How to Steralise Soil (The Oven Method)

Crikey......that is taking it to the extreme. Why would one want sterile soil, particualrly??

In the far off days when I was till in my teens I needed sterilised soil for some cactus seed - according to the instructions anyway- and we did bake it in the oven, though without the benefit of foil or thermometers. Regardless of all the arguments for and against it did work and my pan of seedlings won the novice class in the local Cactus show. (Still have the prize card even now!)
I remember shopping for Calais sand and crushing my own broken flower pots for the mix - no such thing as bought cactus compost in those days...

Oh well, I withdraw my comment, ha ha! Well done Stera, such devotion for a youngster.

Oh yes, I was a cactus nut in those days...still have a Christmas cactus and an Epiphyllum descended from the originals!

Steragram, yeah I figured that steralising soil would be helpful when transferring seeds and plants. Also, it just kind of occupied me when I was bored....Lol I apologise if that sounds sad :)

Paulspatch, thank you :)

Years ago when I went to work at a local Nursery Garden
we had the steam engines come to steralise the soil.
We had to dig trenches and lay the holey pipes in the bottom. Then fill them in again. The engines started up and clouds of hot steam filered up through the soil. This was on ground in the huge greenhouses that had been used for Tomatoes the previous year, also Chrysanthemums, which was their main seller.
The manager didnt tell us why the soil was being steralised or I would have remembered.
Wonder what they do now in modern polytunnels ?

We have to bear in mind though that sterilising kills off the goodies as well as the baddies so its not recommended for routine use for everything. I guess it was being used in those polytunnels so that same crop could be grown again in the same place without having to change the soil?

I think that about sums it up Stera. I was bored doing it !

Yes! It does sadly can kill all the goodies in the soil which is why I tend to not steralise soil often...only when it seems necassary. :)

Some of those micro-organisms have a symbiotic relationship and are necessary for plant health.

True. Hence why I suggest that before considering soil sterilisation, one should do their research. :)

Trying to make friends with a scientist seems to be a good idea. They tend to be very shy about scientific detail. There has been information from time to time from GOY members.

If you do find some information, let us all know.

I did get bored at the time because I was taken on to
help their Land Girl - to just dig trenches and fill them in again. !

Dianebulley, thats unfortunate...I think I'd probably get bored too.
;)

What research would you do Cleandude?

Read more and probably ask other gardners their experiances woth it. Then I might try it and see what happens.
:)