Is it necessary to heat the soil for seedlings: what is the essence and why opinions differ

Preparing the soil for seedlings is the most crucial stage, which largely determines the quality of the future harvest. There is a fairly popular theory that the soil should not just be warmed up, but calcined before planting seeds.

According to one version, radical heating can destroy all pathogens. Others say that this can turn the soil into a lifeless and infertile substrate. Read the OBOZ.UA article to find out whether it is necessary to heat the soil for seedlings.

How to do the calcination

The calcination procedure can be performed in a conventional oven by turning it on at a temperature of at least 95 degrees. Of course, harmful microorganisms will quickly die in such conditions, but there is a nuance. In fact, roasting leads to the destruction of all beneficial microorganisms. And the soil really turns into a dry substrate.

Is heat treatment necessary?

It is important to understand the difference between heat treatment and calcination. Even a purchased substrate does not guarantee the absence of fungi, nematodes, and other pests.

However, the soil should not be roasted, but steamed - this way you can preserve all the nutrients and get rid of fungal spores and pests.

How to heat treat the soil

1. Wrap the unopened package in additional plastic.
2. Put the soil bag in a bucket or other container with boiling water and cover it with a lid.
3. The soil should stay in the bag until the water has completely cooled.

With soil mixtures that you have made yourself, the algorithm of actions is similar - just pack them more tightly in plastic.

Finally, you need to pour the steamed soil on a flat surface, level it and let it dry. After drying, you can start planting.

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