Sterilising Compost

[shell]

I would like some advice on sterilising compost please. I am eager to get my tomatoes and chillies started but am having to do this on windowsills at home. I am not eager, though, to be surrounded by lots of tiny flies. I have heard that sterilising the compost will stop this but I don't know how. Please help, I would like to sort this out before I plant on the 5th Jan (I'm trying to go with advise given to plant by the moon).

[kernowyon]

use a microwave, small amounts at a time and not too long or you cook it

[Snadger]

I thought most proprietory brands of seed compost you buy were already sterilised?

[Lavenderblue]

well i have some Westland and its terrible for flies. Its a fairly new bag and we potted a few spider plants up and were inundated with tiny flies that get up your nose and into your eyes. I will be nuking (microwaving) any compost before it comes into the house again.

[Two_Sheds]

I thought it was over-watering that encouraged fungus gnats?

[BarleySugar]

I remember my mother baking her compost in the oven. It stank!

[shell]

Thanks for you advice. I'm not sure how long too long is though! Anything is better than being inundated by those awful little flies though!

[Nicos]

Well- I have some rolled oats for the chooks and they have weevils in them

So - I've microwaved the small bags for 2 mins on high and that seems to have killed off all the weevils. I've never tried to microwave soil though, but thought that would be a guideline???

[kernowyon]

just keep the soil in a microwave for a couple of mins, if you are still worried just do it for a minute at first then check to see if it is getting too hot, then increase at 30 sec intervals

[burnie]

If you are making your own compost you need to put a "lid" on it to retain the heat,which will then sterilise the stuff for you,my open bin just gets a couple of inches of soil on it,never had the fly problem.

[sarraceniac]

I thought most proprietory brands of seed compost you buy were already sterilised?

I think it's supposed to be Snadger but it doesn't stop the thrips apparently. Although I do store my open bags outside so presumably that is where they come from. Micro-waving sounds like a good idea. I'm inundated with thrips and even my insectivores can't keep up.

[shell]

I'm going to have a go at this in the morning. I'll try it in small amounts for one minute and the see how it goes. I'll let you know. Thanks for all the advice.