Published: 24 February 2026 - Watch on YouTube
Welcome back to My Windy Garden. Today I am back at the allotment to fix the situation after the bad compost problem. I am bringing better multi-purpose compost with added John Innes and well-rotted horse manure to improve the raised beds and give my garlic a fighting chance.
In my last visit I filled the raised beds to plant my garlic, but the compost I bought turned out to be extremely dry and dusty. It did not feel nutritious and it was not what I expected from a paid delivery.
I still need to plant my onions soon because they are outgrowing their modules at home. To do that properly, I decided I had to upgrade the organic matter in the beds first.
I went to a trusted garden centre and bought multi-purpose compost with added John Innes, plus several bags of well-rotted horse manure. The bags were heavy, which already felt like a good sign compared to the dry compost from before.
Fresh manure on the plot is still too new and could burn young roots. Well-rotted manure is ready to use straight away, so it should be safer for onions and more helpful for improving the beds quickly.
After another spell of intense rain, the plot was very wet and the pathway was squishy. I checked the garlic bed and planned to mulch between the rows with well-rotted manure.
Because the ground under the beds is uneven, some compost can slip out through gaps at the base. I decided to build up the edges with the surrounding clay soil so the compost stays where it should.
Once I opened the new bags, the difference was immediate. The compost looked crumbly and healthy, and it smelled like proper compost should.
The John Innes mix should also help with drainage, which matters a lot in these wet conditions. It is funny how excited gardeners can get over good compost, but it genuinely lifted my mood.
I filled the empty middle raised bed with a good amount of well-rotted manure and compost so it has proper organic matter ready for planting.
I then used the remaining manure as a mulch around the garlic. As it breaks down, rain and soil life should carry nutrients down to the roots. The garlic still does not look very strong, but I wanted to give it the best possible conditions.
Next I want to replant the onions as soon as there is a dry window, or at least a day with light rain that is workable. Once the onion modules are empty, I can start sowing more crops.
I am also reflecting on the cost of the bad compost. I spent nearly £70 on ten bags that felt unusable, while the better quality manure and compost cost less and performed far better. I am seriously considering making a complaint and I would love to know what you would do.
Thanks for watching and for all your support. Please stay safe in this difficult weather and flooding, and I hope you can still find a little bit of joy in gardening. I will see you in the next video. Bye.
Tags: #AllotmentGarden #UKGardening #RaisedBeds #SoilHealth #MyWindyGarden