Seed compost

Can seed compost be re used?
I should be nominated for the most stupid questions award.. :o
Thks in advance
Angie

 

I buy really small bags of seed compost (and lots and LOTS of BIG bags of general compost ) so that it stays sterile.

 

Angie - thats a very sensible and old question. Views vary.

I come from the cheapskate school! I am ready to reuse everything! The quantities used for seeds are so small that I don't use them again for seed, as Marley said there is no point in risking mould etc. But I do put the used compost in a large bucket and then use it for potting up larger plants.

As for seed compost, I never buy it. I buy the cheapest multipurpose, and add about half as much again of sharp sand for drainage. I then sieve it, to get a nice fine seed compost (thats all the manufacturer does). For potting up small seedlings or plants I use the same mixture. If I feel energetic I will sieve it, but more usually I don't.

For potting up larger plants I will re-use old compost, if it is available, and some new compost/sand mixture, added to an equal quantity of soil from the garden. Yes!, I am afraid I even re-use the soil in my garden as well. The soil could have mould, viruses or pests in, but I tell my plants 'you are big boys now, you must survive on your own'. When plants are put into the garden, I dig a hole and keep the garden soil from the hole for future potting, and place the plant with its improved soil/compost mix in the ground. Over a period of time the soil in the ground gets recycled and improved this way.

I see no problem in re-using compost, or garden soil, as long as you are not aware of any pests or diseases. New compost has nutrients that have been added. These get used up, so you must replace them by regular feeding and I feed all my pots once a week, or when I can remember! The garden itself gets re-used all the time. I do the same with my car, when it runs out of fuel I refill and reuse it rather than get a new one.

 

lol Peter ..very well put. Thats what I love about this forum the total variety of imformation and experience. Thanks to all for your input

 

FWIW I only ever use soil-based (i.e. John Innes) compost for seeds. I have tried non-soil-based seed composts, and for anything that spends a long time in the seed compost I find that the surface is inclined to grow a green slime, which the soil based compost doesn't - I presume because its surface dries out more easily.

However, I tend to put general purpose (non-soil-based even) compost in the bottom of my seed sowing containers, and about 1" seed compost on top. Makes it a bit harder to prick out, but I figure it saves me some money and, more importantly for me, gives the seedlings more to get their feet into if I am slow to prick them out - when I hit a busy patch, for example!

 

If you put your compost in the microwave it will sterilise it:thumb:

 

If I put compost in our microwave - Mrs Smiffy will sterilise me :eek:

 

Hi Smiffy,

honest its alright, like heating porridge up. it won`t explode or anything.

 

Just put it in plastic bags. Do it when Mrs Smiffy is out. Have you not learned deceit yet

 

Smiffy,

its not like reheating a pie!

Sorry for that-bad joke just seen where you are.

 

Rhyleysgranny - whatever I do I get caught out !
Then again , Lollipop , if I disguise the compost as a meat and potatoe pie - I could get away with it :D

 

I like the idea of microwaving the compost. Good plan ... just need a cheap industrial sized microwave off eBay now <ToddlesOffToLookAtEBay>

 

LOL @ Lollipop, theres nowt wrong with a meat and potato pie done in the micro, just got to be a hollands one.

I reuse compost, it gets tipped into holes dug in the garden for plants (the clay needs to be dug with a pick axe sometimes) to help them get their roots down, bottom of containers I've some prety large containers and it'd cost a fortune to fill with newly bought stuff. I tip it onto the garden and dig it in. So far I've not had any problems reusing it. (okay now I'm crossing my fingers that I don't get any problems)

 

Re. microwaving compost: It also works well for making sure there aren't any live vine weevil larvae lurking in there too! Just bear in mind that hot compost does have a distinctive niff to it even without the vine weevils :D
so make sure the microwave is fully aired by the time the other half gets home! :thumb: