03-04-2009, 08:11 AM
posted to uk.rec.gardening
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First recorded activity by GardenBanter: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,093
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Sterilising home made compost
Bob Hobden wrote:
"shazzbat" wrote
"Jeff Layman" wrote in message
Broadback wrote:
Thought I would make my own compost for my tubs and save a bit of
money. However is there a practical way of sterilising fairly
large amounts, say about the amount that large shop bought bags
contain?
I've heard that one way to do this is to use a steam generator
(such as a wallpaper stripper) to force the steam through the
compost. No idea if it works, or how much steam you would need for
it to be fully effective. I must say that I've often wondered about the
necessity of using
sterilised soil. I guess that if you are trying to germinate
seeds, then sterilised soil has the advantage that what comes up is
what you have sown, rather than a lot of weeds. But in terms of
sterilisation to remove bacteria and fungi, well, perhaps it does
more harm than good. Many plants require - or at least make use of
- certain fungi to enable healthy growth. If those are not present
the plant will struggle. Perhaps try using unsterilised compost and
put it in a propagator for a month before you put your seeds in. You
could then pull up anything which germinates, or grows from a
piece of root, before putting in your seeds.
Or you could microwave it.
I can just see the look on my wife's face if I suggested that! (That
"silly old sod" look)
lol. too right 
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