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Reusing seed compost

WildFlower_UKWildFlower_UK Posts: 236
in Fruit & veg
Hi all - hope everyone is enjoying the lead up to a hopefully fruitful summer! I was just wondering; do people reuse seed compost? I have plastic trays that I bought mushrooms in (washed before use!) to use as seed trays. In each approx 15x25cm tray I've sown some seeds in seed and cutting compost. In one tray, 7 seeds for two types of tomato and the other tray, a mix of basil and coriander. All have germinated well (100% success rate for the toms!) and I am i just waiting for the first set of true leaves to appear before potting them all on.

My question is, can I reuse the same potting soil for germinating my next set of seeds? I have plenty of seed compost (and other containers) I could use if not, but am wondering whether the soil has 'more to give'. Or whether it can replenished half and half. 

If it helps, I have a lot of other herbs and veg to start over the next 4-6 weeks or so including parsley, courgettes and dwarf French beans, plus some flowers like sunflowers and cosmos.

This is just me trying to get the most bang for my buck, rather than not having access to more soil. Thanks in advance!
"If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need"

Posts

  • clarke.bruntclarke.brunt Posts: 215
    I don't believe it would do any harm to re-use it - a few seeds germinating in it, and over a short period of time, is hardly likely to make any difference to it. Obviously you might get a few of the 'wrong' variety coming up later.

    Personally, I think I'd re-use it as part of whatever you choose to pot them up into - one assumes you'd be adding some other soil to make it up to the amount needed for potting-on. And then use fresh for the next lot of seeds.

    As you say, tomatoes 100% - that's fairly standard for them. I always sow them individually in small pots, then can transplant the pot-shaped soil ball into a larger pot with no disturbance at all.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Well, I'd probably mix it in if the seedlings I'd taken out were healthy. Can't say it's the right thing to do if you're particular. 
    I wouldn't do it with expensive six in a packet seeds, though.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • WildFlower_UKWildFlower_UK Posts: 236
    clarke.brunt said:
    Personally, I think I'd re-use it as part of whatever you choose to pot them up into - one assumes you'd be adding some other soil to make it up to the amount needed for potting-on. And then use fresh for the next lot of seeds.

    Yes I was planning on potting them up with normal potting soil until they're ready to go outside in late May/early June. Using a mix of the used seed compost and new soil seems a good idea so thank you.

    clarke.brunt said:
    As you say, tomatoes 100% - that's fairly standard for them. I always sow them individually in small pots, then can transplant the pot-shaped soil ball into a larger pot with no disturbance at all.
    There was me thinking I was special with my success rate, dam! :p  Good tip about sowing directly into small pots; will do that next year/round.
    "If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need"
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