RocketGro has announced it is now the exclusive provider of compost to River Cottage HQ, supplying Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s famous smallholding with its organic, peat-free growing media for use in the iconic Kitchen Garden and across the site.
The partnership is said to be a result of two businesses whose ethos and passion for sustainable growth are closely aligned. River Cottage grows as much of the produce for its restaurant, cookery school and events catering “as it possibly can”. The culinary organisation believes in organic and peat-free growing and now uses RocketGro’s compost and growing media products to propagate these vegetables, fruits, salads and herbs.
The collaboration between RocketGro and River Cottage came to fruition when head hardener Jonny Callis approached the RocketGro team about trialling compost at River Cottage HQ, which is located in Devon the county just next door to RocketGro’s Somerset farm. “So impressed was the organisation with the performance of the products on trial, which included achieving 100% germination rates with RocketGro’s Seed & Cutting Compost, the decision to make RocketGro exclusive provider was an easy one,” read a RocketGro statement.
“We use RocketGro at River Cottage because great germination rates, long-lasting fertility powered by microbes, and local, sustainable production make it a perfect match for our organic growing philosophy,” said Callis.
“The RocketGro Seed & Cutting Compost mix balances water retention and drainage perfectly and holds more nutrition than any peat or coir-based product I’ve used before, giving us the best results for young plants straight from the bag, without the need for amending with perlite, grit or feeds.”
RocketGro’s portfolio of peat-free growing media products and ingredients are said to have been grown, harvested, sourced and manufactured in the UK. Composts are packaged and produced using the RocketGro farm’s own green renewable energy production, with a large percentage of the substrates used in the compost blends grown on the RocketGro farm in Somerset. Ranges are organic and proudly adorn the ‘Soil Association Approved’ logo on pack, and are all-natural and chemical-free.
RocketGro co-founder and managing director, Toby Thomas, “We are thrilled to be partnering with River Cottage and supplying them with our range of composts and growing media products. River Cottage shares our values and believes in sustainable gardening and growing, and doing our best to protect the environment at all times, whilst also achieving great growing results.
“Both River Cottage and RocketGro are taking a lead in helping consumers make the right choices to support organic, peat-free growing that reduces their carbon footprint, protects peatlands, and delivers soil health. We look forward to a fruitful ongoing partnership with River Cottage and further inspiring gardeners across the country.”
