Quality isn't guaranteed - our compost trials reveal which composts are consistently good and which can be variable. Choose a Best Buy to be sure you're buying a reliable compost. Bag pots - no need to buy extra pots! Simply shake the compost to the two ends of the bag and cut the bag across the middle. Create two freestanding open bags of compost - ‘bag pots’ into which you can plant your seedlings. The air holes towards the now bottom of the bag pot will enable excess water to drain whilst retaining a reservoir to prevent the tomatoes drying out. We test compost for three different tasks; sowing seeds, raising young plants and for use in containers. So next time you see fungi popping up in your garden or open a compost bag to find a web of fungal hyphae, be grateful! You have one more incredible helper in your garden. Delicious herby vinegars can easily be made with red or white wine vinegar displayed in sterilised bottles and laden with luscious herbs from the garden

Many weeds can also provide a valuable habitat and ground cover for predators so wilder areas really help. I even grow a little patch of stinging nettles in my polytunnels for ladybirds and lacewings. From pretty little toadstools and edible delights to tiny mycelium under the soil's surface, fungi are wildly diverse, impressive and interesting. The aptly named ‘Humungous Fungus’ or Armillaria ostoya from Malheur National Park in Oregon was once thought to be the largest living organism on the planet, covering a whopping 2,385 acres of land. Approximately 148,000 species of fungi have been named, and it’s estimated that there could be up to 3.8 million species in total. Fungi inhabit almost all terrestrial ecosystems, including Antarctica. Life in the soil is key to the health of our plants. Soil life creates and maintains good soil structure; it releases nutrients from the sediments and organic matter in the soil and helps fight pests and diseases within the soil. Fungi play a crucial role in all of this. So let’s look at some fantastic things fungi do in the soil.Water early in the morning or later in the evening and water deeply so the moisture can permeate further into the ground. Water the soil not the plant foliage. A medium-crumbly texture - is ideal. Composts that are too fine are prone to water logging, while those that are too coarse tend to need more frequent watering. A crumbly structure will allow excess water to drain through, while holding enough water and air for roots to thrive. Old compost is often on sale - we send secret shoppers to buy our composts, who tell us if they find old compost on sale. It's a very common problem. We also know from our testing that old compost doesn't perform as well as fresh compost. To avoid this, buy bags that look new and aren't faded or heavy, which suggests they have been sitting around in bright sunshine for too long, or have been rained on regularly. November is a key time for focusing on wildlife in the garden. As temperatures plummet and day light decreases, it’s good to spend some time outside ensuring the creatures who share our gardens with us have food, water and shelter to survive the long winter months ahead. Getting some “vitamin G” as well as much needed vitamin D during the daytime helps with mental and physical health and well being. Professor Jane Barker of Dalefoot Composts said: “Comfrey is a truly remarkable plant offering a multitude of uses and we’re excited to grow it right here on the farm for our compost. We’ll be looking at how we can use it in other products for the gardener in the future.

Our farm’s bees, insects and wildlife are also benefitting from the biodiversity boost the new comfrey fields and their nectar-rich flowers bring to the local environment.” tbsp sugar (or other sweetener eg agave) - optional (I usually skip this part but I do like tart food)In fact, our testing shows really variable results for both cheap and expensive compost. The only way to really know what you're getting is to look at our results. Things to look for when buying compost This Peat Free April, award-winning, environmental journalist and co-author of The Climate Change Garden book, Kim Stoddart gets excited about some of the tips and topics she will be sharing with us over the months ahead: Peatlands have been doing this for many thousands – and in some case many millions of years, with peat being the precursor to coal formation, which is almost pure carbon. Once the bed is finished, it is ready for sowing and planting right away. Any deep rooting plants will grow through the cardboard into the soil beneath. I mulch my veg beds annually with 1-2 cm compost, usually in the wintertime (because it’s a nice job to do on a cold day) but any time of year is fine. This is spread on the surface and left for the soil life to gradually incorporate into the ground, feeding the plants and soil life for a year.