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Steam soil sterilization
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Posted by jimmyd z8b FL/Sunset28 (My Page) on Fri, Feb 21, 03 at 7:32
| Has anyone tried doing this "in the ground" on a small, home garden sized scale, with their own setup?
There are commercial scale steamers which are available for $5k plus. As I understand it, hollow tines or spikes on the back of a tractor are pulled through the soil as steam is passed through them.
It would seem fairly easy to build a boiler and pipe steam to,say, a raised bed which is underlain by perforated pipe. Not mechanically inclined, however, I am afraid if I tried to build it, the whole deal may explode in my face. Would love to know if anyone has thought about or tried this.
Thanks,
Jim |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Steam soil sterilization
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Cool thought! If not mechanically inclined, high pressure steam is a dangerous thing, if inclined, it is only scary. Maybe a local rental yard can rent one for $50 or so a day. Whatcha killin, fire ants? What about black plastic sheeting and Florida Sunshine?
Stu |
RE: Steam soil sterilization
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- Posted by jimmyd z8b FL/Sunset28 (My Page) on
Sat, Feb 22, 03 at 10:07
| I'm trying to kill nematodes in my sandy raised bed without chemicals. The plastic is a good thought, but I'd lose a whole season of growing (I grow early spring to late summer). A steam pressure washer would seem to work except I don't need the water shooting out of it, just the steam. Thanks for the reply! |
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