How to clean a pot is one of the ways to Clean a planter.
A decade ago, Catherine Winter left her job as an art director in downtown Toronto and moved to a cabin in the mountains of Quebec.She has a flourishing food forest and garden on her property.In addition to writing about plants for various websites and publications, Cate coordinates edible/medicinal gardening initiatives in disadvantaged communities in North America and the UK.
After I lost an entire crop of cucumbers to mosaic virus, I learned how important it is to sterilize pots and planters.
I didn't understand why my cucumber plants died so badly.Before I moved them into larger containers, they were thriving in their little pots.
They started to flower and had wonderful growth spurts.After a few weeks, the cucumber mosaic virus took them all out.
I asked my gardener friend about the issue.She asked if I had sterilized the containers before I moved the seedlings.
There is always more to learn about growing your own food.When you come across a problem that needs to be solved, you realize that you need to learn some new skills.
Plants can be destroyed by pests and diseases during the growing season.The cucumber mosaic virus is one of the many that live in the soil.
The pathogens can cling to the inside of your pots and planters if they live in the dirt.
As soon as they warm up, they can emerge and destroy your young plants.
If you want to prevent this from happening, you need to clean and sterilize planters, pots, and gardening utensils.
You put everything away for winter at the end of the growing season.It will take about a week for the second to take place.
Compost the plants you compost at the end of the growing season.Throw the healthy soil into the compost bin if you haven't had to deal with any diseases.It will absorb the vitamins and minerals you add to that pile.
If you have had to deal with plant diseases, you need to dispose of the soil so that they don't spread.Pour boiling water into the containers to saturate the soil.This is done a few times.
Look for soil recycling services in your area.It is safe to reuse because they have the means to sterilize the soil.
After you emptied the containers, wash them with hot, soapy water.You should wash the tools you use in the garden while you are at it.Anything that came into contact with plants or soil during the growing season.
To dry them out in the sun, put them on towels or tarps.The sun won't just dry these items, it will help to make them sick as well.
Wrap these items in newspaper and keep them dry for the winter.I keep my supplies in my shed, but if you don't have one, keep them in a closet, garage, or basement room.
If you want to grow plants from seeds, you have to count backwards from your last frost date.As soon as the weather is warm enough for them to be outside, they will pop into pots and planters.
It's a good idea to add planter-prepping to your chore list.A week before planting, aim to sterilize planters, pots, and tools.Don't forget to gear up!Be as safe as possible when working with caustic materials.You can bleach damage with rubber gloves, protective eyewear, clothing and more.
To sterilize everything, fill your bathtub with warm water.There is a 1:9 bleach to water ratio.If you use a jug of bleach, add nine gallons of hot water.You don't end up inhaling bleachy steam if you use warm water.
Place the planters and pots in the water by unwrapping them.If you toss them in, there is less chance of splashing yourself.
Excellent if you can submerge the pots and planters completely.The bleach wash will take 15 to 20 minutes.It should be enough time to kill off any viruses or teensy insect eggs.
Allow them to sit for 15 to 20 minutes if you can't submerge them completely.After turning them, make sure each side soaks for the right amount of time.
You should do this with your trowels, spades, etc.As well.You can't be too careful when it comes to keeping this place clean.
The bleachy water should be drained once the soaking is done.Then rinse it all with hot water, scrub it clean with a cleaning brush, and refill with soapy water.
Set the pieces aside in a warm, dry room after they have been dry.They should sit for at least a week to allow the bleach to evaporate.
They will be ready to use and fill with soil and seeds after that week.
Cross-contamination doesn't happen via objects.If you want to keep your garden free of diseases, then you need to be careful about visitors as well.
You don't want to go through all the work to sterilize planters and pots only to have your plants contaminated by other people.
It may seem like a good idea to have gardening and farming friends over, but be careful.Viruses and insects can hitch rides on people.
If they wiped their hands on their clothes after working in the garden, then they should be able to see your plants.Pests can jump over.
If anyone other than you and your family are going to visit your garden, you should put them through a decontamination station first.They don't wear their own items in your space if you have a spare set of clothes and boots.
You should ban domestic animals from your garden.Humans will not be the only ones who will ride the pathogens and insects.I know someone who lost their entire garden to a red mite outbreak after a dog got into the enclosure.
If you are going to re-contaminate planters, pots, and tools with bad soil, there is no point in going through all the trouble of sterilizing them.You may have to buy new soil from the garden center if you don't already have an established compost system.
You can't afford the highest-quality soil.It should be amended to suit the species you will be growing.carrots and other root vegetables need a lot of gardening sand added to the soil
Keep your soils healthy by clearing fallen leaves and other debris as often as possible.
Natural predatory insects like ladybugs and lacewings can be introduced to keep unwanted insects under control.Feed and water each species according to their needs, and try not to over-water anything. If you find the first signs of a soil-borne pathogen appearing on your potted plants, then act quickly.Don't allow any part of those plants to go into your compost heap by burning them.
To prevent the pathogen from spreading, be sure to clean the area where that planter was sitting, and treat that container with bleach immediately.If you are careful, you should be able to keep the rest of your plants safe.An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.It is less likely that you will lose your plants if you keep the environment clean.
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