Cleaning Seed Trays

[Yuccaman]

Hi All!

I am a new greenhouse owner - it will even have some glass in it tomorrow!

I have been growing stuff in my conservatory for a couple of years and decided to take the plunge. I am sure that I will have millions of questions as they arise, but through a combination of surfing through here and reading a couple of books, so far I am muddling through.

But...I am aware that I should give pots and seedtrays a good cleaning, and now seems a good time to do it before I put them in my nice new shiny greenhouse, but what do I clean them with?

A second question has occured to me now too...other than plants (!), what do you have as the floor of your greenhouse?

Thanks in advance!

[diggerdelaney]

i use hot soapy water (washing up liquid don't let OH know you nicked it)

[gardenplot]

Hello Yuccaman welcome to the vine

My greenhouse floor is paving slabs

I use ***** disinfectant fluid, to clean the greenhouse, & a cap full of ***** fluid in a tub of water to wash pots and trays I just throw them in as I empty them, then just rinse and stack away for next use.

[terrier]

and a two inch paintbrush is just the job for getting the muck out of the little corners in the trays and pots.

[Two_Sheds]

Hot water and Ecover washing up liquid, and a stiff brush. Job done.

[bluemoon]

Hot water and Ecover washing up liquid, and a stiff brush. Job done.

This is exactly how I do it, but you might also want to give them a quick wipe afterwards with a dry cloth as thousands (well OK then, dozens) of seed trays drying in the air can take ages and if you stack them before they're dry the damp can attract pests again.

Also, if you've not used Ecover before remember that it doesn't foam as much as a conventional liquid, but is still doing its job with a normal sized squirt.

[Flummery]

I'm the slob who doesn't wash them! I have border soil on the floor of my greenhouse. Have fun with yours - they're great!

[T-lady]

Hi Yuccaman

I've tried a organic product called Armatillox this year and ... well, it stinks and costs a small fortune so I'm not sure I'll bother with it again - it also streaked on the greenhouse glass and ruined all the work I'd put in to wash the windows.

I've just got hold of something called Citrox - also organic - but I think I'm going to go back to Ecover next time, way cheaper (although the Tesco inhouse version is even cheaper than that).


As for the floor ... I've put down a weed-supressant membrane and then covered it with gravel. It doesn't let you damp it down as well as tiles but it is cheap, easy and seems to work quite well. When I can though, I'm goign to lay a permanent tiled path jsut down the middle for ease of walking.


Cheers

T-lady

[Yuccaman]

Well I am pleased to say that my greenhouse is now glazed and floored too. I have gone with a similar approach to you, T-Lady. Over most of it, I have put a weed-proof membrane with gravel on, but with a slabbed path down the middle. I have also left a bed on the left that I have covered separately with a membrane so that I can plant some things directly into the ground.