Peat-free case studies: British Cosmos
British Cosmos shares their peat-free journey
Have you made the transition to peat-free? If you’d like to share your story to help and inspire other growers, please get in touch.
Many growers and nurseries in the UK are already 100% peat-free, or are well on their way. British Cosmos have shared their journey with us to help other growers learn about the issues they faced along the way and the solutions they found.
So how did British Cosmos do it, what motivated them, and how did they overcome challenges to reach peat-free success?
Growing peat-free – in conversation with Jonathan Sheppard, National Collection holder and grower
Why did you decide to go peat-free, and how long did it take to transition?
Having worked as a lobbyist in various sectors, but also the environmental sector, I was conscious that while there will never be perfection – and it’s a constant journey – there were improvements that I could make to the way I grow. One impact was my use of peat. I happily grew things in whichever
I decided to change my growing practices because I thought it was the right thing to do, but I also felt that if I, as an amateur, could grow medal-winning plants with peat-free compost, then it could act as encouragement to other amateur gardeners who still may have the view that “all peat-free is rubbish”.
I wanted to be able to say, “well I’m just a gardener like you, and these plants were grown peat-free and have a silver gilt – I’m pretty sure you can grow some decent plants, too”. I use it to start a conversation as to how to grow in peat-free, rather than what currently too often happens, which is dismissing that compost is rubbish without peat.
Were customers asking you for peat-free plants?
The only place where I significantly engage with the public is online and at RHS shows.
I sell seeds and not plants, as I feel that by not transporting plants, I am being even more sustainable. Delivering 5,000 little packs of seed that people can grow themselves has a far smaller environmental impact than transporting 5,000 x 20 (number of seeds per pack) plants.
Without a doubt, there is a market for what people see as more sustainable and more environmentally friendly products.
Did you test many different growing media manufacturers or carry out trials? What peat-free media has been most successful for you?
I tried most things on the market. My conclusion was that different peat-free formulations serve different purposes for me. There were some products that if you didn’t read the bag properly were actually “soil enrichers”, which set like concrete and would be better suited to filling potholes.
Some brands actually hold water better than peat. With others, there is a lot of run-off. So it can be a steep learning curve, but this is why people need to start their own trials now, not when peat is officially banned – then, it’s too late. This period, while peat is still around, gives the opportunity to test things.
For me, my go-to brand will be Melcourt Sylvagrow. The particle size works well for my seedlings, and even when
It’s important to stress what we are being told when we read “peat-free”. We are being told what we aren’t getting, not what we are. If, for example, you love big meals and were offered a “steak-free dinner”, one person might be given a stick of celery while another gets fish and chips. The person with fish and chips thinks it’s wonderful but the person who received a stick of celery thinks the replacement is awful. Both replacements are “steak-free”, yet are very different. The same goes for peat-free mixes.
How easy was it to transition to fully peat-free once you started?
Once I had worked out what worked for me, and nuances like what the compost looked like after watering, it was learning by eye as much as anything else. How much water could a pot could take? What did the compost look like when it was dry or wet (it looks different to when I used peat)? That was half the battle.
What were the different feed and irrigation needs when growing peat-free, and any other changes to production?
I water all my plants using stored rainwater. The lower water-holding ability of my chosen peat-free compost compared to peat means I water less heavily but more often, to avoid washing any feed right out of the compost. I also invested in lots of grow bag trays for pots to sit on, so that if a tiny bit of water does run through, it’s not wasted.
What have been the benefits of peat-free?
For me, a benefit is just to be able to say that decent plants can be grown entirely without peat. In terms of plant health I wouldn’t really like to comment as I can’t base this on any science. Of course, cosmos and hollyhocks happily grow without peat in their natural habitats, but then I am also happily growing things like Kniphofia, sweet peas, dahlias and Semponium without using any peat.
What are your top tips for growing peat-free?
I think it’s helpful to know that the plants that I grow don’t require peat, and I’ve managed to establish that in a growing regime before its use is withdrawn. This to me makes total sense, in that if it’s being flagged up that you are going to need to grow without a key product, the sooner you try to find an alternative that works for you, the better.
