[mkhenry]

if you grow in bins then you wouldn`t need other protection surely because the carrot fly can`t fly that high?1

Correct from me thats why I choose to grow in bins.

This year I intend to grow everything I can inc potatoes in containers of all kinds.  Even an old iron kettle.

[Annie]

Sorry mk,but my slow `puter makes thing complicated as I was answering Kanute.
I have play sand at mt disposal and was going to mix this with topsoil and compost,forgot about crock as I have lots of those.

[mkhenry]

Sorry mk,but my slow `puter makes thing complicated as I was answering Kanute.
I have play sand at mt disposal and was going to mix this with topsoil and compost,forgot about crock as I have lots of those.

As long has its sterile you should be ok.  The reason things need to be sterile is because you are providing the ideal situation for everything to multiply ,including viruses ,bugs, and dorment creatures.  This includes slugs and snail eggs.  So I prefer not to take the chance.

[Annie]

how do Isterilise enough for a bath?

[mkhenry]

how do Isterilise enough for a bath?

Not very easily thats why I use shop bought compost.  You can take a chance if you have not had problems with the soil before, it should be alright.  Just keep an eye out for slugs and snails later in the season.  Make sure that all of the compost and manure is well rotted, that will help sterilise the rest.

I am a very careful type of gardener ,others may tell you to bung it all in its only carrots.  There is room for both types.  You should be ok.

[gobs]

Sterile or non-sterile compost poses the same dilemma as cold or hot heap.
The heat will kill disease but also will kill a lot micro-organisms vital for healthy soil.

something for something.

[mkhenry]

Sterile or non-sterile compost poses the same dilemma as cold or hot heap.
The heat will kill disease but also will kill a lot micro-organisms vital for healthy soil.

something for something.

But gobs would you say that its ok to use regular soil in a big container or not.

I always am a bit cautious perhaps sometimes overly so. I like it to be as sterile as possible and let the bugs etc populate once things are well under way.  I know that this works well so I always do it that way.

[gobs]

Oh yes, I absolutely agree, the bugs populate anyway, prob less so in an indoor pot growing environment, I'd guess.

Yes I use good quality sterilised soil for my indoor seedlings, for outdoor ones I don't. Not garden soil, but just any compost I have or I come by.