If you’ve ever wandered into a garden centre looking for compost, you’ve likely come across bags labelled “John Innes No. 1,” “John Innes No. 2,” or similar. But what exactly is John Innes compost, and how does it compare to the living compost we produce at Generation Soil? Let’s break it down and explain why switching to a genuinely sustainable, microbe-rich compost is the best choice for your plants, your soil, and the planet.
What is John Innes Compost?
John Innes compost isn’t a single product but rather a range of compost mixes developed in the 1930s by the John Innes Horticultural Institute. Unlike standard peat-free or peat-based composts, John Innes mixes contain loam (soil), sand or grit, peat (or a peat alternative), and synthetic fertilisers. The different numbered variants are designed for specific plant growth stages:
John Innes No. 1 – A nutrient-light mix for seedlings.
John Innes No. 2 – A balanced mix for young plants.
John Innes No. 3 – A nutrient-rich mix for mature plants.
John Innes Seed Compost – Specially blended for germination and early growth.
These composts are widely used due to their consistency and structured nutrient content, but they have significant downsides when it comes to sustainability, soil health, and biodiversity.
Why Our Living Compost is the Better Choice
At Generation Soil, we believe in compost that doesn’t just support plant growth but actively regenerates the soil and ecosystem. Here’s why our living compost outshines John Innes mixes:
1. Full of Beneficial Microorganisms
John Innes compost relies on synthetic fertilisers to deliver nutrients. While this may provide an initial boost, it does not contribute to long-term soil health. Our living compost, however, is teeming with beneficial bacteria, fungi, and microbes that naturally cycle nutrients, improving soil structure and fertility over time. This living network helps plants develop stronger roots, enhances disease resistance, and creates a self-sustaining, resilient soil system.
2. Peat-Free and Planet-Friendly
Many John Innes composts still contain peat, which is extracted from vital carbon-storing peatlands. Peat extraction releases significant amounts of carbon into the atmosphere and destroys delicate ecosystems. Our compost is entirely peat-free, relying instead on food waste, wood chip, and natural decomposition to create rich, nutrient-dense soil amendments that are environmentally sustainable and climate-friendly.
3. Circular and Regenerative
We have diverted over two tons of food waste from landfill in just six months since starting this project, turning it into a powerful soil-builder rather than a source of methane emissions. By choosing our compost, you’re not just feeding your plants—you’re actively participating in a circular economy that regenerates soil and reduces waste. Composting food waste helps restore soil health, enriches biodiversity, and closes the loop in our food system.
4. No Synthetic Fertilisers, Just Natural Goodness
John Innes composts include artificial fertilisers, which provide a temporary nutrient boost but can lead to soil degradation and dependency over time. Synthetic fertilisers can disrupt the natural balance of soil microbes and leach into water systems, causing environmental harm. Our compost is naturally rich in organic matter, feeding the soil slowly and sustainably without the need for synthetic additives. It fosters a healthy soil microbiome, ensuring long-term soil fertility and resilience.
5. Supports Biodiversity and Soil Health
Healthy soil isn’t just about feeding plants—it’s a living, breathing ecosystem that supports fungi, microbes, earthworms, and wildlife. Our compost fosters this biodiversity, making your garden more resilient and vibrant. The presence of beneficial microorganisms in our compost improves soil aeration, water retention, and overall plant health, reducing the need for chemical interventions.
6. Ideal for All Gardeners
Whether you’re an allotment grower, a home gardener, or a farmer, our living compost provides the perfect foundation for growing vegetables, flowers, and fruit trees. It enhances soil structure, prevents nutrient leaching, and helps create a thriving environment for plants to flourish naturally. Unlike standard compost mixes that require regular fertilisation, our living compost continues to work long after it has been added to the soil.
Make the Switch to Living Compost
If you want compost that works in harmony with nature, enhances soil health, and contributes to a more sustainable food system, our living compost is the way forward. Whether you’re growing vegetables, improving your garden soil, or starting a market garden, choosing Generation Soil’s compost means investing in the future of soil, food, and the planet.
Our living compost is more than just a soil amendment—it’s a climate solution. By reducing food waste, regenerating soil, and improving biodiversity, we’re building a future where composting is an essential part of a circular, sustainable food system.
Join us in creating healthier soils and a healthier climate—one compost bin at a time.
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