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.

There are two main types of compost: multipurpose and composts for specific use, such as raising plants from seed or growing plants in patio containers. Multipurpose and all-purpose composts Growing bags don't compare - these used to be filled with peat and were cheap, making them an excellent alternative. However, they are now mostly peat-reduced or peat-free and have fertilisers meant for growing veg. Find out more about why you should buy peat-free compost. Is it true that I can catch Legionnaires' disease from compost? For cuttings: Fill the pot with the Levington Multi Purpose Compost with added John Innes, take the cutting (according to the type of plant), water, cover and keep warm. Miracle-Gro is famous for its all-purpose plant food and lawn food, as well as an extensive line of composts. Most of the product line includes chemicals and synthetics, but the Performance Organics range doesn’t. This compost is versatile enough to cope with all your plant needs: this version slowly releases nutrients over a period of three months, which is perfect for the summer season. It does contain some peat, but the all-organic content means it’s still safe around pets and children.Levington Peat Free Multi Purpose Compost with added John Innes contains a balanced combination of nutrients that will feed your plants for up to 6 weeks. Professional growing media in ornamental horticulture are specialised substrate blends designed for optimal plant growth, often used in controlled environments like nurseries.

Container compost (sometimes called potting mix) is what you’ll use for anything you plan to keep in a container; usually houseplants but occasionally potted plants outside, too. Lighter in texture than garden compost, it’s not designed to improve the soil around it. Just to make it more complicated, there are plenty of variants of these potting composts, too, even if they’re in a different field to garden compost.For hanging baskets: Line the basket if necessary and part fill it with Levington Multi Purpose Compost with added John Innes. Insert plants through sides of the basket where possible to ensure a ball of colour. Fill the basket with compost and arrange plants on the top with trailing ones around the sides. After everything is planted, firm lightly and water thoroughly. ICL provides professional growing media to the UK and Ireland market, with the go to brand in the industry, Levington. ICL has (under various guises) supplied growing media to the UK horticulture market for over 50 years. Sofas & Sofa Beds Chairs & Footstools Tables Storage & Home Throws Rugs Dining Chairs Dining Table Sets Cooking & Dining Ericaceous compost is used for acid-loving plants such as azaleas, camellias and heathers when you grow them in pots. Many have a high peat content. Remember to use an ericaceous feed to keep your plants healthy.

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: Tub and basket composts are formulated to give the right conditions for pots of summer bedding to grow well. ICL’s Levington Advance Sustain provides growers with the ultimate in sustainable growing media. Carefully produced for the professional growing industry ICL has a range of products that can be used in a wide variety of cropping situations.Ideal for all plants, flowers, fruits and vegetables. Works well for sowing larger seeds and for cuttings, young and grown plants. For containers: Ensure that the container has sufficient drainage holes. Then fill with Levington Multi Purpose Compost with added John Innes. Add your chosen flowers and firm lightly, then water thoroughly.

With peat-free composts becoming more popular, B&Q is on the bandwagon with a budget option for multipurpose use. B&Q states that this multipurpose compost helps to reduce moisture in soil and will continue feeding for eight weeks after planting, and it contains 100% coir, green compost and composted bark as ingredients.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. Formulated to optimise plant growth by providing the right conditions to suit the plant at a particular stage in its life, or for certain types of plants such as orchids, cacti or ericaceous plants. We test compost for three different tasks; sowing seeds, raising young plants and for use in containers. Ideal for final potting of ericaceous or acid loving plants like azaleas, rhododendrons or heathers. Specially developed, with a unique combination of 14 vital minerals for maintaining plants growth and health. With its traditional mix of loam, peat and grit, Levington Peat FreeEricaceous Compost with added John Innesprovides the perfect structure for your plants roots, feeding for 6 weeks. How to use