Heating amended soil to speed up cook time

I usually have 5 weeks for my soil to sit and cook, which has always worked good. I had some family issues the last couple weeks so I'm behind schedule. Would adding one of those seed starting heat mats under the tote of soil speed things up? I'm looking at about 3-3.5 weeks before i need it. I'm cutting it close here..

Only if you have one handy.

I've found, over the years, that 2 weeks is enough cycle time for the mix to cool enough for planting in. Especially if you weren't real heavy with the N inputs.

This was also used for fairly established plants, not seeds, seedlings, or real young and tender stuff.

WeedFreak78 said:

I usually have 5 weeks for my soil to sit and cook, which has always worked good. I had some family issues the last couple weeks so I'm behind schedule. Would adding one of those seed starting heat mats under the tote of soil speed things up? I'm looking at about 3-3.5 weeks before i need it. I'm cutting it close here..

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Whats in your soil? Five weeks is a long time.

RandomHero8913 said:

Whats in your soil? Five weeks is a long time.

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Link to my soil mix:
<a href="https://www.rollitup.org/t/opinions-on-my-soil-recycling-amendments.945464/page-2#post-13804392">Opinions on my soil recycling amendments</a>

I run perpetual, so I rotate and mix soil every 5 weeks. It's just how my schedule works out.

WeedFreak78 said:

I usually have 5 weeks for my soil to sit and cook, which has always worked good. I had some family issues the last couple weeks so I'm behind schedule. Would adding one of those seed starting heat mats under the tote of soil speed things up? I'm looking at about 3-3.5 weeks before i need it. I'm cutting it close here..

Click to expand...

Not sure if this is a good idea, I have mine cooking in a garage but if you have it indoors maybe putting it outside in the sun will heat it up unless that risks bugs or something.

WeedFreak78 said:

Link to my soil mix:
<a href="https://www.rollitup.org/t/opinions-on-my-soil-recycling-amendments.945464/page-2#post-13804392">Opinions on my soil recycling amendments</a>

I run perpetual, so I rotate and mix soil every 5 weeks. It's just how my schedule works out.

Click to expand...

If you have any Lacto-b handy you could give the soil a drench to kickstart the breakdown process.

Just add inputs that you don't have to cook in like compost and/or manure. Sometimes I just amend with EWC and that's pretty much it. Cooking time is to allow the microbes to begin decomposing whatever you added in but compost is already processed in that way. I doubt adding heat will make the process happen faster actually it could even kill off your micro herd. Organic spikes and fertilizers like liquid fish can get you through if you are worried about your mix dropping off in mid bloom.

Quick update. I don't think adding heat would make a difference. After 24 hrs it was generating more than enough of it's own heat.

If you want to speed up cook time add an imo. Make one or use em1 bokashi or gro kashi. It cuts cook time by 2 weeks. Just topdress and water.