Comments on: How to Sterilize Soil

By: emansnas

emansnas — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 04:45:23 +0000

Actually, using your microwave is an entirely appropriate, safe and highly effective method of sterilizing soil. The radiation will effectively kill bugs and pathogens that heat alone won’t. To ensure even distribution, irradiate a few cups of soil at a time in a glass or ceramic bowl. For an 1100 watt oven, three minutes on high will be sufficient to kill all living things in the soil. Unless you get your soil from a scrap yard, worrying about it being full of metal is rather paranoid, but if for some reason the soil you chose does contain metal, your microwave will start ‘crackling’ – simply shut it off, no harm done.

By: Chris Field

Chris Field — Thu, 12 May 2011 12:22:58 +0000

Stephen,

Don’t ever microwave soil. You won’t know exactly what’s in it, and so there could be some pieces or iron ore, other other metals that will ruin your oven. It also doesn’t cook the soil through and will only heat it in places.

By: Beginner’s Garden « Living & Learning: A Homesteader's Journey

Beginner’s Garden « Living & Learning: A Homesteader's Journey — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 18:52:09 +0000

[...] (haha). I’ll be starting my seeds indoors this week. I’ve also looked up how to sterilize soil so that I can use it to start my seeds in order to give my plants the best start possible. [...]

By: Stephen Heim

Stephen Heim — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 19:34:28 +0000

Will microwaving sterilize soil?

By: Union Glashutte Watches

Union Glashutte Watches — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 05:21:14 +0000

I had no idea I was supposed to be sterilizing my soil.. maybe that’s why most of my plants keep dying. I am so thankful for this post– maybe it’ll turn my gardening season around this spring. Great post!
-Sylvia

By: Deb

Deb — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 23:54:18 +0000

It actually doesn’t smell that bad… just kind of “earthy”… and, the smell doesn’t linger.

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:39:01 +0000

If you roast potting soil in your oven your whole house is gonna smell like SH**. Dont plan on cooking in that oven!

By: Katie Elzer-Peters

Katie Elzer-Peters — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 22:55:02 +0000

That looks nasty! You can burn your weeds, solarize, or work on your soil. I’m always a fan of working on the soil. Often times, if you have some turf growing, but mostly weeds, the conditions in the soil are better for the weeds to grow than the turf. The way to fix that is to make the soil more hospitable for turf. (Check pH, aerate, add compost, soil test, etc.)

By: Chris Molnar

Chris Molnar — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:21:08 +0000

Yikes, goatheads are horrible to have! If it’s allowed, I would actually burn them with a propane torch – Katie uses it as part of her weed program – http://goorganicgardening.com/weeds/my-gardening-flame-thrower

I also did some research, and there’s a whole website devoted to this weed. Check it out – http://www.goatheads.com

By: MARY

MARY — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:05:27 +0000

I AM TRYING TO RID MY WHOLE YARD OF GOAT HEADS (STICKERS) AND OTHER WEEDS THAT WERE THERE WHEN I BOUGHT MY HOUSE. HUGE YARD ANY WAY TO RID THE WHOLD YARD OF WEEDS?