GardenBanter.co.uk - Can you re-use peat pellets?

"Billy" wrote in message
...
In article ss,
"gunner" wrote:

"phorbin" wrote in message
...
In article ,
says...

"phorbin" wrote in message
...
In article ss,
says...

"Suzanne D." wrote in message
...
I have a bunch of peat pellets in which the seeds never
germinated.
They
are all dried out now. Are they okay to use them again, or should
I
just
remove the netting, crumble them up, and add them to the garden
soil?
--S.

To be sure, you can sterilize them, say in a microwave.

And what happens if they aren't completely dessicated (sic) ?

Interesting question.
You want the pellets a bit damp if you are using a microwave to
sterilize,
otherwise it wouldn't work well. I'm sure it wouldn't matter much
with
most
any other sterilization method such as various steam or heat methods.
Biocontrol/Chemical sterilization methods would be another matter.
However,
I really do not find proof beyond Internet mythology that chemical
fertilizers will "sterilize" soils very well as often alluded.

I framed my question in the way that amused me at that moment (though I
don't know why it did) but obscured my thought.

I appreciate the candor.

That is, does a partially dry peat pellet explode in the microwave?

No, I invite you to do a quick search on sterilizing soils. There are a
lot of myths about microwave use. It is still heat that kills most
bacteria, ( But note: NOT the toxins). Pesky critters, such as fungus
gnats and
fruit fly, can also survive microwaving under certain conditions and you
can use metal in microwaves although you really need to know what you are
doing.

This is the quickest way to sterilize small amounts of soils when you
need
to.
I use a thermometer rather than time to ensure I have a good 165 +
internal
temp.

To sterilize jiffy pots, or soil heat (in convection oven) to 200F for
30 min. "If" you had perfect heat transfer, it would only take 20 min.
at 182F. I use a metal mixing bowl.

Your method can also be used in conventional for those who don't have
convection ovens, still its a bit of overkill sterilization
though.

"The Organic Gardener's Handbook of Natural Insect and
Disease Control",
by Barbara W. Ellis, Fern Marshall Bradley, Helen Atthowe, which
recommends covering "a shallow pan of moist soil with aluminum foil in a
preheated 200 degree f oven. Start timing for 30 minutes when the soil
reaches 140 degrees f. If the soil begins to exceeds 180 degrees, take it
out and allow to cool and then put it back or sprinkle with a small amount
of water to cool below 180.

also
http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/4DMG/Soil/sterile.htm
http://ag.arizona.edu/pubs/garden/mg...ion/seeds.html
http://www.associatedcontent.com/art...il.html?cat=32