"........... It will work just fine and yes it will kill off everything
which is what you want. Put the soil in a plastic bowl and cover with
plastic wrap. Cycle till the plastic wrap forms a huge bubble. Let it rest
till the plastic resembles a vacuum pack. Remove the plastic, stir and
repeat the process ....."

DON'T put cling film on without punching holes it you can B***er up your
microwave easily doing this.
Lash out on a Pyrex casserole dish with lid about 4 or 5 inches deep, make
sure the soil is moist as it is the water in the soil turning to steam that
is going to cook it.
I give about 3-4 mins a load(Depends on your microwave), and it surprising
how much you can do in an hour, esp. if you have 2 dishes. you just have
time to empty the cooked one and to fill the other one with sieved soil.
With microwaves new for under £30.00 it is by far the most economical way to
sterilize for potting, esp. if you have moles pulling up a load of soil for
you

As you tip the soil, keep it covered with a plastic sack or something
similar and it will carry on cooking for a time.

You can now make a good John Innes compost

The mixes

All ingredients of the main constituents are by volume.

JOHN INNES SEED COMPOST:

The traditional mix for sowing almost any type of seed, with sufficient
nutrient for early development. May also be used for rooting soft cuttings.

2 sterilised Loam
1 Peat
1 Sand
The loam and peat is put through in 9mm (3/8 in) sieve.

For each cubic metre of mix, add

0.6kg ground limestone
1.2kg superphosphate


JOHN INNES CUTTING COMPOST:
1 Loam
2 Peat
1 Sand

No added fertiliser
JOHN INNES POTTING COMPOST No.1:

for pricking out or potting-up young seedlings or rooted cuttings. This
composts has a carefully balanced nutrient content to suit most young
plants.

7 Loam
3 Peat
2 Sand
For each cubic metre of mix, add

0.6kg ground limestone
1.2kg hoof and horn meal
1.2kg superphosphate
0.6kg potassium sulphate


JOHN INNES POTTING COMPOST No.2

for general potting of most house plants and vegetable plants into medium
size pots or boxes. Contains double the amount of nutrient in JI No 1 to
suit established plants.

7 Loam
3 Peat
2 Sand each cubic metre of mix, add

0.6kg ground limestone
2.4kg hoof and horn meal
2.4kg superphosphate
1.2kg potassium sulphate


JOHN INNES POTTING COMPOST No.3

a richer mixture for final re-potting of gross feeding vegetable plants and
for mature foliage plants and shrubs in interior planters or outdoor
containers.

7 Loam
3 Peat
2 Sand
each cubic metre of mix, add

0.6kg ground limestone
3.6kg hoof and horn meal
3.6kg superphosphate
1.8kg potassium sulphate


JOHN INNES ERICACEOUS COMPOST:

2 Loam
1 Peat
1 Sand
To each cubic metre of mix, add
0.6kg flowers of sulphur
1.2kg superphosphate


--
David Hill
Abacus nurseries
www.abacus-nurseries.co.uk