Looking for experience...

We generate from 1 - 2 cubic meters of good quality compost each year with
the exception it still contains seeds etc and therefore weeds grow in it
when we use it. I have tested the interior temperature of a fermenting heap
and have seen up to 50 deg. C but obviously this is not always enough, and
possibly not hot throughout the heap.

So, we are looking at sterilizing the compost before we use it. Does anyone
have any experience here? Any suggestion of what system to use or Buy?
Anyone looking to get rid of a second-hand sterilize?

Thanks for any help.

--
Brian

I remembered I can look at old posts and it seems the answer to my question
is to use a microwave.

If I read it right you can sterilize 6 litres at a time for about 10
minutes. Is this right?

Anything else I need to know?

As it happens, we wanted an excuse to replace the one in the kitchen so this
one can go into the hut.

--
Brian
--------------------------------------------------------------

"brian" wrote in message
...
Looking for experience...

We generate from 1 - 2 cubic meters of good quality compost each year with
the exception it still contains seeds etc and therefore weeds grow in it
when we use it. I have tested the interior temperature of a fermenting
heap
and have seen up to 50 deg. C but obviously this is not always enough, and
possibly not hot throughout the heap.

So, we are looking at sterilizing the compost before we use it. Does
anyone
have any experience here? Any suggestion of what system to use or Buy?
Anyone looking to get rid of a second-hand sterilize?

Thanks for any help.

--
Brian

The message
from "brian" contains these words:

Looking for experience...

We generate from 1 - 2 cubic meters of good quality compost each year with
the exception it still contains seeds etc and therefore weeds grow in it
when we use it. I have tested the interior temperature of a fermenting heap
and have seen up to 50 deg. C but obviously this is not always enough, and
possibly not hot throughout the heap.

So, we are looking at sterilizing the compost before we use it. Does anyone
have any experience here? Any suggestion of what system to use or Buy?
Anyone looking to get rid of a second-hand sterilize?

I see from your other post you're going to try microwaving. Part of
the benefit of home made compost is the large number of living soil
organisms it contains; kill those (by sterilisation) and it seems to me
you've thrown out the baby with the bath water. There are other ways to
get rid of unwanted seed, for instance by putting a bag of compost in a
warm place and letting them germinate then die before you use it.

Even if you destroy every seed in compost, very quickly new ones will
blow in/be dropped by birds and start growing in the ideal conditions.

Janet.