful for seedling mix to remove wood and clumps of peat). Happy with results, both for cold and hot weather plants/seedlings (mostly vegies but many flowering plants as well. I'm in zone 4b. My vermicompost comes from one of my bins; this receives mostly kitchen scraps throughout the year. I introduced the worms when I moved to this location 14 years ago. Except for the regular addition of kitchen scraps (vegetarian household), it has been maintenance free. The red wigglers migrate at will to a neighbouring bin, a pile of horse manure (which i replenish every year or 2) and my main compost (thermal) pile which I make in late summer (to the latter as soon as cool enough to invade in the early Fall). We have cold winters (as low as -30 to -40c) but the wigglers are back at work as soon as the various bins and piles thaw. Final detail: there are several old "wild" apple trees on/near my 3/4 acre lot which I collect and add to the 2 bins and large thermal pile; the worms love these!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Lovely gardening Pierre, thanks for sharing

[@ednace455]

I found the same, Rick Jay. Now I know! I used an approx mix of ⅓ each worm castings from my bin, sieved homemade compost, and perlite. It worked, and the garden is going great, but in the greenhouse it was a bit heavy, not well draining. Plenty of nutrient though! And mostly free! Any recommendations for lightening it up? Was going to go back to some peat…

[@BVisser7]

We don’t have good selections here in the states. I’m a first year market gardener and seed starting has been my biggest challenge due to poor “compost”. I’ve tried to make my own mix using peat moss, homemade compost, perilite, vermiculite, and some light organic fertilizer. Still haven’t gotten it figured out!! The search continues!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Good luck. Maybe start a wormery!

[@paulnjackson]

Very interesting. I did a similar trial with some basil about 4 weeks ago. Commercial seed, potting and 'eco' compost (not sure what that is exactly but it was on offer), and sieved home-made. Home-made was also a bit disappointing and apparently nutrient poor. Seed and potting indistinguishable. Eco someshat stronger. I wonder about adding in some of the traditional organic fertilisers like blood, fish, bone to the homemade. It would still be cheaper than the bought-in, and manageable on a small garden scale. Another trial, I suppose!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Nice work Paul, and a great way to learn

[@yeastybeastie]

If only compost companies could be made to print batch numbers/bagging dates on the bag, it might make it abit easier to compare and contrast brands in trials like this 🤔 Thanks for sharing your process, and all your knowledge Charles.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thankyou. It's a great idea but probably beyond their scope, and I'm not convinced that they even worry too much

[@yeastybeastie]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig I don't think they do, no! There's definitely room in the market for a passionate newcomer that practices more transparency and potentially gives the old guard a kick up the bum!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

@@yeastybeastie Check out this one !!! petespeatfree.co.uk