Do you wash your pots and seed trays ?

[Woofster]

I don't generally wash pots or trays although I see that it is recommended. I seem to remember Bob Flowerdew either wrtiing or saying he does not bother. What do other Grapes do ? Give me a very good reason to wash 'em !

[pigletwillie]

Life is just tooo short I am afraid, especially with the hundreds of pots that I use.

[veg4681]

I never used to but I read somewhere on the importance of pots/seed trays hygiene during sowing. I give them a quick rinse so that there are no bits of old soil/compost still stuck. Besides, I sow indoors so don't want messy pots around in the house .

[smallblueplanet]

Oh gawd please don't tell me I could get away with not washing our pots and trays....surely something horrible would happen?

[PAULW]

I just chuck them in the water butt after they have been used this gets the worst of the grot off them.

[Snadger]

I think a lot of the advice about washing pots and trays stems back to Victorian times when all pots were clay and seedtrays wooden. Both of these were porous materials and got mouldy/pest ridden. With the advent of plastic either a rinse or a rub with a cloth is all that's required methinks!

In the Victorian era I believe a 'boy' was employed in large gardens, who's sole job was pot washer! Then he went home each night and his missus/Mum nagged him to wash a few dishes in the house!

[piskieinboots]

erm

well erm

yep I do
*hangs head in shame

[esrikandan]

I always wash mine out. Clean pots just feels better.

[shirlthegirl43]

I give them a blast with the hose if they look really grubby and since I use lots of those 'plastic insert' module thingies, they seem to require replacing frequently (cos when I am planting out someone usually stands on them )

[Flummery]

I don't wash those I've had in my own posession all their working lives. I do rinse out ones that I acquire - pots I get 'free' by buying the plants. Just in case. However, being of the 'don't iron sheets, undies or towels' class of slut, I don't see the point in making work. I think Snadger's point about clay pots is realy where this came from.

[HeyWayne]

I don't wash those I've had in my own posession all their working lives. I do rinse out ones that I acquire - pots I get 'free' by buying the plants. Just in case. However, being of the 'don't iron sheets, undies or towels' class of slut, I don't see the point in making work. I think Snadger's point about clay pots is realy where this came from.

I'm a slut?

[zazen999]

Thanks everyone for this - I will now just stick to washing the ones I get from elsewhere; another job crossed off the list.

[Alison]

Don't wash mine unless they're really manky - just tend to let them dry and shake them out. No real logic to this, just laziness. Do wash out terracotta pots though as they look horribly mouldy otherwise.

[Herbgardener]

Spent last night washing a propogator tray, lid and insert... should have read this thread first!

[momol]

I will be washing mine if I got extra time plus only if they are really manky Just give them a hot water soak and then rinse them...done ( lazy way).

Momol