Gardening Which? Composts 2026

Every year Gardening Which produces a list of composts that performed well during their trails, these cover composts for growing seeds, for young plants and for containers.

Here is a list of composts recommended for growing seeds and young plants. Those noted (*) can only be bought online at the time of writing and are much dearer than those available at garden centres. As they often say “You pays the money and takes your choice”.

Growing from seed Coco & Coir Little Big Compost (*) available from Amazon) Westlands John Innes Pear Free Seed Sowing Compost Melcourt Sylvagrow Seed Compost Growing on young plants Melcourt Sylvagrow Seed Compost Melcourt Sylvagrow Multi-Purpose Miracle-Gro Peat Free Premium Seeds, Plugs and Young Plants Compost Westlands John Innes Pea No.1 Young Plant Compost

Containers and Pots Melcourt Sylvagrow Multi-Purpose Melcourt Sylvagrow Tub & Basket

(For summer planting in pots, baskets & containers we always recommend mixing with John Innes No.2 Compost on a 50:50 basis)