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?

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?

For your entertainment only, my dad had a method:

He used a wooden box, probably an old packing case, inserted a
metal plate at each end and filled it with soil. The plates were
connected to the mains, via an ammeter. Then, add water until
the soil resistance has lowered, and hence the ammeter risen, to
the desired level, leave to simmer. I can smell it now.

Chris
--
Chris J Dixon Nottingham UK


Have dancing shoes, will ceilidh.

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.

--
Jeff

"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.

Steve

"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)

--
Regards
Bob Hobden

On Thu, 02 Apr 2009 15:34:43 +0100, 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?

The large roasting tin in the bottom oven of the Aga, overnight.

On Apr 2, 6:12*pm, Derek Turner wrote:
On Thu, 02 Apr 2009 15:34:43 +0100, 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?

The large roasting tin in the bottom oven of the Aga, overnight.

As I have mentioned before as have others, the smell is not to
everyone's taste.

On Thu, 02 Apr 2009 11:42:17 -0700, moghouse wrote:

As I have mentioned before as have others, the smell is not to
everyone's taste.

The beauty of the Aga is that the ovens vent either through the chimney
or outside in the balanced-flue models. You can leave bread in overnight
in the roasting oven and you don't smell it burning. DAMHIKIJDOK?

On 2/4/09 20:13, in article , "Derek
Turner" wrote:

On Thu, 02 Apr 2009 11:42:17 -0700, moghouse wrote:

As I have mentioned before as have others, the smell is not to
everyone's taste.

The beauty of the Aga is that the ovens vent either through the chimney
or outside in the balanced-flue models. You can leave bread in overnight
in the roasting oven and you don't smell it burning. DAMHIKIJDOK?

Actually, you can leave anything in it for days on end and you won't smell
it burning.......... ;-(( I speak from experience.
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
Exotic plants, shrubs & perennials online

"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.


I tend to agree. I've heard about steam sterilising - from the past- but
can't think of any easy way to do this at home. ISTR my grandfather
sterilising soil for his greenhouse with Jeyes Fluid but as it contains
phenol I would not recommend it now.
I have a wonderful compost heap which has had in it annual weeds, lots of
chicken poo, tea bags, woodash, veg peelings etc. It's broken down into
soil to die for. I just accept the weed seedlings I might get and pull them
out. If they are edible for chickens they get them as a snack which
improves the colour of their egg yolks and then gets turned into chicken poo
which goes back on the compost heap and the cycle continues.

Great, isn't it?

"Bob Hobden" wrote in message
...

"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)


It would work, though! For a small quantity. I'm not likely to be putting
my 2 4ft x 6ft compost heaps in my microwave any time soon, however, I'd be
bankrupted by the electricity bill..

Christina Websell wrote:
I tend to agree. I've heard about steam sterilising - from the past-
but can't think of any easy way to do this at home. ISTR my
grandfather sterilising soil for his greenhouse with Jeyes Fluid but
as it contains phenol I would not recommend it now.
I have a wonderful compost heap which has had in it annual weeds,
lots of chicken poo, tea bags, woodash, veg peelings etc. It's
broken down into soil to die for. I just accept the weed seedlings I
might get and pull them out. If they are edible for chickens they
get them as a snack which improves the colour of their egg yolks and
then gets turned into chicken poo which goes back on the compost heap
and the cycle continues.
Great, isn't it?

*sigh* I can only dream of this at present

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

Christina Websell writes

"Bob Hobden" wrote in message
...

"shazzbat" wrote

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)


It would work, though! For a small quantity.

It does work. But it smells horrible!
--
Kay

"Christina Websell" wrote in message
...

"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.


I tend to agree. I've heard about steam sterilising - from the past- but
can't think of any easy way to do this at home. ISTR my grandfather
sterilising soil for his greenhouse with Jeyes Fluid but as it contains
phenol I would not recommend it now.
I have a wonderful compost heap which has had in it annual weeds, lots of
chicken poo, tea bags, woodash, veg peelings etc. It's broken down into
soil to die for. I just accept the weed seedlings I might get and pull
them out. If they are edible for chickens they get them as a snack which
improves the colour of their egg yolks and then gets turned into chicken
poo which goes back on the compost heap and the cycle continues.

Great, isn't it?

You are making me jealous!!