Can you sterilse the compost before use?

Try this simple method to sterilise your compost: in a conventional oven, place moist, not wet, soil in a shallow tray in a layer about 10cm deep. Cover with foil and place in a preheated oven at 80degC for 30 minutes. Remove promptly, take off the foil and leave to cool.

You can also sterilise your home made compost before use with a phenol-based disinfectant or with an electrical soil steriliser. More information on this can be found on the Royal Horticultural Society website www.rhs.org.uk