My thanks to all of you who have given sensible answers. The yellow
appearance of the plants also concurs with my own experience. For those of
you who have not seen New Horizon, it is very coarse, being essentially old
sawdust, and "wetting" is actually easier than with Peat, but it drains
extremely quickly and does not suck water up from below. During the hot
spell twice a day watering has been necessary, hence the need for an
irrigator.

And as for Oxymel, to those of us who having been ignoring environmental
problems for years, but have finally realised that the evidence is
irrefutible, it is a great relief to hear that our concerns are merely a
figment of a middle class imagination!

--
Best Regards,

Rick

"Rick Eggleston" wrote in message
...
I have grown tomatoes, cucumbers and melons for the first time in pots with
Bowers peat-free compost. As the Bowers dries out quickly, I have
installed timed irrigation from rainwater butts. This has had limited
success as the water seems to take the path of least resistance straight
down through the Bowers. Even using a ring of micro-soaker hose in the
pot, water is running out the bottom before the compost is full soaked.

I have potted vines in John Innes compost watered by the same method
without problems.

Has anyone experience of any other peat-free composts?
Would a blended mixture of Bowers and John Innes work?