Do you wash your pots and seed trays ?

[Hazel at the Hill]

I'm just stunned that I do something which is considered by some as 'excessively neat and tidy' when I am generally such a slovenly begger!

[valmarg]

[QUOTE=HeyWayne;166456
However, I take your point val, but equally I personally think that cleaning something thoroughly that is going to be left out in the open a little bizarre. Each to their own.[/QUOTE]
Actually, I don't wash them anymore, its been transferred to OH's JD.

There are several reasons why we wash the pots/trays.

I grow a lot of fuchsias and would not want to transfer rust (which is a soil borne disease) to this year's plants, just because I potted up the cuttings into dirty pots, with the possibility of the disease still being in the compost in the pots. Also the possibility of vine weevil eggs being in the pots.

The pots are not left out in the open. The plants in them are either planted out into the garden or containers, ie hanging baskets, tubs, etc, or put into larger pots and kept in the greenhouse (ie tomatoes, cucumbers, chillis, aubergines).

The large pots we grow tomatoes in are very thoroughly washed. Suffice it to say that we did not lose a plant to blight last year.

On the other hand there are areas of the garden where we would be considered complete sluts. Basically for the birds. We still have corn stalks standing, bean wigwams, and we don't sweep up leaves. We have a resident sparrowhawk, and these plants provide bolt-holes for the songbirds, and that sh***hawk is not going to treat my garden as a fly-through Macdonalds.

valmarg

[Flummery]

I didn't wash out my tom pots - I mainly grow in the greenhouse but I also had several in large pots in the open. I didn't get blight either.

[Alison]

Don't wash my pots and have never had blight - as it's wind bourne, if it's in the air you will get it no matter how clean your pots are!

[shirlthegirl43]

I used new pots and lost all my spuds and outdoor toms last year - thanks to the local spud growers I guess!!

[momol]

I lost all my outdoor toms ( last year) too but it was more from the airborne spores I am afraid. They were grown in pots and in the ground and the ground grown get it first....

Momol

[Ger-annie-um]

hells teeth - I've just finished washing and sterilising about 300 pots. I really, REALLY wish I had seen this thread first. Pity me please and any other shortcuts would be appreciated. Maybe not in cash but appreciated anyway.

[Sue]

Gosh me too, must have washed hundreds of the blasted things, and as it's been so cold have carted them all home in stages to wash and dry and then lugged them all back up the allotment.... by bus - no car...
It did mean I could have a grand sort out and clean out the greenhouse at the same time, but I do like the ***** fluid idea - love the smell too.
I have sneaking suspicion that's it partly displacement activity - too busy scrubbing pots to sow seeds too early!
best wishes
Sue

[valmarg]

Don't wash my pots and have never had blight - as it's wind bourne, if it's in the air you will get it no matter how clean your pots are!

Daft question I know, but if blight is wind borne, where does it originate from? Plants that have been in dirty pots???

valmarg

[terrier]

Washing plant pots can be a FUN activity. All you have to do is to wrap all your pots in some old netting and hang up somewhere convenient, then get out the power washer (or borrow one from a neighbour) then blast away to your hearts content. Feel all your pent up stress and anxiety melt away in minutes, even the kids can have a go, guarenteed to keep them out of mischief for ages.

[Paulottie]

I agree with Terrier- I too have a plastic dustbin full of a solution of *****. rubber gloves and dedicated brush. quick wash, rinse in a bucket of clean H2O, stack on shelf or bread trays. The secret is to make it easy for yourself to do- then you might prefer that to falling over unsightly piles of pots and trays etc. (especially when every inch of your two glasshouses is occupied in spring.) You might use up the solution washing down the benches at the end of season(or you can wash down the paths to stop them getting slippery)

I used to help out growing beans and tobacco plants etc for a Company who produced Bio control insects. I Was taught how important glasshouse cleanliness is. You really don't want Tobacco Mosaic virus or any other persistant problems and insects, even damping off. I don't know about you, but I have a family to feed and spent much time growing veg. A failed crop is wasted time.

It is just good policy. Yeah its a fag (especially if it mounts up) and there are only so many hours in a day, and many more interesting chores and distractions, and i'm by no means perfect but hey, I have noticed improved results in the years when I get it together...and a cold beer tastes EVEN better when its done!

[Dobby]

I get MrsD to do it
Or do it as I use them
must try and remeber to do it as I pot on

[Flummery]

I can't get over the thought that if I wash the tiny bits of dry compost off my pots I then sow seeds into compost full of lord knows what. Then we plant them into land covered in assorted herbivore droppings - and worse if we have cats and dogs. Hygiene? Gerroff! I'd hate to think of the bacterial content of a sack of copmmercial compost or a bit of allottment/garden soil. You can take things too far. Anyway, I scatter elephant dust every year - works for me.

[Alison]

Daft question I know, but if blight is wind borne, where does it originate from? Plants that have been in dirty pots???

valmarg

I know what you're saying but the point I was trying to make (probably badly ) was that if you've not had blight one year then you can't contaminate the follow years crops with any residue left on the pots. Obviously if you've had an attack (of anything, including blight) then you need to clean VERY well before using the pots again. In summary, suppose I just don't see the need to make extra work, life's too short

[sewer rat]

If anyone wants to come and help me hand wash 3000 3" pots and 5000 12xcell trays and 200 seed trays, they are more than welcome. Cause ain't no way I'm doing it !!