Compost differences

The broad beans are growing in Dalefoot Seed Compost, which I guess is a similar formulation to their other composts but sieved finer. I've had good results with it so far: in addition to the broad beans, my tomatoes, chillies, etc were all sown in it and everything has germinated apart from the aubergines. It's not cheap, but neither is sowing seeds that then fail to thrive and have to be resown.

I know better than to sow seeds in cheap or heavy compost, and I don't buy anything with bits of plastic in! I agree that there's little excuse for poor quality peat-free compost, but you get what you pay for - and as long as there are people who don't want to pay for the good stuff, manufacturers are going to keep making it.

Moorland Gold isn't cheap and people believed they were paying for "good stuff" - but it seems that wasn't the case. So the price isn't always an indicator of quality. 

I haven't used either Moorland Gold or Dalefoot so can't speak from experience.