the big interview


Growing media may not be the most glamorous of products sold in garden centres, but it remains key to the success of all gardeners, from amateurs to professionals


He continues: “We recognise that there’s a huge education piece to be had around growing media, particularly when it comes to understanding the technical make-up of different blends, and what sets these apart from one another.


“Launching the academy at Glee offered a fantastic platform to those at the heart of the industry. All of the retailers I spoke with think it’s a great idea and are really keen to engage and improve their colleagues’ knowledge; there was some scepticism that other manufacturers hide what’s in the bag and embrace the knowledge transfer.” The launch of the Growing Media Academy is just a part of ongoing work at Bord na Móna, Steve adds.


‘There are many elements to consider’ With many younger gardeners looking at their outdoor spaces in terms of ‘quick fixes’, there is a danger that the understanding of how best to use growing media, or knowledge of its importance, could be lost, something which Bord na Móna are keen to avoid.


Producing a well-balanced growing media is also perhaps more of a perfect science than people are aware, and the new Academy helps explain why different ingredients are utilised. Bord na Móna technical manager Anna Kavanagh was on the stand at Glee to talk through the ingredients the company uses in its products, having helped to compile the Little Book of Ingredients handbook. She comments: “There are many elements to consider when creating growing media. “Peat, which we produce in Ireland, goes


through a milling process at the factory, before screening to produce different grades. Depending on the grade, we can produce mixes for bedding plants, pot plants, or coarser grades with a higher air fill capacity for nursery stock. Within peat you have so many different grades and different combinations you can create. “With peat, you also have low PH and low conductivity, meaning you can add lime and fertiliser to provide for whichever crop you want. If you want ericaceous you would add low lime, or for lavender add high lime, for instance. It’s a very flexible base which is why historically, and today, it has been a good product in terms of growing media.” Knowing the qualities of the individual ingredients is essential to combine them effectively. “Coir, which comes from the outer husk of a


coconut, has very good air and water properties, but slightly higher conductivity than peat,” Anna explains. “It also has a high potassium level, so with an NPK fertiliser you would add low K, and has a higher PH, so you wouldn’t add lime. You really need to know the individual properties of


6 | www.gardencentreupdate.com


each ingredient if you’re going to make high quality products out of them.” Similar attention to detail goes into the other


core ingredients, Anna notes, such as the quality control, respiration and PH testing on green compost as it breaks down, or the composting process for bark to ensure it does not lock up nitrogen when combined with a fertiliser. “That is just the raw materials,” Anna adds: “We have trial grounds at University College Dublin, so that when we actually combine the ingredients into final products, we can conduct independent trials to see how they perform. You want to know your own products and where they are in the marketplace, so we are always conducting testing.


“People often don’t consider growing media. Quality and consistency are two things we really pride ourselves on, and to do that, you need to really know your product.”


Educating the consumer


Ensuring that retailers are sufficiently informed, so that they can correctly advise gardeners on the best products for their needs, is a key part of the Growing Media Academy’s objectives. “Consumers often purchase growing media based on price and ease of use, for example selecting an all-purpose compost instead of one tailored to specific needs, which means they are not always getting the best results,” explains Steve. “It’s fundamental that garden centre staff and


retailers have the knowledge they need to confidently advise their customers when it comes to choosing the right products. Most consumers don’t realise that peat was the core ingredient of growing media a decade ago, let alone understand what all of the new diluents are. It’s essential that gardeners have a simple, easy-to-digest guide to understanding the basics of growing media, which is why we developed our ‘Raw Materials Information Guide’, offering a valuable asset for POS in centres.”


“We are actively engaged in a massive NPD programme strongly based around the further development of peat-free growing media,” he explains. “It is important as we reduce the amount of peat we use the consumer still gets the same award-winning performance. “In addition, we are working with new substrates and these will be included in our annual market testing of various composts at UCD. Finally as part of the Responsible Sourcing Scheme for Growing Media, an industry wide group working on ensuring all growing media are responsibly manufactured, we are working on getting all of our raw materials audited to ensure they are as stated responsibly sourced.”


With work continuing behind the scenes, the initiatives at the front end of the business, such as the Growing Media Academy, will only help future growth.


Different combinations of ingredients provide growing media for different uses, for example compost for lime-sensitive plants


GCU October 2018


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