Dalefoot Composts Reviews 5

Nothing in the Lakeland Gold grows. It feels more like mulch and doesn’t hold water. Seems to instantly evaporate. I have had to mix it to give seeds some structure but too late now. Will reuse as mulch.

I first tried Dalefoot compost in 2023 and was very disappointed. I have grown tomatoes successfully in a variety of media for about 50 years. As a scientist I did a control experiment using a variety of composts (three peat free and one containing some peat). All except the Dalefoot compost were very successful but the Dalefoot plants were stunted and did not grow well. Symptoms possibly were of either a gross nutrient imbalance or contamination with a herbicide. I informed the company who were very responsive and they supplied me with 3 free tomato grow bags in February 2024. I again trialed these with three other composts paying particular attention to watering using a soil moisture meter. I grew the same varieties in each ( Sungold and St Pierre)and I had similar disappointing results with the Dalefoot compost. in 2024. The plants in the Dalefoot compost were thin and weedy with very small fruit and yellowing leaves. This was very disappointing. I will not be using again.

I used this wool compost in 2022 with good results, same greenhouse obviously new bags of wool compost, in 2023, hardly got any crop.
I assume I had a bad batch, wont be using this year.

Disappointing experience. I bought 10 special Tomato growbags because of the recommendation of Which? I bought plants from 4 different places, Waitrose, a local nursery, B and Q, and a local agricultural college. I planted them in the same location as usual, and cared for them well, as I am experienced. All the varieties and plants grew with dark green leaves and were stunted. When the tomatoes appeared they were small, bitter and few. It was the worst crop I have ever had and very disappointing. I reported this to the Company, assuming I must have had a bad batch that was not up to their normal standard. I assumed they would be concerned and helpful. They were not. After my first two contacts, I have heard nothing.

I've used it for years and the quality is excellent. I first bought from distributors but have been ordering directly from their website since. Delivery has not been a problem, even in the city.

Their Wool Compost for Seeds is my preferred option - I find it to be a perfect alternative to good-quality peat-based compost. I use it for potted plants as well as seeds.

I've also gone through several bags of their Wool Compost for Potting which is a lot more coarse but also does the job wonderfully.

Both are well-draining and well-lasting. Plants thrive in them.

When considering the cost, I find it more cost-effective to add my own amendments as required - rather than paying compost prices for sand, coco coir and perlite mixed in with poor-drainage, poor-nutrient soil and liquid fertilisers, which in my experience seems to be the unfortunate state of things right now.