The One Show gardening expert Christine Walkden will be the keynote speaker at a composts conference for gardeners' to be held at Stockbridge Technology Centre, North Yorkshire, on 16 February 2012.
Gardeners are having mixed success with seedling and growing composts. The gardening gurus and broadcasters are openly disagreeing with each other in the press about which is the best compost to use. The problems have largely arisen as a result of moves away from peat and the consequent use of other compost materials such as wood, coir and composted municipal green waste. These composts are very different from peat-based composts in terms of their watering and nutrient management requirements, but there is very little information provided to gardeners.
The selection of a compost product in a garden centre is confusing and the compost areas are often dominated by special offer posters rather than practical advice. There are no assurances that the composts will actually do the growing job they are bought to do. Many gardening publications are continuously reporting inconsistent and confusing trials results, quite often for the same compost product. Compost product names also seem to be constantly changing.
Stockbridge Technology Centre are hosting a conference where you can discuss these issues with their scientists, who have been doing trials over many years. They will show you their latest trials and talk about best management practice. Compost manufacturers will also be on hand to talk about how they are developing new products and about how you may be able to confidently identify the best compost products in the future. Christine Walkden will be join the trials tour to comment on and answer your individual questions. The day will be chaired by Mr David Allison from the National Vegetable Society.
Admission to the conference, which will run from 9.15am to 4.30pm on 16 February at Stockbridge Technology Centre, Cawood YO8 3TZ, is FREE and includes lunch and refreshments.
To book your place call Ann Black on 01757268275 or email annblack@stc-nyorks.co.uk. Further details can be found in the 'Gardeners' conference' flyer downloadable here on the STC website.
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