Seed trays/compost - can I reuse after pricking out?

[ladycakes]

Hi,

I have sown and now pricked out lettuce seeds in a standard seed tray with multi purpose compost.

Probably a daft question but I'm new to this - can I now reuse this empty seed tray - with the same compost intact in it, to sow new seeds? i.e. without using fresh compost?

Thanks for any advice
Chloe

[Neil Bromhall]

I would suggest using new compost and also cleaning the tray. This is because nasty bacteria and fungal spores which overwinter in the soil/compost and can infect your seedlings.
Also the old compost will have had the nutrients used up by the previous plants and so there won't be much left for this years plants.

[ladycakes]

Hi
Thanks for your reply.
Sorry I wasn't clear actually - the compost is only a week old - last Thursday I sowed lettuce and pricked them out yesterday - so the compost has barely been used.

Would you still suggest throwing it out?
Chloe

[Neil Bromhall]

I consider your compost as new compost and can be used again.

I consider compost to be old when you've had it for a year.
I even think that the compost bags should have a sell by date on them.