Buying the right composts

There's a growing medium for every job, said Ruth

WE are almost at the end of February and with longer days, spring flowers appearing and a smidgen more warmth in the air, this is the time of year when I stock up on supplies. Top of the list, every year, is compost.

Sowing seeds, potting on young plants, topdressing long-term containers, repotting houseplants… the list is endless.

The range of composts available can be mindboggling, but it need not be so and on these two pages I will explain which compost is best suited to which task.

Generally speaking, multi-purpose can be used for most plant-related jobs apart from sowing seeds and potting on very small seedlings.