Re: Re Seedling munchers

From: jimsullivansgarden@home.com

Hello Ginny,
I do sterilize my seed growing medium now.  I don't think any of the
manufacturers of such mediums sterilize any more probably because of the
added cost. I find by sterilizing it I get rid of 99% if not all of the
fungus knats. I sterilize it in relatively small batches making sure it
is a least moist.  I have an old microwave oven. It is fairly large, but
has no revolving plate and also is not as powerful as the new ones. At
any rate I put a heavy plastic bowl in and "cook" for 2 minutes and then
turn a quarter turn and then do another 2 minutes. You will have to
figure out a time for your particular oven, just make sure you don't
burn it.  I hope this helps some.              Jim in Saskatoon.

virginia prins wrote:
> 
> From: virginia prins <inanda@bc.sympatico.ca>
> 
> Many thanks to all who sent ways to deal with both the gnats and the
> aphids.  Fixed both probs. plus brought the seedlings in to top of
> fridge for the nights, windowsills during the day.  They obviously love
> the heat.  2 more pots have germinated, including some spurias.
> Yippee.  Will have to set up lights in basement fairly soon as house
> will be too hot for good growth.
> 
> Walter Britton said that he feels the gnats come from the peat or
> spagnum moss.  Does anybody sterilize seed starting  materials?  I've
> never sterilized peat moss.
> 
> Again, very many thanks.  Iwas really going mad.  I've never had aphids
> on babies before.  Maybe they were lurking on the tomatoes.  Funny
> thing.  Didn't have one single tomato worm on my tomatoes this year.
> First time this has ever happened.  Maybe they are like the iris borer
> and have not traversed the Rockies.
> 
> Ginny in Victoria BC
> 
> 
--------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ----------------------------

    GRAB THE GATOR! FREE SOFTWARE DOES ALL THE TYPING FOR YOU!
Tired of filling out forms and remembering passwords? Gator fills in
forms and passwords with just one click! Comes with $50 in free coupons!
  <a href=" http://clickme.onelist.com/ad/gator4 ">Click Here</a>

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index