John Innes (oh no, not again!!)

[Phil_SK]

Do you not think it's odd to list the thing you're making as an ingredient of the thing you're making?

[Jim_Mercer]

Do you not think it's odd to list the thing you're making as an ingredient of the thing you're making?

Two different things JI compost and JI base fertiliser and the second is required to make the first

http://www.johninnes.info/jibase.htm

http://www.gardendirect.co.uk/garden-ca ... innes-base

[iann]

Nobody refers to the base fertiliser as "JI". Except maybe a label writer It would be fascinating to run a proper composition check on this stuff. I'm not going to buy any, but it is simple enough to shake some up in a jar and see how much floats. You might be surprised.

[DaveW]

I agree with Ian, the traditional John Innes composts are a set formula. If you deviate from this you should not be calling them JI composts. That is simply a marketing ploy to ride on the back of the traditional JI name rather than admitting you are producing something totally different.

Neither can you have this ridiculous stuff called "peat free JI compost" since peat and loam are integral parts of the formula. Also it has to be made with sphagnum moss peat, not sedge peat.

Here is the history of JI composts:-

http://gardenofeaden.blogspot.co.uk/201 ... mpost.html

The base fertiliser made to the John Innes Institutes formula is referred to as "John Innes Base Fertiliser" though:-

"John Innes Base Fertiliser is the name coined at the John Innes Research Institute in the 1930's for a ready mixed blend of hoof and horn, superphosphate and potassium sulphate for mixing with loam, peat and grit to make John Innes Loam-based Potting Composts."

[iann]

I suspect the majority of big-brand JI mixes use a modern "alternate JI base" rather than something made from hoof and horn. I don't know that for sure though. Picked up another bag of Singleton JI#2 today. Haven't opened it yet, but hopefully it continues to be the real deal: that is mostly loam

[DaveW]

Found these Ian:-

http://www.johninnes.info/jibase.htm

Whether these are the original JI Base formula I do not know:-

http://www.interhort.com/products/10101 ... _25kgs.php

http://www.keithsingletonhorticulture.c ... 78358.aspx

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/John-Innes-Ba ... 0760343830

An article on peat free composts:-

http://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/RHS-Public ... ee-compost

[iann]

The 5/7/10-ish formulations are almost certainly the original JI base formula with hoof'n'horn. One of them even says to keep away from livestock. The modern chemical JI base is slightly different, here's an example:
http://www.gardendirect.co.uk/garden-ca ... e-improved