Around 70 per cent of peat is used in horticulture, much by amateur gardeners who have long considered it the best way of encouraging plant growth. It is rich in nutrients, being made up of partially decomposed plant material that has not decayed fully because of local conditions.
Peat soils mostly have low to very low nutrient, acid and naturally accumulate under anaerobic conditions (Sabiham et al. 2012). In addition, peat soils have limitations with unavailability of potassium (K), sulphur (S), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) (Masud et al.
Peaty soils are quite wet and are acidic. Bog cotton and heather as well as coniferous trees can grow in these soils but most plants cannot. Peaty soils are not very fertile and because of this they are not very good for crop farming.
Peat soils typically have a low anion storage capacity. This means the leaching of nutrients to ground water will be significant in peat soils. Increased leaching of nutrients can occur when water tables are near the ground surface.
As noted above, peat Moss has an acidic pH, generally in the range of 4.4 (a pH of 7 is neutral; higher pH numbers indicate alkaline soils).
It contains little to no nutrients and growing in peat-based mixes ties the grower to constantly applying fertilisers to keep plants healthy. If you want to be kinder to the environment and get better gardening results, ditch peat for a soil-based growing medium.
Growing acid-loving plantsBecause of its low pH, peat moss is very suitable for vegetables and fruits that require an acidic environment. These include blueberries, pieris, heathers, azaleas, camellias, tomatoes, and so on.
Blueberries prefer acidic soils. A fail-safe way to grow blueberries in almost any soil is to incorporate peat moss into the planting medium. Add an equal amount of pre-moistened peat moss and mix well. (One 4 cubic foot compressed bale will usually be sufficient for 4-5 plants.)
Peat Moss Disadvantages
- Nutrient Poor. Unlike compost, peat moss does not contain the rich nutrients needed to help a garden flourish.
- Additional Soil Additives.
- Plant Diseases.
- Environmental Implications.
Sphagnum peat moss is valued by growers and gardeners because it is virtually free of weeds, insects and diseases. It also has a high water holding capacity with good air space, it is consistent from year to year, and crops thrive in it. Close up of sphagnum moss growing in a bog.
Peat moss provides a sterile medium, which is ideal for planting and growing your plants. It doesn't contain any harmful chemicals, weed seeds and other bad thing you don't want for your plants. This is why peat moss is ideal starting medium, particularly for tender, vulnerable plants that require a lot of care.
Peat moss and compost are not the same thing. Compost is made as everyday waste materials decompose into nutrient-rich soil. Peat moss is sterile, has an acidic pH, and is not high in nutrients or microorganisms. Compost is high in both nutrients and microorganisms and has either a neutral or slightly alkaline pH.
Vegetable plants that do best in mildly acidic soil include carrots, cauliflower, celery, cucumbers, garlic, sweet peppers, pumpkins, winter squash and tomatoes.
Acid-loving plants are those plants that thrive in acidic soils, typically with little or no tolerance for soil alkalinity. Tomatoes require soil pH to fall between 5.5 and 7.0, and thus can be categorized as acid loving.
Miracle-Gro Peat Free All Purpose Enriched CompostCarrot 'Oxheart'. These Carrots were grown in Miracle-Gro Peat Free All Purpose Enriched Compost for my 2017 Compost Trial: Growing Carrots.
In the vegetable garden, peat moss can moderate extremes in soil dryness and wetness. This is particularly important when growing juicy-fruited plants with tender skins, such as tomatoes, strawberries and blueberries.
How to Grow Lettuce in a Container. Use a professional soil mix for planting lettuce in container situations, as the mix is formulated to hold water and provide nutrients. A soil mix is usually peat or compost, soil, and either vermiculite or perlite for water retention.
Planting Cucumbers in a ContainerMake a soil mixture specific to cucumber needs with one part each of compost, potting soil, perlite and peat moss. Container grown cucumbers need plenty of water, but you must ensure they have good drainage as well.
It is common to grow flowers in a peat moss, not a great idea for potatoes unless you want to eat potatoes that taste like peat, trust me, they don't taste great. Peat & Perlite help to ensure adequate air space within the soil to ensure healthy plants.
Ditch the garden soil and grow peppers (Capsicum annuum) in containers filled with equal parts of high-quality compost and peat moss. Peat moss retains moisture, keeping the peppers evenly moist and helping to prevent blossom-end rot, a condition that causes dark spots on the pepper.
