Forum home› Tools and techniques
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Using old potting compost for seed growing

FireFire Posts: 19,096
in Tools and techniques
Nick Bailey on GW just said that he would never use old compost for seed growing. It seems to work well for me. Is it because of disease harboured in old soil?

Posts

  • GWRSGWRS Posts: 8,478
    I would agree with Nick , I put used compost / grow bags in the compost  in bins at allotment 
  • PurplerainPurplerain Posts: 1,053
    edited April 2018
    I think so Fire. It could contain vine weavil eggs or whatever.  

    I use fresh JI seed compost just in case. It gives the seeds a fighting chance against idiots like me. (Not saying you are getting it wrong).
    SW Scotland
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    I understand that it's good for one year bulbs as they have stored their own nutrients, but I've never tried it myself.
    I chuck used compost on my flower beds to improve the clay soil.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • Blue OnionBlue Onion Posts: 2,995
    If you're keen, I've read about people baking the compost in the oven to kill off pests and some diseases.  I don't think it would sterilize the soil (not that bagged seed compost is sterile).. but might cut back on the worse offenders.  
    I never seem to have enough soil, so my spent compost goes on the raised beds (which are mainly direct sown), and I buy a bag of seed starting for the few windowsill plants I start indoors (tomatoes, cucumbers, etc).  Our friend Monty just seems to mix together handfuls of homemade compost and leaf mold, and his plants seem to do just fine.  
    If it works for you.. keep it up!
    Utah, USA.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Compost for seeds is supposed to be sterilised, so no pathogens that can harm seeds or seedlings and no viable weed seeds that can germinate and compete.

    Old compost has usually been used to grow plants so had more nutrients in and may well have acquired pathogens and/or weed seeds, insect eggs and other other undesirables for healthy seed sowing and growing.

    My spent compost is used as a mulch or soil improver and never for sowing or re-panting in pots.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 3,277
    The user and all related content has been deleted.
Sign In or Register to comment.