Sterilizing soil for seed sowing

[rary]

What would you consider the best way to sterilize soil for seed sowing, I can put it into a container and heat it up on top of a fire, or spread it out and steam it with a wallpaper stripper, the container on top of the fire can be covered with a lid and reach a high temperature the steamer can reach the temperature you would get from a hot kettle so what would be the best method

[nickdub]

Haven't tried either myself - some people have reported good results from heating a small bag full of old compost in a microwave.

Obviously sterilizing the growing medium is only one step - as you probably know the structure of a lot of soils make them less than ideal for growing small seeds in.

[Chestnut]

Best way? or most practical way in domestic situation?

High strength gamma rays are used comercially to sterilise medical equipment, and would have the advantage of not drying or wetting your soil, nor destroying the hummus content (a risk if you cook it for too long in the oven). Unfortunately, they are not a practical proposition for our seed compost...

Personally I use wallpaper steamer, as inherited a spare one, so can keep a clean one for wallpaper. I also don’t have a fire, unless I make one in my garden incinerator.

[roitelet]

I never bother!! I use a 50/50 mix of sand and served leaf mould and rarely encounter any problems.

[Aberdeenplotter]

I rescued a steam soil steriliser from someone who was about to dump it a few months ago. It doesn't do an awful lot at a time but a seedtray full is manageable. Want to hire it Rary?

[burnie]

I just buy mpc and use it from the bag for seed sowing in containers, I use my compost from the heap outside as a mulch only.

[rary]

I rescued a steam soil steriliser from someone who was about to dump it a few months ago. It doesn't do an awful lot at a time but a seedtray full is manageable. Want to hire it Rary?

NO

I just buy mpc and use it from the bag for seed sowing in containers, I use my compost from the heap outside as a mulch only.

I will be mixing the soil with compost two reasons for that
1/ will hold moisture better than compost alone
2/ when the seedlings are ready to be planted they will transfer into the soil easier and quicker
Well that what I am hoping for

[rary]

AP I should have said thanks for the offer, but the thought of paying/parting with money just shocked me

[Aberdeenplotter]

AP I should have said thanks for the offer, but the thought of paying/parting with money just shocked me

it's the only reason I offered

[Derbydal]

we have just had a new hob and an electric oven the old one still works and iv'e been thinking about using it to sterlize my homemade compost to use for potting on would this work ? also I will be able use it to make jerky,put a pan of saw dust in it and smoke fish,garlic, carrots, sprouts , broad beans ,peas lol just trying to find an excuse to take it up to the allotment shed so I don't have to through it away ! hoarding is an illness iv'e been told. atb Dal.

[rary]

Dal, I think an oven would be a good thing for sterilizing soil it means you can control the temperature, which I think should be around 60c to kill off any weed seeds etc. my way of heating the soil is to fill a pot and sit it on top of the fire which means I have no control of the temperature,and I think over heating would damage the soil in some way

[4Shoes]

3" layers in oven. Heat until centre reaches 180°. Bake for 30 mins

Smells foul


Best do when OH is out and you have a stock of kitchen candles

[rary]

3" layers in oven. Heat until centre reaches 180°. Bake for 30 mins

Smells foul
Best do when OH is out and you have a stock of kitchen candles

Looks like there is more than me chicken, when it comes to doing things in the house,

unfortunately the only time OH is out is when I am out with her

[Derbydal]

thanks for the replys guys atb Dal.