Alternatives to Peat

I enjoy watching Monty Don’s Gardeners’ World. Monty always reminds viewers to use peat-free compost; his plea made me wonder, “why is peat so bad?” In the United States, peat is commonly used to aerate soil and to promote water retention. Peat is used in most seed starting mixes. Peat is formed over thousands of years in bogs known as peatlands, and most of the peat used in the United States comes from Canada.

Peatlands provide diverse habitats for plants and animals, and the bogs help filter water and prevent flooding. When peat is extracted from the bogs the process releases Carbon Dioxide which is a greenhouse gas. When I was looking for information about peat alternatives, I found an informative article in the NYT by Margaret Roach (February 2, 2022) Why Gardeners Should Stop Using Peat, and What to Use Instead. The article discusses ways to try to reduce peat use. Ms. Roach recommends starting small, by using compost instead of peat when planting trees and shrubs. The article also discusses experimenting with homemade seed starting mixes containing coir, compost or wood fiber as peat alternatives.

I am planning a seed starting workshop in the spring. We can use regular seed starting mix for most of our seeds, but I think it would be interesting to try to create some peatless seed mixes. Hopefully we can find a successful combination to grow seedlings without using peat. Please let me know if you have any suggestions for peat free seed starting mixes.