It is difficult to get the watering right with coir and the choice of module tray can be important – some trays don’t drain as much and I think were waterlogged.

Ps since the above, FF have agreed to send a replacement batch, which is great, although I’d still like to find out what went wrong.Re-sowed some cucurbits covering the trays to avoid them being over-watered and prevent sciarid coming in (using the same compost) and had better germination. FertileFibre is the leading brand for peat-free horticulture, making it the perfect growing medium for environmentally conscious gardeners and horticulturalists. The FertileFibre Company is a friendly Herefordshire-based business driven by the philosophy to be smart, sensitive and sustainable. Stephen, would you say the root growth was better with coir because it is coarser and therefore drier on the surface, forcing the plant to send its roots deeper to reach the water?

We lost most of our bedding (except the Lobelia that did really well before the Sciarid flies appeared) and most of our gourds and beans plus lettuce, basil and sweetcorn. Personally I question why any use of peat at all is considered such a no no (despite the fact that I think it was me that wrote the first article in New Farmer and Grower questioning its use back in the day! This is a breeding ground for rot fungi and bacteria to occur, hence the reason why many of the problems you are experiencing.First devised in 1992, our Original range of composts are 100% peat-free and 100% organic - made from coir, bark and vermiculite. Just jumping on this thread as I've recently repotted a few neps in pure coir husk from Fertile Fibre.