The UK's bestSeed Composts2022 Review

How to Choose The Best Seed Compost

If you’re having trouble starting your flowers, fruits and veggies from teeny tiny seeds, a seed compost is a great investment. Helping you to germinate strong and healthy plants; seed composts contain a range of ingredients that your seeds will love.

The best seed compost will improve the drainage, aeration, pH and nutrition, encouraging even the most stubborn seeds to sprout. Not sure what to look for when it comes to the best seed compost? Check out this buyer’s guide.

Ingredients

Seed composts contain a range of minerals to help give your seeds a helping hand. While grown plants require a compost heavy in nutrients, seedlings won’t need so much, and too many nutrients can actually be harmful to new plants. Seed compost is finer than standard compost, and often contains a wetting agent to help your seedlings make the most of their water.

The main decision you’ll have to make is whether you purchase an organic or inorganic compost. Compost containing peat is popular for a reason, but many choose not to use it because of its negative impact on the environment.

Volume

Seed compost won’t last a long time once opened, so it’s important you only purchase as much as you need, to avoid wasting money. Use an online soil calculator to work out how much compost you will need to cover your garden.

pH

Soil is either acidic or alkaline, and this level will determine the sort of compost you need. Work out the pH of your soil by using a soil testing kit.

Many seed composts contain limestone or another alkaline agent that will raise the pH of your soil to the level that plants prefer. If your soil is particularly acid or alkaline, you’ll need to purchase a compost to accommodate this.

Seed Compost FAQs

Why use seed compost?

Seed compost can help your seeds to germinate and grow, encouraging healthy and strong roots. Using standard composts with seeds is a mistake, and often worse than using no compost at all. Seed compost is very fine, allowing the seeds to grow through, and it also contains less nutrients than standard compost. Too much food can be harmful to new plants, so seed compost contains just a few key ingredients.

How long does seed compost last?

If your seed compost is unopened, it should last for as long as you need. Once opened, your seed compost should be used as soon as possible, and any leftover is unlikely to be able to be stored for the next year. Once wet, the nutrients in your compost will break down and the compost will be useless within just a few months.

Compost opened then stored in a covered and dry area should last a short period of time, but we recommend using it all at once if you can.

Conclusion

A great seed compost will coax your flower and vegetable seeds to life, providing the perfect home for them to grow and thrive. For its ultra-fine consistency, great results and ease of use, the Levington Advance Seed & Modular F2S Compost is our top recommendation.