banning peat based compost 2024

Has anyone had any success with making their own seed compost? We produce a lot of compost which I use in my pots, bags and raised beds. I was wondering if I could use this to sow my seeds in?

You do need to take care with using your own seed compost to start seeds off. It will not be sterlilised (unless you do so), and the bacteria etc in the soil will increase the risk of damping off or the seedlings being otherwise affected.

How would you sterilise it? We have a hot bin, would compost from this be sterile and at what temperature?

 I have bought several bags of peat free compost are there very good for the compost heap also they cost much more than I'm paying for my  peat based I've had to many seed failures with the peat free rubbish this year so peat free rubbish is definitely not on my compost shopping list 

I read an article today that said Boris Johnson had proposed the ban for gardeners by 2024 and a total banning of peat compost fir everyone by 2030, but that the current government didn't have much drive to actually see it through!

Quote from: Yorkie on June 13, 2024, 17:56

You do need to take care with using your own seed compost to start seeds off. It will not be sterlilised (unless you do so), and the bacteria etc in the soil will increase the risk of damping off or the seedlings being otherwise affected.

How would you sterilise it? We have a hot bin, would compost from this be sterile and at what temperature?

This provides some guidance: https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/40/appendix-B_to_part_503
No. 1 is specific to compost, and recommends 55^oC or higher within-vessel for 3 days (that would be your hot bin).
No. 3 is for sludge, not compost, and recommends 180^oC or higher for 30 minutes.  Hotter, for a shorter period of time. It would probably work fine for compost.

The recommendations are part of laws that are meant to treat human disease-causing pathogens. PROBABLY would also work on plant pathogens(?)  Not intended for plant pathogens though.

If I was doing anything in the family oven, I would gain concurrence from your OH (advice I would give to anyone!). Maybe get an inexpensive metal pot with metal lid just for compost (possibly at a car boot sale?).

The peat free I've used is appalling and not suitable for sowing or potting on.
I will be making more of my own in future.
The peat free went into potato bags with additional fertiliser.
This  is what it was like once it had been watered.
I'm sorry but this is not a suitable multi purpose compost usable from the bag.

That looks like the peat free rubbish I tried - full of semi decomposed wood which robbed any nitrogen from the mix.
Totally unacceptable.

You do need to take care with using your own seed compost to start seeds off. It will not be sterlilised (unless you do so), and the bacteria etc in the soil will increase the risk of damping off or the seedlings being otherwise affected.

I beg to differ.
Commercial compost isn't sterilised - it would cost far too much, as well as negatively affecting the compost's effectiveness as a growing material.
Damping off is caused by waterlogging & a lack of airflow (I have a small fan blow across my seed trays & keep watering to a minimum).