2022 Compost Trial: Growing Broad Beans
I’m a peat-free gardener and a passionate advocate for peat-free gardening. I want to help you be a successful gardener, so every year I run independent Compost Trials and share the results on my website.
I’ve included organic and vegan, peat-free composts in this Compost Trial. All of the composts in this Compost Trial are 100% peat-free.
Why Peat-Free?
Although peat has been widely used as an ingredient in commercial compost for a great many years now, it might surprise you to hear that most plants do not need to be grown in a peat-based compost in order to grow or perform well. In fact, most plants perform better when they are grown in a peat-free compost.
If you’re wondering why it’s important to use peat-free compost, you’ll find more information on this topic, here. See more articles I’ve written about peatlands, by clicking here.
Buying Peat-Free Compost
Compost packaging can be confusing. Some compost brands’ labelling make their products appear very green and environmentally friendly, thanks to the images, colours, and the wording on the pack. However, I’m sorry to say that today, the vast majority of composts that are offered for sale in the UK, contain peat. If you want to purchase a peat-free compost, check that the packaging states that the growing media is peat-free – if you don’t see the words ‘peat-free’ or 100% peat-free’ on the pack – choose another growing media.
Using this Compost Trial Report
At the very top of this page, you’ll find a series of headings in red text; simply click on a heading to save time scrolling and whizz over to another section of this Compost Trial Report. At the bottom right-hand-side of the page, you’ll see an arrow – if you click on the arrow, you’ll be returned back to the top of the page. I hope this makes it easier for you to manoeuvre through this Compost Trial Report and speedily find all the information you require. If the headings are out of sync with the text, this is due to the fact that there is so much information and so many charts and pictures in this report that it takes a while for everything on the page to load; consequently, you may need to go back up to the top of the report and try again – if the full Trial Report has loaded – it should work correctly the second time.
Trialled Composts
Each of the composts that I chose for this Compost Trial were sourced at the same time, so as to avoid using old composts, which might have been depleted of nutrients, and to ensure a fair trial of every compost type.
I trialled the following peat-free composts and compost blends in my 2022 Compost Trial:
- Bathgate Horticulture Peat Free Champions Blend Compost (Peat-Free, Organic Compost)
- Bathgate Horticulture Peat Free Multi-Purpose Compost (Peat-Free Compost)
- Coco & Coir Coco Bloom All Purpose Compost (Peat-Free Compost)
- Harmony Gardens Multipurpose Compost (Peat-Free, Organic Compost)
- Heart of Eden All Purpose Natural Compost (Peat-Free Compost)
- Melcourt SylvaGrow® with Added John Innes (Peat-Free, Vegan Compost)
- Melcourt SylvaGrow® Organic (Peat-Free, Organic Compost)
- Petersfield Peat Free Supreme Growing Medium (Peat-Free Compost)
Compost Costs
The lowest priced compost in this Compost Trial was Bathgate Horticulture Peat Free Multi-Purpose Compost (Peat-Free Compost) which came in at 12 pence per litre. Heart of Eden All Purpose Natural Compost (Peat-Free Compost) was the most expensive compost at 24 pence per litre.
| Compost | Cost | Bag Size | Cost per Litre | Supplier/source |
| Bathgate Multi Purpose | £5.99 | 50 | £0.12 | Yew Tree garden centre |
| Petersfield Supreme | £7.99 | 60 | £0.13 | Six Acre Nurseries |
| Bathgate Champions Blend | £7.25 | 50 | £0.15 | J Maher Electrical and Garden |
| Harmony Garden | £7.99 | 50 | £0.16 | Aylett Nurserie |
| SylvaGrow® Multi-Purpose Compost with added John Innes | £8.00 | 50 | £0.16 | Squires |
| SylvaGrow® Organic Sustainable Growing Medium | £8.00 | 50 | £0.16 | Squires |
| Coco Bloom All Purpose | £13.99 | 50 | £0.28 | https://cocoandcoir.com/ |
| Heart of Eden | £16.75 | 50 | £0.34 | Akkin Garden Supplies |
What The Manufacturers Say About Each Compost Type……
Bathgate Horticulture Peat Free Champions Blend Compost (Peat-Free, Organic Compost)
On their website, Bathgate Horticulture describe this product as:
A premium compost blend formulated with natural seaweed extracts, volcanic minerals, rock dust and naturally occurring strains of beneficial bacteria and fungi. This unique formulation stimulates growth, enhances plant development and improves resistance to disease with the added benefit of slow release nutrients and natural trace elements. This unique formulation, contains a blend of natural ingredients and is manufactured to our strict standards. Suitable for a wide range of ornamentals and edibles.
To see every article I’ve written that mentions Bathgate Horticulture Peat Free Champions Blend Compost, please click here.
Bathgate Horticulture Peat Free Multi-Purpose Compost (Peat-Free)
On their website, Bathgate Silica describe this product as:
Uniquely formulated Peat Free Multi Purpose Compost containing a blend of natural products enriched with essential nutrition and trace elements for healthy plant development and sustained growth.
To see every article I’ve written about Bathgate Horticulture Peat Free Multi-Purpose Compost, please click here.
Coco & Coir Coco Bloom All Purpose Compost
On their website, Coco & Coir describe this product as:
Natural 100% peat free coir compost based on coir pith with added nutrients. Coco Bloom is the perfect potting compost, creating the ideal rooting and growing conditions for all plants growing in containers.
To read every article I’ve written about Coco & Coir Coco Bloom All Purpose Compost, please click here.
Harmony Gardens Multipurpose Compost (Peat-Free, Organic Compost)
Online Harmony Gardens Multipurpose Compost is described as:
Harmony Gardens Multipurpose Compost 50ltr
The first carbon neutral, peat-free compost!
Peat-free multi-purpose compost with a balanced, mineral fertiliser.
> Peat Free
> Carbon Neutral
Ideal for:
> Sowing seed and cuttings
> Hanging baskets, tubs and containers
> Beds and borders
> Fruit and vegetable growing
Made naturally from:
COIR – A by-product from the coconut which has a low pH and has great water and nutrient holding capacity for the plants.
BARK – A by-product of timber production which helps keep the compost open to allow strong roots to develop.
FIBREGRO-N – A recycled wood fibre rather than virgin timber that reduces the weight of the product and releases nitrogen for healthy green leaves.
GREEN COMPOST – Made from recycled garden waste that has been composted, screened and tested to PAS100 standards.
AND just the right amount of plant food with added trace elements
Southern Trident, the manufacturers of Harmony Gardens are a Carbon Neutral Company and a Responsible Sourcing Scheme Accredited Member.
To see every article I’ve written about Harmony Gardens Multipurpose Compost, please click here.
Heart of Eden All Purpose Natural Compost
On their website, Heart of Eden All-Purpose Natural Compost is described as:
All-Purpose Natural Compost is an environmentally friendly all-rounder product, suitable for indoor plants and outdoors in your garden. It can be used for sowing seeds, rooting cuttings and filling pots, hanging baskets and tubs. All-Purpose Natural Compost is based on premium quality ingredients, enriched with naturally occurring nutrients and balanced fertiliser levels to ensure healthy and vigorous plants at all stages of growth and under a variety of situations, for use all year round.
This product is free from peat, which is an increasingly rare natural resource. Peat bogs are an invaluable habitat for flora and fauna and an important store of carbon – destroying them to make garden compost contributes to battling climate change.
USES
Fertiliser to encourage healthy growth
Gives plants and seeds a great start when sowed
Allows flowers and vegetables to flourish and grow
AVAILABLE IN
50ltr pre-packed bags.
No additional fertiliser is needed.
To see every article I’ve written about Heart of Eden All Purpose Natural Compost, please click here.
Melcourt SylvaGrow® with Added John Innes (Peat-Free, Vegan Compost)
On their website, Melcourt describe this product as:
SylvaGrow® with added John Innes
• A unique blend of fine bark, woodfibre (by-products of sustainably managed British forests) and coir (from known, ethically-approved sources) plus sterilized loam and sand
• 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
• Contains no peat or green waste compost
Available in 15 and 50 litre packs
Product Description
Superb quality, 100% peat-free compost as used by professionals
With added sterilised loam and silver sand
Suitable for a wide range of garden applications including potting-on, planting out and as a growing bag
RHS Endorsed
Suitable for vegans
Made in the UK from renewable resources
Available in 50L bags and 15L carry packs
Melcourt SylvaGrow® Organic (Peat-Free, Organic Compost)
On their website, Melcourt describe this product as:
SylvaGrow® Organic is a unique blend of fine bark (a by-product of sustainably managed British forests), green compost (a carefully-sourced, certified ingredient) and coir (from known, ethically-approved sources).
Product Description
• based on a formula used by professional organic growers throughout the UK
• contains balanced organic fertilizers and seaweed meal for excellent vigour and disease resistance
• performs best when routine liquid feeding is applied from around 3 – 4 weeks
• RHS endorsed
• Soil Association approved
• suitable for a wide range of uses around the garden
• contains no peat
Made in the UK from renewable resources
Available in 15 and 50 litre packs
A NOTE ABOUT ORGANICS
If you wish to maintain the organic integrity of this product then you should only use fertilizers labelled as organic and preferably those approved by the Soil Association. However, non-organic fertilizers will also function very well. In both cases read the manufacturers’ advice carefully.
To see every article I’ve written that features Melcourt SylvaGrow® Organic, please click here.
Petersfield Peat Free Supreme Growing Medium
Petersfield describe this product on their website as:
General seed and potting, close texture, excellent water retention, especially under protection.
To see every article I’ve written about Petersfield Peat Free Supreme Growing Medium, please click here.
Compost Trial: Growing Broad Beans
Broad Bean ‘Robin Hood’
For this particular Compost Trial, I opted to sow seeds of a Dwarf Broad Bean called ‘Robin Hood’. These Thompson & Morgan seeds were purchased from my local garden centre on the day my Compost Trial started.
I chose to sow seeds of this particular broad bean cultivar, as it’s a dwarf, compact broad bean that’s a great bee-friendly plant and a lovely vegetable to grow in containers. Broad bean risotto is a delicious treat in spring and summer; this meal is improved a thousand times over just by using home-grown broad beans!
If you’re looking for vegetables to grow as container plants, I’d recommend you try Broad Bean ‘Robin Hood’, this cultivar doesn’t need any support and is very easy to grow from seed.
I’ve grown this particular broad bean cultivar during previous Compost Trials, so by growing the same plant again, these Compost Trial results are more comparable to my earlier Compost Trials.
Growing Broad Beans in Containers
I started this Compost Trial on the 13th March 2022, when six Broad Bean ‘Robin Hood’ seeds were sown in each container of compost. I used three of my trial containers for every compost blend trialled. Each container of compost was tended to following advice from each compost manufacturer and monitoring each individual plant’s needs. The broad bean plants were observed as they grew, and the results were monitored and recorded.
Seed Sowing Error
My husband helps me with my Compost Trials – he lifts all the compost bags and containers for me, which is so kind of him – I really appreciate all his help and assistance. I remember accidentally dropping a couple of seeds on the ground when I was preparing to sow the seeds for this Compost Trial. I left the seeds on the ground and replaced them with fresh seeds from the pack. I hadn’t realised at the time, but in hindsight we think my husband saw a seed on the floor (next to one of my Trial containers) and instinctively sowed the seed in the Trial container (after the container’s six allocated seeds had already been sown) – which is how I ended up with seven Broad Bean ‘Robin Hood’ plants in one container. I first became aware that I had seven Broad Bean ‘Robin Hood’ seedlings when I was recording the germination rates of each compost type.
Haxnicks Bamboo Plant Markers
Back in November 2020, Haxnicks kindly sent me their Bamboo Plant Markers to use for my Trials. I’ve used the same Haxnicks Bamboo Markers for this Compost Trial, as I used for my previous Compost Trials. Haxnicks Bamboo Plant Markers are easy to write on and my text was still clearly visible at the end of this Trial.
Germination Rates
The first Broad Bean ‘Robin Hood’ seeds to germinate emerged on the 14th April 2022. The first seeds to germinate were grown in these composts:
- Bathgate Horticulture Peat Free Multi-Purpose Compost (Peat-Free Compost)
- Heart of Eden All Purpose Natural Compost (Peat-Free Compost)
- Petersfield Peat Free Supreme Growing Medium (Peat-Free Compost)
- SylvaGrow® with Added John Innes (Peat-Free, Vegan Compost)
- SylvaGrow® Organic (Peat-Free, Organic Compost)
Weather Conditions
The weather was dry and sunny in March 2022, when I started this Compost Trial. We enjoyed a lovely period of bright sunshine and warm temperatures and then the weather changed. We had a crazy day of weather on the 31st March 2022, when it snowed for a time, followed by sleet, and then hail stones! It snowed again on the 1st April 2022 and the 2nd April 2022. The containers and composts that featured in this Compost Trial were not under snow for long as it soon melted.
For the remainder of April, and the month of May we experienced just a couple of short, light rain showers. There was a short period of wet, rainy weather whilst the broad bean plants were in flower. This was bad timing for my Broad Bean ‘Robin Hood’ plants as the overcast weather and rain meant that fewer bees were active and the broad bean flowers were less likely to be fertilised.
There was no more rain for the remainder of this Compost Trial, as the drought and high temperatures persisted.
Broad Bean ‘Robin Hood’ Plants
Coco & Coir Coco Bloom All Purpose Compost (Peat-Free Compost)
Bathgate Horticulture Peat Free Champions Blend Compost (Peat-Free, Organic Compost)
Petersfield Peat Free Supreme Growing Medium (Peat-Free Compost)
Heart of Eden All Purpose Natural Compost (Peat-Free Compost)
Melcourt SylvaGrow® Organic (Peat-Free, Organic Compost)
(Image Unavailable)
Bathgate Horticulture Peat Free Multi-Purpose Compost (Peat-Free Compost)
Harmony Gardens Multipurpose Compost (Peat-Free, Organic Compost)
Melcourt SylvaGrow® with Added John Innes (Peat-Free, Vegan Compost)
Broad Bean ‘Robin Hood’ Plants’ Heights
Watering the Broad Bean Plants
The containers of Broad Bean ‘Robin Hood’ plants that were grown for this Compost Trial were evaluated individually and watered as necessary. Due to the drought and high temperatures this summer, most of the plants needed watering at the same time. No composts that stood out for needing significantly more or less watering.
Fertilising the Broad Bean Plants
During this Compost Trial, the Broad Bean ‘Robin Hood’ plants that were grown in this compost did not receive any fertiliser:
- Heart of Eden All Purpose Natural Compost
The Broad Bean ‘Robin Hood’ plants that were grown in all the other trialled composts received fertiliser: these plants received the same amount of fertiliser, administered at the same time. To clarify, the Broad Bean ‘Robin Hood’ plants that were raised in these composts all received fertiliser during my 2022 Compost Trial:
- Bathgate Horticulture Peat Free Champions Blend Compost (Peat-Free, Organic Compost)
- Bathgate Horticulture Peat Free Multi-Purpose Compost (Peat-Free Compost)
- Coco & Coir Coco Bloom All Purpose Compost (Peat-Free Compost)
- Harmony Gardens Multipurpose Compost (Peat-Free, Organic Compost)
- Melcourt SylvaGrow® with Added John Innes (Peat-Free, Vegan Compost)
- Melcourt SylvaGrow® Organic (Peat-Free, Organic Compost)
- Petersfield Peat Free Supreme Growing Medium (Peat-Free Compost)
PlantGrow Natural Fertiliser Liquid (NB: this is an organic, vegan product) was administered to the Broad Bean ‘Robin Hood’ plants on the following dates:
- 8th May 2022
- 22nd May 2022
- 3rd June 2022
PlantGrow Natural Super Tomato Liquid (NB: this is an organic, vegan product) was administered to the Broad Bean ‘Robin Hood’ plants on the following dates:
- 11th June 2022
EcoGro Booster (NB: this is an organic, vegan product) was administered to the Broad Bean ‘Robin Hood’ plants on the following dates:
- 28th June 2022
- 5th July 2022
- 12th July 2022
NB: There were delays in applying fertiliser and weekly doses of fertiliser were not always possible for various reasons, including the weather and water supply.
Wildlife
A male Blackbird (known as Bob the Blackbird) was regularly observed foraging for slugs, snails, and worms around the Broad Bean ‘Robin Hood’ plants that were grown for this Compost Trial. A female Blackbird (known as Kate) was also seen hunting for food. Sparrows, Blue Tits, Robins, and Dunnocks were also observed around the Broad Bean ‘Robin Hood’ plants that were grown for this Compost Trial.
Bees
During this Compost Trial, I observed far fewer bees pollinating the Broad Bean ‘Robin Hood’ flowers than any other time I’ve grown broad beans. I can only attribute the absence of bees to the fact that the weather changed markedly for a short period at the time that these Broad Bean ‘Robin Hood’ plants were flowering: the weather was overcast and rainy – so there were fewer bees active than usual.
I don’t use any insecticides or pesticides in my garden. Increased use of pesticides and insecticides is harming our bees, butterflies, and other insects. Please be kind to wildlife: leave aphids for Blue Tits and ladybirds to devour. Caterpillars will be snapped up by birds and are also a favourite food of hedgehogs;
Insects
I don’t use any pesticides or insecticides in my garden. No steps were taken to protect any of the Broad Bean ‘Robin Hood’ plants that were grown for this Compost Trial from any pests or diseases.
Slugs and Snails
I don’t use any slug deterrents during my Compost Trials. If I see a slug or snail, I may stop and take a picture, but I leave mollusks where they are. Slugs and snails were prevalent throughout this Compost Trial. No deterrents were used to dissuade slugs and snails from consuming the Broad Bean ‘Robin Hood’ plants that were grown for this Compost Trial.
Black Bean Aphid
Black Bean Aphid was found on a number of the Broad Bean ‘Robin Hood’ plants that were grown for this Compost Trial. This was not a problem for the plants, as the Black Bean Aphids were soon predated on by ladybirds, hoverfly larvae, dragonflies, beetles, and birds.
2022 Compost Trial Results
Harvesting the Broad Beans
The Broad Beans that were grown for this Compost Trial were harvested on the following dates:
- 3rd July 2022
- 8th July 2022
- 20th July 2022
Total Weight of Bean Pods Harvested per Trialled Compost
Total Number of Broad Beans Harvested per Trialled Compost
Total Weight of Broad Bean Pods Harvested per Trialled Compost
Average Weight of Broad Beans Pods Harvested per Plant
Total Number of Broad Bean Pods Harvested per Trialled Compost
Average Number of Bean Pods Harvested per Plant
Average Number of Broad Beans Produced per Plant
Average Weight of Shelled Broad Beans Produced per Plant
How Does Each Trialled Compost Compare to the Top Performing Compost in this Compost Trial?
Final Compost Ranking: Harvest per Plant
Rank
Conclusions
1
Coco & Coir Coco Bloom All Purpose Compost (Peat-Free Compost)
Hooray for the winner of this Compost Trial: Coco & Coir Coco Bloom All Purpose Compost (Peat-Free Compost)!
During this Compost Trial, the Broad Bean ‘Robin Hood’ plants that were raised in containers of Coco & Coir Coco Bloom All Purpose Compost (Peat-Free Compost) produced the joint largest number of broad bean pods per trialled compost, the largest number of broad beans, and the heaviest harvest of broad bean pods and broad beans! The broad bean plants grown in Coco & Coir Coco Bloom All Purpose Compost (Peat-Free Compost) produced the largest average number of broad beans per plant, during this Compost Trial. The only area where Coco & Coir Coco Bloom All Purpose Compost did not score top marks was for germination: 61% of the broad bean seeds sown in this compost germinated.
2
Petersfield Peat Free Supreme Growing Medium (Peat-Free Compost)
In second place, Petersfield Peat Free Supreme Growing Medium (Peat-Free Compost) proved itself to be a good quality compost. The broad bean seeds sown in Petersfield Peat Free Supreme Growing Medium (Peat-Free Compost) achieved 100% germination. The Broad Bean ‘Robin Hood’ plants that were raised in this compost produced the joint total largest number of broad bean pods and the second highest number of broad beans. Petersfield Supreme Growing Medium just scraped into second place for the average number of broad beans harvested per plant. The plants grown in this compost produced the third heaviest harvest of broad bean pods and broad beans.
3
Bathgate Horticulture Peat Free Champions Blend Compost (Peat-Free, Organic Compost)
In third place, Bathgate Horticulture Peat Free Champions Blend Compost (Peat-Free, Organic Compost) was just a smidgen behind Petersfield Peat Free Supreme Growing Medium when it came to the average number of broad beans harvested per plant. The Broad Bean ‘Robin Hood’ plants that were raised in Bathgate Horticulture Peat Free Champions Blend Compost produced the second heaviest harvest of broad bean pods and broad beans; as well as the third greatest number of broad beans. The broad bean seeds that were sown in Bathgate Horticulture Peat Free Champions Blend Compost achieved 83% germination. Bathgate Horticulture Peat Free Champions Blend Compost was the top performing organic compost, during this Compost Trial.
4
Melcourt SylvaGrow® Organic (Peat-Free, Organic Compost)
In fourth place, the Broad Bean ‘Robin Hood’ plants raised in Melcourt SylvaGrow® Organic (Peat-Free, Organic Compost) produced the third heaviest average harvest of broad bean pods per plant, the fourth heaviest harvest of broad bean pods, the joint fourth largest average harvest of bean pods, the fourth largest average harvest of broad beans per plant, and the fifth largest and fifth heaviest harvest of broad beans. The broad bean seeds sown in Melcourt SylvaGrow® Organic Compost achieved a germination rate of 67%. Of the organic composts in this Compost Trial, Melcourt SylvaGrow® Organic Compost came in second place during this Trial.
5
Heart of Eden All Purpose Natural Compost (Peat-Free Compost)
In fifth place, the Broad Bean ‘Robin Hood’ plants that were raised in Heart of Eden All Purpose Natural Compost (Peat-Free Compost) produced the joint fourth largest average harvest of broad bean pods per plant and the fifth largest average harvest of broad beans per plant. The Broad Bean ‘Robin Hood’ plants that were raised in Heart of Eden All Purpose Natural Compost (Peat-Free Compost) received no additional fertiliser during this Compost Trial – they were the only plants that did not receive any supplementary fertiliser, during this Trial. The broad bean seeds that were sown in containers of Heart of Eden All Purpose Natural Compost achieved a germination rate of 78%.
6
Bathgate Horticulture Peat Free Multi-Purpose Compost (Peat-Free Compost)
In sixth place, The Broad Bean ‘Robin Hood’ plants that were raised in Bathgate Horticulture Peat Free Multi-Purpose Compost (Peat-Free Compost) produced the fourth greatest total number of broad beans, the fourth largest total weight of broad bean pods harvested per trialled compost, and the fifth heaviest average harvest of broad bean pods harvested per plant. The Broad Bean ‘Robin Hood’ seeds that were sown in Bathgate Horticulture Peat Free Multi-Purpose Compost (Peat-Free Compost) achieved 100% germination!
7
Harmony Gardens Multipurpose Compost (Peat-Free, Organic Compost)
In seventh place, the Broad Bean ‘Robin Hood’ plants that were raised in Harmony Gardens Multipurpose Compost (Peat-Free, Organic Compost) produced the sixth largest total weight of broad bean pods harvested per trialled compost, and the seventh largest number of broad beans harvested per trialled compost during this Compost Trial. Harmony Gardens Multipurpose Compost produced the seventh largest harvest of broad bean pods by weight, and the seventh largest average pod weight per plant, and the seventh largest average number of broad bean pods harvested per plant, the seventh largest average number of broad beans harvested per plant, as well as the seventh largest number of broad bean pods harvested per trialled compost. The broad bean seeds that were sown in containers of Harmony Gardens Multipurpose Compost achieved a germination rate of 78%.
8
Melcourt SylvaGrow® with Added John Innes (Peat-Free, Vegan Compost)
In eighth place, the Broad Bean ‘Robin Hood’ plants that were raised in Melcourt SylvaGrow® with Added John Innes (Peat-Free, Vegan Compost) produced the eighth largest total weight of broad bean pods harvested during this Compost Trial, and the eighth largest total number of broad beans produced per trialled compost, during this Compost Trial. The broad bean seeds that were sown in Melcourt SylvaGrow® with Added John Innes (Peat-Free, Vegan Compost) produced the eighth largest average harvest of broad bean pods by weight (per plant), and the eighth largest average harvest of broad beans per plant, during this Compost Trial. The broad bean seeds that were sown in containers of Melcourt SylvaGrow® with Added John Innes achieved a germination rate of 78%.
Conclusions
- Broad bean ‘Robin Hood’ is an ideal choice of broad bean to grow in containers.
- Broad beans grow happily in peat-free composts.
- The Broad Bean ‘Robin Hood’ seeds that were sown in both Petersfield Peat Free Supreme Growing Medium (Peat-Free Compost) and Bathgate Horticulture Peat Free Multi-Purpose Compost (Peat-Free Compost) achieved 100% germination.
- The Broad Bean ‘Robin Hood’ plants that produced the heaviest harvest of both broad bean pods and broad beans during this Compost Trial were grown in Coco & Coir Coco Bloom All Purpose Compost (Peat-Free Compost).
- The Broad Bean ‘Robin Hood’ plants that produced the largest number of broad bean pods and broad beans during this Compost Trial were grown in Coco & Coir Coco Bloom All Purpose Compost (Peat-Free Compost).
- The Broad Bean ‘Robin Hood’ plants that produced the largest average number of broad bean pods and broad beans harvested per plant during this Compost Trial were grown in Coco & Coir Coco Bloom All Purpose Compost (Peat-Free Compost)
- The Top-performing organic compost was Bathgate Horticulture Peat Free Champions Blend Compost (Peat-Free, Organic Compost).
- Melcourt SylvaGrow® Organic (Peat-Free, Organic Compost) took second place out of the organic composts in this Compost Trial.
- The top-performing vegan compost during this Compost Trial was Melcourt SylvaGrow® with Added John Innes (Peat-Free, Vegan Compost)
More Trial Reports
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