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I'm back once again with another compost test, this time we are looking at Melcourts premium offering, often considered one of the best peat free composts out there.
*All thoughts shared here are my opinions. All testing was done by me to the best of my ability, but I am an amateur, and could be incorrect - so take it with a huge pinch of salt!*
Video
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Looking Through
I tipped the compost into a tray to get started and had a good rummage through. This compost feels lovely, is loose and crumbly, and is a nice dark brown colour.
Here is what the manufacturer says:
A unique blend of fine bark, woodfibre (by-products of sustainably managed forests) and coir (from known, ethically-approved sources). It contains balanced nutrients sufficient for the first 4 - 6 weeks of growth. This growing medium is based on one widely used throughout the UK by professional growers and is suitable for a wide range of uses around the garden. Melcourt SylvaGrow Multi-purpose contains no peat or green waste compost.
I love that it is free from green waste, which should mean there is nothing in there that shouldn't be, and we also dont need to worry about long-lasting weed killers still being present! The only thing I dont like is that there is no mention of it being organic, so I'm guessing the fertiliser used is synthetic?
Nutrient Testing
Now it is time to move on to the nutrient testing. The usual caveats apply here. While I am using a professional-grade soil testing kit from Hannah Instruments, I am in no way a professional and have no scientific training. Many mistakes could have been made, so take the results with a pinch of salt!
First up, we have the nitrogen test, and the compost performed amazingly well with the highest score I have seen. To my eyes, it looks even darker than the high!
When it comes to phosphorus, we got another very high score, great result here. Almost black, it is that dark blue!
Then, the final test to round out the NPK was potassium, which scored very high, in my opinion. You'll have to take my word for it on this one as the result doesn't show up too well on camera. This one is a turbidity test, unlike the other tests, which are colour indicated.
Essentially, you are measuring how well you can see through the sample; the harder it is to see through, the better the result.
So, fantastic results here and some of the best I have seen from testing many composts!
Is It Any Good?
So, what do I think? This is one of the best composts I have used. I have used this stuff previously, and it has never let me down. Highly recommended.
James Cairns says
I've been using this compost for eight years now and I have found it to be the best compost out there. Perfect for everything - seed sowing, potting on or for final potting. It handles all with as aplomb!
Sara Strawson says
I have been using this and found it one of the best. Can be a bit pricy. However, the Urban Garden Centre in Bath sells it in reusable bags. Return for a refill. Cant be better than that!!