To fumigate or not to fumigate

smarttart

Evening Peeps,

Our greenhouse has been up for 2 years and we didn't bother to clean it last year :embarrassed:

Does everyone clean theirs every year, if so what do you use ? I'm thinking I'd better get myself organised and get it cleaned but do I just need to disinfect it and what's the best thing to use or can I just use a sulphur candle or is it best to do both ?

Sue

mrbadexample

I gave mine a scrub with a solution of Jeyes Fluid last year - just a bucket and broom job. This year I was going to try a pressure washer, and hope I don't blow the windows out.

Davesnave

I had my last greenhouse for over 20 years and never did more than clean the glass on odd occasions. Nobody died and I produced literally tens of thousands of £ worth of plants in it. Like the Windmill Theatre, it never closed, so it was not very convenient to go around fumigating etc.

The worst things that can overwinter are probably red spider mites and botrytis spores, but any decent disinfectant would probably do for the cleaning, especially if it has been left to get well frosted, which mine never was.

I wouldn't use Jeyes, unless I wanted it to smell like an old fashioned men's toilet for a few weeks.

valk_scot

I empty mine, give all the crannies a brush out and then hose it down inside and out with the garden hose on spray. That's it.

mrbadexample

Davesnave wrote: »

I wouldn't use Jeyes, unless I wanted it to smell like an old fashioned men's toilet for a few weeks.

[STRIKE]I[/STRIKE] My tomatoes did have a dose of botrytis the year before. And yes, it did smell for a bit.

smarttart

I think I'm going to have to get out there with the Jeyes and a scrubbing brush, last year we had an infestation of sciarid fly and I don't want that back this year

Davesnave

mrbadexample wrote: »

[STRIKE]I[/STRIKE] My tomatoes did have a dose of botrytis the year before. And yes, it did smell for a bit.

Maybe a good reason to use Citrox, then! To be honest, botrytis on toms is more likely to be caused by poor ventilation and/or inappropriate watering.

Sulphur candles do have the advantage of hitting everything, bugs and spores, but as you'll be aware, they don't actually clean up for you and they require emptying the greenhouse of plants for 12 hours, which isn't always easy.

smarttart

The greenhouse has been given a good going over with the Jeyes and phwoar you're right it doesn't half pen and ink :rotfl:

We also gave the plants pots and trays a good scrub as well.

That was over 6 hours ago and I can still taste eau de Jeyes in my mouth and no I wasn't drinking it.